Jon Gosselin's Affair: Have Viewers Been Duped?
As of late, I have been at most, intrigued, by the latest tryst of Jon
Gosselin. And honestly, I the only answer I can find as to why this concerns me is the 8 innocent children involved.
It is ironic to me that this sudden attention on Jon began at the end of Season 4, when we learned that Jon was staying with his mother, allegedly to help her due to a broken foot. This is the same woman that Jon declared had no time for his family, and he would not make excuses for. The children even referred to her her in the same episode as "Daddy's Mom", not grandma.
Just before the season finale, the first leak of Jon's partying hit the gossip sites and made tabloid covers. If one is caring for his injured mother, why is one out partying until 2am? Pictures were taken and rumors started flying. Jon dismissed the photos as "fans". College girls watch a reality show about a 30-something family of eight kids? Okay..
Jon told us during the season finale that he couldn't just be "Jon". He is "Jon and Kate plus 8". He whimpered that he could not go anywhere in public without being hounded for a picture or spoken to. Boo
hoo.
Hey Jon, you and Kate both signed up for it the day you signed your children's lives away to do the show. How are the children going to feel when they are older and out on their own?
It is also ironic that Kate's book tour appearance dates, --posted on
Zondervan's website,
Eight Little Faces Tour Schedule (
note: this site has mysteriously been taken down. The tour was to have lasted until the beginning of the Fifth Season premiere on May 25) --also coincide with the release of each of these rumors. It has been known for over a month that Kate's appearance on the Today show was scheduled for today. There was even talk of an organized demonstration to have the show cancelled to be held outside NBC studios.
Convenient that Jon's alleged affair resurfaced this week, along with the name of the woman that is supposedly involved. A 23 year old school teacher named Deanna
Hummel, who's brother, Jason, "told all" to US Weekly, is now involved in this drama.
Deanna claims that there is no affair, that she and Jon are just really good friends. Jon released a statement that "He did not cheat on Kate". That's a very vague statement in my opinion. Jon also stated (in his prepared statement release) that he made very bad decisions and needs to be more aware of where he spends his time and who he spends it with. Jon, do your wife Kate, and your eight children ring a bell?? How about spending it with them?
Kate's appearance on the Today Show this morning was lacking in detail, but it did further convince me that all of this hoopla could possibly be a ratings ploy.
Straight faced Kate did not show any emotion during the interview. Meredith
Vieira brought up "the elephant in the room" of Jon's infidelity, and Kate proclaimed that she was hesitant to believe any of it. In Kate fashion, the interview was turned around to be "about Kate" and how she is thick skinned ("as you know")and that she and Jon would work through it. ~as if it were no big deal, they would face it and go on. "We have to", Kate added.
Vieira asked Kate if it was a decent trade off, having the rumors and the tabloid covers, for the success of their show. (You Rock Meredith!) To which Kate answered,
"maybe not a trade off, but it goes with the territory". Territory? What territory? Celebrity? Yes, Kate is now a Celebrity. Her dream come true. She has achieved celebrity status now, again at the expense of her children, by having her husband commit
adultery (
allegedly).
Kate was so non-emotional in her answers, at one point,
Vieira said, "But, Kate, it has to hurt.", referring to the stories and images being posted on the
internet and on the tabloid covers.
Vieira also asked Kate what she said to Jon when she found out about. Kate's answer was vague, yet seemed scripted. Actually, there was no direct answer.
Kate also said in her interview today, "People are paid a lot of money to talk." Although Kate is not very well spoken and has her quirks, she has become quite the money maker. Would she partake in a money making story just to boost ratings? Kate also added, we will be handling this "in private", yet there she is hitting all the media outlets~(look for her on Larry King tonight)~under the ruse of "promoting her book".
I think we have all been duped. After long thought, I do not feel there has been an actual affair. I believe it is all a ratings ploy.- after viewers were left with the cliffhanger of Season Four, questioning whether Jon would return-or if there would be a Season Five at all.
No sooner than the season finale ended, we were privy to "Jon and Kate + 8 Go Green".
We find out during the episode, it was filmed during Valentine's Day weekend.
Just shortly
before the beer pong and "fan photo" incident.
Yet, the season finale "couch interview" and "set rip down" occurred and was taped
after the incident.
Other than Jon's possible affair~and which woman I feel most sympathy for, Deanna, or Kate~ my heart is breaking for the children left at home with their nanny. As long as this show continues, these children will have no life of normalcy. Kate has even moved them far away from signs of other life, so they will never know or have the opportunity to live as a normal child. They will not ride bikes with neighbor friends, the girls will not have sleep overs with neighbor friends, they will not forge friendships and have memories of long summer days with their friends.
I think of my daughters' best friends in our neighborhood and pray that their friendships continue forever. I love the fact that their friends love to come to our home to hang out after school, on weekends and during the summer. One of their closest friends calls me her "adopted mom".
I am a stay at home mom, and yet I do not have eight children, I have two daughters close in age. Also, since the death of my husband, I have been a single parent for almost half my children's lives. I worked hard to keep myself together after my husband's death, I had to for my girls. I am fortunate to be afforded the ability to be a stay at home mom, and I thank God everyday for that ability. I also have been fighting cancer as well and my girls keep me going. If not for me, who would be here for them?
With that said, maybe that is why I am intrigued by the latest round of publicity for the
Gosselins. This family that is famous for "it's as real as it gets", had rather be anywhere but at home with their children. Kate has morphed into media monger and Jon, well, there's Jon. You have to
admit, on many of the episodes, it is Jon that is spending the majority of the quality time with the kids.
I also find it odd that Jen Stocks, the well known, award winning producer with Figure 8 Films, is no longer co-producer of the show. This occurred shortly before the end of the fourth season, just before the affair rumors began.
Perhaps Jen Stocks was the only one associated with show who had the integrity to not stoop to "Hollywood tricks".
Kate Uses Episodes to Subliminally Sell Upcoming Cookbook
Also, just in time for your holiday cooking, Kate will be releasing yet another book:
Love Is in the Mix: Making Meals into Memories Kate
GosselinFormat: Hardcover, Jacketed List Price: $29.99
Love Is in the Mix: Making Meals into MemoriesAuthor:
Kate GosselinSynopsis: If you enjoyed Multiple Blessings and Eight Little Faces, you won't want to miss this inside look at one of America's most famous close-knit families. Kate Gosselin shares recipes, traditions, photos, and more that will inspire you to make your family time more memorable and meaningful.
Available: November 2009
Wonder if this one will make the bestseller list. Kate has been using episodes to whip up creations, i.e. "
JK+8 Go Green", where Kate "baked" the day away while "Renovation Nation" host, Steve Thomas, assisted Jon, or did Jon assist Steve, by installing solar panels, (aka "roof jewelry" according to Kate) on their home, installing LED lighting and solar pathway lighting. Kate baked pumpkin bread, peanut butter cookies and such for environmentally Steve Thomas and crew, then served them up on paper plates and served coffee in
styrofoam cups. Don't think Kate has quite gotten the idea of "conservation"...literally.
According to Kate's brother, Kevin
Kreider, "he has never known Kate to be the "baking" type." Kevin also stated in an interview that "Kate only performs this baking and cooking in front of the camera and it is not a daily activity that she partakes in." Kevin
Kreider is "uncle Kevin", husband of "aunt Jodi", who both appeared in several early episodes of Jon and Kate plus 8.