'Jon & Kate Plus 8' stars to divorce

Jon and Kate ready to litigate? After months of speculation, the famed reality couple from TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8" is heading to divorce court. 

In a much-promoted episode of the hit series Monday night, Jon and Kate Gosselin, the parents of eight children, announced in separate interviews they were separating; seconds later, text appeared on a black screen to add that the couple had decided to "legally dissolve" their 10-year marriage. The children will stay in the house, the couple said, and Jon and Kate will switch off living there. 

And the show, apparently, will go on. TLC executives declined to comment Monday, but the Gosselins had committed to a full season of 40 episodes and indicated they would continue allowing camera crews access to film the family's life, just not with Mom and Dad there together.

The announcement was hardly a surprise. Viewers of the 2-year-old series had seen the couple's relationship deteriorate recently, and even people who don't watch have been exposed to their problems through an endless stream of headlines -- "Caught With Other Woman" and "Inside Jon's Prison" -- in the tabloid and celebrity media.

Monday's episode opened with the delivery of playhouses for the children. But tensions between the couple were evident -- even with something as simple as placement of the houses. More than 30 minutes passed, however, before the status of their marriage was addressed. 

"Kate and I have decided to separate," Jon said, sitting alone on the couch.

"I was too passive," Jon said of their relationship. "I just . . . went along with everything. Now I finally stood up on my own two feet and I'm proud of myself."

Kate offered her own outlook: "It's very uncomfortable at this point because Jon has a lot of anger towards me and I would love to discuss it with him but he won't talk to me," she said. Before the recent strife, they were just a couple trying to manage a set of twins and rambunctious sextuplets. The combination of his cool and calm demeanor and her sometimes controlling and overly organized personality were first seen on the one-hour special "Surviving Sextuplets and Twins" on Discovery Health in 2006. Its success eventually led to the TLC series. It centered mostly on the couple's home life in Pennsylvania and the idiosyncrasies involved with raising a gaggle of children. 

But with the success came their indoctrination into the tabloid swamp. And as the show entered its fifth season in May, the lens has focused less on the kiddie chaos and more on the turbulent marriage. 

Both Jon and Kate have been plagued by rumors of infidelity in recent weeks -- he with a 23-year-old teacher and she with her bodyguard. Added to the turmoil was an investigation by the Pennsylvania Labor Department into the show's possible violation of child labor laws, an allegation TLC has denied. 

When the show returned May 25 -- after dozens of tabloid covers, blurbs on blogs and snippets on TV gossip shows documenting the couple's woes -- viewers tuned in. 

The season premiere drew 9.8 million viewers, more than twice as many as had watched the fourth-season finale. But ratings for subsequent episodes have cooled, with last week's installment attracting only 2.9 million viewers.

--Yvonne Villarreal

Photo credit: AP / TLC

Comments

[omaromar]

Kate is now reaping the seeds that she has sowed. She's completely unlovable & unloving as the ' alligator tears' that she shed on tonight's episode showed for all the world to see.

[sickofrealitytv]

The more I see the pictures (don't watch the show) of their renewal vows, the more I think that that trip was more just to get a free vacation, than to actually renew their commitment to each other. Both abused the love that viewers had/have for them and it has now come full circle. It is unfortunate though that it had to end in divorce. Those poor kids that never had a choice of whether they wanted to be in the media spotlight or not, that was up to Jon and Kate, and look where it put them. Thoughts and prays go to the children.

[E]

Its too bad they didn't care as much about each other as they do about their kids. Marriage first or there is nofamily. I am so tired of hearing them say it is for their kids, their kids first. How do they think them not being together makes the kids happy. She obviously does not see that she has any blame in any of this like ohhh wow is me, funny how she has been soo worried about making that money not the kids...I used to love this show, I hate how they are now.

[grenth@msn.com]

Hi Folks:

It seems that Jon was ill-prepared for marriage and his role as husband and father. I understand that he has a sketchy employment history and perhaps he thought a woman with a career(R.N) would support the household. It seems that Kate, who is not perfect, felt that they could parley their celebrity into a way to support the family as it is clear that her husband could not. Clearly, she made the decisions because he could not or would not. He is the classic the boy-man, passive-aggressive role.

Jon: Do all women a big favor. Go back and live with your mommy. You dress, speak, and act like a twelve year old.

