'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

[John from NC]

I honestly can't see how Kate could be missing what might be the significant cause of grief in their relationship. I mean we've watched 4 seasons prior to this of her verbally and phsically abusing Jon. If it had been reversed then all kinds of women's groups would have been up in arms about this program from the beginning but since it was a woman abusing a man no one much said anything.

I do believe Jon is correct, he was to passive. He thus shares some of the blame. He should have tried harder to talk about these issues prior to now.

I do hope that they'll take time to think this out before really divorcing. I'm not sure the laws in PA but my own parents were separated when I was around 5 years of age for 9 months. In my own case mom had left dad due to alcohol and gambling issues he had. Today you would not know a more loving couple towards one another. Dad decided what was important and that is family. The place to always start is to apologize and admit your own shortcomings. A healthy relationship requires a partnership, not one dominating the other.

I wish they would do the sensible thing and quit the show while they try to work this problem out, having the cameras there is going to make it much much harder.

[C Watson]

I never heard them mention anything about counseling. I wonder how hard they actually tried to make it work. It is both their faults though. Kate was really bossy and demanding, but Jon let her take command and stay there, so he should have stepped up in the first place and they should have been in counseling a long time ago. Also, they fact that Jon wouldn't even talk to Kate about why exactly he was mad at her. What is he....12? He can't use the excuse of "I'm only 32". How is them commuting going to work? That seems awfully stressful too. It just seems like they didn't even try to communicate, but then again all we see is what is on TV, so maybe they really did try to make it work. Who knows. I won't be surprised if the ratings plummet now. I won't be watching anymore. I'm just tired of the whole thing and the outcome is just really sad.

[Andrine]

I don't feel sorry for either one of them...both have shown that money is more important to them than keeping a family together. They are the Greedy Gosselins.

[Susan]

This couple has had no time to understand each other's needs and wants because of all the drama put forth around them. This is just another family failure - sad. The show and kids have obviously put a huge strain on their relationship. With the money this couple has made from the show, it's no wonder they are searching outside the box for better answers to their individual needs, but I have a feeling it will just complicate it more. Good luck Jon and Kate.

Personally, we need to get this kind of show off the air. Where are the positive family shows? Not to mean that Jon and Kate are bad parents, but I don't think they are being mature enough to handle their life reasonably. As cute as the tykes are, I'm not really entertained by watching them act as kids. They are no different than the neighbor's kids. Jon and Kate's situation isn't typical, but they might have been better off staying out of the highlife of hollywood drama. Even with the help of the show, you have to ask yourself if the family structure is more important than money. Now tell me if dating other people in their life (as if they have time) is going to solve all their problems raising so many children. Maybe several parents for the children will be better. Next we will be seeing the Jon and Kate Commune. Niether entertaining, nor good for the kids.

[finally]

It is great to see Jon finally taking control of this situation. Kate is continuing to pass the blame and justify how miserable she is. In her eyes she can do no wrong.

This show allowed the public to see that she can not be satisfied. Even mocking the OCC boys?? I mean come on... It's time to look in the mirror Kate.

[Christina]

There is no such thing as an unlovable person, only people who have too much hate in their heart to realize that. Kate is not perfect - none of us are, but she deserves better than to be villified by the media and people who don't really know her.

Actually, it is unfortunate that both of them seem to have hardened their hearts and neither is willing to admit their own faults have contributed to this situation. Their stubborn natures (and they BOTH have them) gave them the strength they needed to survive having multiples. Unfortunately, that same strength is keeping them from being humble and working things out.

[sacajawea]

This saddens me and I'm sure millions of others. They were a cute couple. They don't realize how this is going to affect their kids. I wish they could have worked it out.

[Paul]

These two idiots are so incredibly lame I can't stand it. They complain about being pursued by the paparazzi while they have a film crew in their faces practically 24/7... What a couple of morons. I have no sympathy whatsoever for either party. The sooner they are gone from the airwaves the happier I will be. What a waste of time, space, and money.

