During its less complicated days, Jon and Kate Plus 8 pulled in record ratings, to the
point where it was even dominating network TV shows.
But a decade and a messy divorce later, things aren't quite as glam as they once were for
the reality TV mom.
Here's a look at what Kate Gosselin's life has been like in more recent years.
While appearing on The Dr. Oz Show in late 2016, Kate opened up about her struggles dealing
with negative tabloid stories over the years.
"It drags you down, It eats away at you.
It drains your physical energy."
The reality star added that she feels like no matter how many interviews she does, there
will still be people out there who believe the, quote, "tabloid picture" of her that's
been created.
She also became particularly incensed when she talked about how the bad press affected
her children.
"And that angers me even more when it affects my children and it talks about them."
Back in 2014, Mady and Cara Gosselin made headlines when they appeared on the Today
show with their mom.
Kate asked them to refute reports that they were unhappy and don't like being on TV, but
the girls clammed up.
"Umm…"
"Mady, your words.
It's your chance.
Spit it out."
Mady continued to blank, so anchor Savannah Guthrie tossed a question to Mady's sister,
who also chose not to speak.
According to the New York Daily News, the famous mom reportedly went, quote, "type-A
crazy" on the girls backstage, but that was only the beginning of the twins' journey into
adolescence and all the drama that comes with it.
As Kate Plus 8 continued, it became clear that Kate's iron-fisted rule over the house
was buckling under the pressure of raising two teenage daughters.
The tense dynamics have led to some memorable moments on the show, and according to Us Weekly,
the famously uptight Kate has learned to adapt.
She said during a 2017 episode,
"They are hard on me.
I give it as hard as they give it.
Honesty is good, and that just means they can feel honest in the family."
As of 2019, both Mady and Cara have moved away for college.
Unfortunately for their children, the animosity between Kate and her estranged ex-husband
is alive and well.
Speaking to Us Weekly in October 2019, Jon revealed that the former couple being able
to agree on how to raise their eight children is a near impossibility.
He explained,
"I don't think co-parenting is ever going to exist between us because we are never going
to see eye to eye.
We have completely different parenting styles, and she still wants to film, but I'm never
going to sign work permits."
Referencing Kate and TLC's decision to allow their kids to appear on Kate Plus 8 despite
a judge's ruling stating it would be harmful to the children, Jon added,
"That already went to court, and I won, but she went against my legal rights."
Although Jon has had custody of Hannah and Collin since late 2018, he claimed that he
had almost no contact with the other six kids because of Kate.
During a September 2019 interview with Daily Mail TV, Jon alleged that Kate mentally abused
and tortured their son, Collin, before labeling him special needs and sending him away to
an institution.
Jon provided the outlet with some of the "50 to 60" letters he reportedly received from
the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, which had alerted him that Kate was allegedly
under investigation of suspected child abuse.
Most of those claims involved Collin.
Jon explained,
"Other than ADHD, which is extremely common, Collin has never been diagnosed with any known
medical condition, there's nothing wrong with him.
But Kate sent him away; she couldn't deal with him.
He was alone for three and a half years with no parents, all locked up.
It was inhumane."
"I did not know where he went.
And it took me two and a half years to find him, and then it took me an extra year to
get him out."
Jon didn't hold back throughout the interview, claiming that his children would one day tell
their truth about growing up with the "militant" Kate.
He said,
"I know my children have suffered abuse, and I know one day they're going to tell their
own story.
And sadly enough, I know what PTSD is.
It's really upsetting."
Kate returned to television in 2019, this time to find love.
In the trailer for TLC's Kate Plus Date, which premiered in June, the famous mom of eight
revealed that she hadn't dated anyone since her divorce from Jon in 2009.
"Have you noticed I'm single for the last decade?"
While the reality show was designed for Kate to find a new man in her life, a source told
the Straight Shuter podcast,
"Don't hold your breath!
Kate isn't easy.
She is one tough cookie and really isn't interested in compromising or finding love.
All she really cares about is Kate."
The insider went on to reveal that starting a relationship wasn't necessarily Kate's goal
for the TV series, claiming,
"[She did it for] money and getting back on TV...Had Kate been offered a travel show or
fashion show, we would be watching her traveling around the globe or doing makeovers, but 'dating'
was all that producers offered and that is why we are seeing Kate with a bunch of possible
love interests."
Kate would be the first to tell you that she's not perfect and has made mistakes while raising
her eight children in front of TV cameras.
But at the end of the day, she's provided a future for her kids that she wouldn't have
been able to afford without their reality fame.
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