I am so glad that my husband has a spine and a brain. Thank goodness there are more men out there who are mature and responsible.

[Jane]

Jon ia big crybaby whiny pants. OMG he's only 32 and has all these kids. Yeah buddy you are going to crash and burn. Sorry Kate had to act like your mother. You, Jon, will fail. You married Kate twice so why all the hate now. You knew what she was like. Oh you have to look out for yourself, whoops, I mean my kids. Yes that's what you said. You are a loser.

[Chase]

Jon, what kind of victim are you? Any real man would have stood on his own two feet before chosing to have 8 kids. And like any other dead beat dad, your saying your 32 ready to move on? You've got another 13 years with those kids buddy. Grow up. As much as you want to be 22 again, you're not. TIme to make big boy choices ... Your 5 year old boys seem to have a better sense of family.. Thank your (ex)wife for that.

[Henst]

Who watches this trash?
Same demographic as Maury Povich and Nancy Grace?
Lockup series?

[rthefley]

I totally agree. I wish she could see her behavior toward Jon in 3rd person. She would see how awful she is.

I've been married twice, my first wife was nearly exactly like her and I was passive like Jon, I went with the flow. I liked the show but I saw too much of my ex wife and myself in those shows so, I couldn't watch them.

The real winner is Jon, he gets to move to NYC, start a new life and maybe even have kids again with a more loving wife. The kids? They will, should have excellent care, and with all the money, the cars get paid off, the house gets paid off, there should be plenty of money for savings, care and education for the children and maybe even money for good solid investments. So, the kids, I don't worry about so much as I do Jon.

I don't see Kate changing, doesn't matter the guy that comes along, she will never change. I can almost promise that had there never been a show about their family, Jon would have divorced her.

There is nothing warm about Kate. She doesn't seem witty or even loving. There is nothing alluring about her. I understand that a part of them do act toward the cameras and audience but the essence of her true inner-self and personality is still very apparent to me and I suspect most of the watching audience. Again, I wish she could step outside her skin and see herself from a different view. She would be horrified.

Jon, common sense points to you as the real winner and I am glad you stood up for yourself. I hope you are the one that pushed for the divorce and a new life for yourself. Also, any woman that comes into your life will know that she will end up playing a roll as far as your kids are concerned. Kids know in their guts and in their heart when one parent is unfair, mean and just unbalanced. Her kids will see these flaws sooner or later. I understand the kids come first and that keeps a lot of unhappy people together. You've shown a lot of gut and don't question yourself if you did the right thing, you did. Also, that part about you wondering about the kids seeing the news peports about that teacher when they get older and if they would judge you wrong. Don't worry. They have years and years of video footage showing how horrible their mother was to you.

Good luck Jon!

[AK Bean]

I haven't decided if it's the fame that really gets to people or if it's the type of people who invite the world into their home that are doomed from the beginning, or maybe it's just the fact that they have EIGHT kids... that would be enough to drive anyone over the edge. I hope they each get what they deserve and I hope their children don't have to suffer because of their parent's poor choices.

[JeanBean]

". . . Jon has a lot of anger towards me and I would love to discuss it with him but he won't talk to me," [Kate] said.

What a laugh. Her pr rep probably came up with that line. Kate Gosselin yells, pronounces, retorts, complains, derides, and demands--but one thing she does not ever do is "discuss."

I have no interest in watching as TLC now veers its cameras onto the unfolding trauma to the children. It was sadistic of these greedy parents, even as they had to have known this breakup was coming, to negotiate 40 further episodes with the network earlier this year.

I hope TLC sues them for breach of contract and takes this wretched, painful show off the air.

I hope Pennsylvania pursues an investigation of child exploitation against the parents and the network.

[pete]

I don't know how to get an e mail to Jon and Kate
but Dr Eggerich for Love and Respect.com can help them find out how to communicate again to solve these common marriage problems like suspected or actual adultery, harshness...
I am facing the consequence of my own unfaithfulness.
I am learning how to use God's grace to live life.
Jon and Kate have so much public and monetary pressures too.