[MT]

I watched Kate in action for about 3 minutes one day, and I would divorce the witch, too.

[teresa]

After watching the end of the show last night and seeing that they did not file the divorce papers until the day the show aired, I strongly believe that neither Jon or Kate are in this for anything but the money. What they and TLC have done to the Family is a crime. Oh by the way.. who is going to take care of the two beautiful German Shepherds she is constantly trying to give away.

It is no wonder the condition of the American Family has deteriorated the way it has with the "Octomom" and Jon and Kate. The Douggars were doing much better before they flaunted their kids on a series as well.

[Sharon Bell]

People need to get a life!! It's very difficult to know the truth or who's to blame...last time I checked it takes two to Tango..good or bad...I'm just sad at the state of human beings for not having the spirit to make sacrifices and truly work at making things work....failure is only obvious when we give up!! A few months of struggling doesn't mean we should throw away yrs of love or overall good times...it's so much easier to give up!!! Until you've actually taken the time to try all different avenues to make it work giving up should not be an option...people make each other so easily disposable..we are not comfortable enough soooo why not just dispose of each other and look elsewhere?????!!!!!!

[Kathie]

Take this show off the air.

[Kathie]

This show should be boycotted. It is a sham.

[Audrey]

I am saddened by many of the comments of the viewers of this program. I do not watch the show, nor will I. I am praying for this family. We all should be. I am sure years of communication breakdown, the extreme intrusion of both the paparazzi and the public, and negative critisim online, on TV, and in newspapers and magazines have altered this couples life to their detriment. I hope both Jon and Kate stop for a moment and seek help in getting their lives back on track. I am sure they believed the vows they spoke before both God and men, but just need the time and solitude to reconnect. And Jon, you are excited about YOUR future? The grass is NOT greener. Trust me. You will regret not fighting for your marriage and family. There is NOTHING out there you don't already have right now. Just open your heart again!

[Becca]

I don't watch this show regularly, but with the media and tabloid backlash over the last few months, one doesn't have to. This is why you should have to pass a class to become married, and another to become parents. A nag of a wife and a hen pecked husband makes for great TV, but not great parenting. I feel for their kids, to have to go to school and out in public but everyone knows the family secrets? Kate is unloving at best and a complete troll at worst. Jon needs to break out his big boy underoos now and take a stance to protect his children, if Kate is as unloving towards them as she is with Jon, PA needs to step in and do something. But if anyone has seen Fayette County in PA, you know they won't ever do a thing. Kate is a hypocrite, remember the Dr. Phil episode where she put down Octomom? She is no better.

[Dave]

Who cares??

[noblegases]

Their first failure was utilizing fertility treatments and not utilizing selective reduction an essential component to the procedure. Don't give me an argument that God wants you to have all these kids. God wanted you to not have any of these kids. That is why you sought fertility treatments. Now the most important issue is the on going health of your children

[phoenixandrew]

To all you sexist women putting all the blame on Jon, get a life. I will pray for any man married to you.

[Diana]

I find it disturbing how the American public's world revolves around reality TV. I think we should all take a step back and ask themselves: "Am I perfect?," "What would my true personality look like on a tv screen?" All people think they know themselves and you almost everyone fools themselves. I think the true issue here is that these two people decided to put their lives on display and neither of them is satisfied with what they saw as the tv screen turned into a magnifying glass...blowing all their flaws up on the big screen. I think the American people and fans, or detractors, of the show should instead be praying that Jon and Kate put God back as the first thing in their life and everything else will fall in place.

[Hello]

I think the show is sad. The kids had no decision to be on the show, yet their parents decided and look what happened. A split on national television and it will embarrass all their children when they get older to understand the parents lied about their relationship. Fame was the whole point of the show and I feel sorry for the kids. The parents should be ashamed of themselves for doing such reckless things. Especially being unfaithful...know the meaning of love and marriage before having kids please.