Pete

[glenn]

Now that the train wreck has officially happened (the announcement of Jon & Kate's split) - shame on TLC for continuing the series. Despite ratings madness, how can the network be so callous as to continue with cameras in the house, plots and sub-plots -- when what the kids need is peace & quiet, professional help and a chance to keep them from being completely screwed up for the rest of their lives. Divorce and family strife is hard enough, without being played-out for prime time audiences. No amount of TLC corporate spin can hide the fact that they are crossing a line where one family's misery is being exploited as a network cash cow. TLC, Do The Right Thing for the kids and the family and shut down the series.

[Dale]

I still think its a set up. Season 5 cliffhanger Jon and Kate: The Reunion

[Meg]

It's unfortunate when any marriage falls apart, especially if there are young children involved who will be forever impacted.

I find it odd that the show will continue, but I have a feeling that a lot of financial decisions were made before Jon finally decided to grow a pair - and now they're both obligated to w/e is necessary to pay for their lifestyle change.

I think we should give Kate a break - if he's truly as passive as he appears to be, she's had to do a lot of compensation. I'm not saying she's right, but I'm sure there's a lot of bitterness on her side that has come out in the way she treats him - here she is with 8 kids and a husband who is obviously disengaged (he is constantly 'checked out' and, now that we've seen what he prefers - Ed Hardy T's and a 23 y/o, not interested in being an adult and parent in their relationship). Instead of confronting him and saying, "Are you in or out? Will you help me or pull me under?" she became passive aggressive, more controlling and hyper-organized than she was already.

[Carol Wilson]

What I see is a total and complete change in Jon. Earrings in both ears, his attitude, what he said. Every single bit of him shows the behavior of a cheating man. Even his statement "I'm excited for my future now" with a smile on his face shows what can happen to a family man with children when another woman is involved. No marriage counseling, no intervention, no talking of working it out for their beautiful children....just "he's excited for HIS future." He's a cheating dog and shows the typical behavior that goes with guilt.

[Paula]

I found Jon much more relaxed during last night spisode. Just as if the announcement alone had taken a heavy weight off his shoulders.

As for Kate, she will never change. Even at the breakfast table on Mother's Day, she was trying to control everybody. Through crocodile tears, she said she does not want to be alone. Well Kate, you would not end up alone perhaps if you were more lovable, less controlling, less judgmental.

Jon, I wish you well...
Kate, I wish you...whatever~

[Rose]

Well it's about time Jon stood up for himself. I will not watch this show anymore, unless it shows Jon w/the kids. Kate is too bossy and it really disturbed me when I saw the u-tube clip of her denying Mady water, however, she was able to take a swig of it. They should just cancel the show. It's pretty much over now anyway. I love watching the kids and not Kate.

[chaz]

PLEASE take this show off the air. Do not subject these children to exposed pain on television.

[Scott]

2 year old series? Get your information right -- Please print a correction, series is 5+ years old.

I do agree that kate is nothing short of a narcissistic control freak who seems to drive everyone away. She's mean, plain and simple, mean. Sure, sometimes her anal-retentive tendencies to plan out a day are confused for being a jerk, but I think that some of that is required in order to maintain a household of 8 children and a camera crew and still have the kids grow up to be as close to normal as possible. I'm not talking about that. Since the beginning, I remember seeing her and how she acts toward her husband Jon -- Controlling, patronizing and mean. Then, she'll giggle and say "... that means I love you...". Here's a clue Kate - men are prepared to be barked at when they say "I do" but if I were Jon, I would have left you in season 3.

Now, fair is fair: If Jon wasn't so completely passive aggressive about all this, then the couple would probably be in a better place. I find that there are times in my own life when I have to say "Hunnie -- You're being a complete tool, knock it off, b/c I'm up to HERE with your s**t." He's never said this, he sits there with a little boy look on his face and takes it. Be a man and stand up for yourself and your family.

I would very highly doubt that this divorce is a side-effect of Jon going out with some friends. If that had happened to anybody else, the wife would have been mad, the family would've scolded him, and a few times a year, his wife would remind him during a disagreement that "... yeah, well, you went out with some chick once... "; the media is most likely responsible for that blow-up. No, I honestly believe that this divorce is the result of a pure personality incompatibility and both Kate and Jon's in-ability to talk to each other about their problems due to ego, submissiveness and most likely, cameras in their life 24x7.

[Pope]

That's exactly why the world is like it is-everyone would rather offer a kick in the face instead of a hand up. She may have some faults (who doesn't) but overall she is a good person. One day it will come out what he did and maybe everyone will shut up!