Interview by Samantha
Last Wednesday I had the opportunity to interview the much talked about Jon Gosselin. We discussed everything from his Thanksgiving, to his controversial dating life. Speaking with Jon after watching the show for so long was a little surreal. We talked for almost a half hour and there were no stipulations regarding what I could or could not ask. He was open and friendly- just like the father of eight we met during season one of Jon and Kate Plus Eight. The following is part one of our two part interview.
IW- Welcome to Imperfect Women- How was your Thanksgiving?
JG- It was eventful. I was in Utah with friends. I missed my flight the day before and I wasn’t going to make it to my grandmother’s anyway because my flight would’ve come in at 6:30- to JFK. I would’ve had to drive across town to the west side and the Macy’s Day Parade was going on so there was no way. I landed at 6:30 at JFK- on the day of the Macy’s parade and I had to be in Pennsylvania. My grandmother’s is 5 hours from New York. My mom scheduled lunch for 11 and there was no way I could make it. If I had a helicopter I might have made it but that’s about it. So I spent it with family and friends in Utah and I flew home the next day. My mom, my brother, everyone came over to my house to see my kids and stuff the day after Thanksgiving. My brother just had a brand new baby so we were all celebrating that, it’s so cool, now my mom has 11 grandkids.
IW- Obviously this goes without saying but there’s so much out there about you right now, is there anything you would like to set the record straight about?
JG- I don’t have a wish list for dating. I don’t know where that came from, it’s so weird. I don’t have a wish list and those people aren’t on it even if I had a wish list. I date normal people, I don’t date celebrities. I don’t want all their baggage.
IW- The past year has been full of so many changes, can you tell us what the biggest adjustment has been?
JG- The attention from the past year, oh my goodness, I just want it to be over. I go from father of eight kids to playboy, blah, blah, blah – to having a wish list, to Michael Lohan. You know, people taking advantage for the whole year. I didn’t ask for this and I didn’t put myself in the media, it’s like people just write stuff about me, it’s ridiculous. I’m hoping after the divorce is settled and the TLC lawsuit is settled I can have a normal life and it will just go away. I don’t know what’s going to happen with TLC, I know I’ll be fine either way. I mean who sues their own talent? It’s ridiculous.
IW- I know things are difficult with TLC right now, but what’s the most positive thing to come from the show?
JG- Learning who your friends are. Your friends won’t burn you.
IW- If you had it to do over again, would you still have done the show?
JG- I don’t know. People ask me this all the time. At the time, we were desperate, you know? So we did the show, it wasn’t that much money, it was only like $2,000 an episode . The first season was only eight episodes, that’s only sixteen grand. But that was $16,000 more than we had. The next season I think they paid us $4,000 an episode and it was12 episodes. A lot of people think we were millionaires but even if we did make millions we had to divide it up by ten.
I W- So may people feel like they know your family from watching the show. That has to be strange.
JG- Yeah, that’s the hardest part because if you go out of bounds or you live your life like you want to instead of the way the show has been edited then you’re hypocritical and you contradict what the show is. So, for instance in January my friend Deanna was driving my car and we get photographed. All of a sudden I’m having an affair? People didn’t know that my marriage was over in January. And you know this comes out, and they see the episodes the night before where we’re sitting on the couch and we’re all lovey-dovey and the next night I get photographed and it’s all over, so it looks contradictory, which is really hard. Technically that’s not reality TV, there is no true reality TV at all.
IW- Do you think that to an extent, TLC created characters?
JG- Absolutely. Totally. Kate was the mean one, I was the nice one- passive. I mean for the last four years they created fodder, they created arguments, they asked questions like you know, they’d just dig up dirt. They knew stuff that I did and Kate did and that would annoy us. They’d ask us questions about it and we didn’t know each other did it so then we’d be arguing. Or we’d be arguing that day and be forced to interview that night just for fodder. Of course. No one’s going to watch a show with two happy people. It doesn’t work.
IW- It seems like there’s a “curse” on reality TV marriages, not many seem to make it through.
JG- Our marriage would’ve failed anyway, I know that for a fact. It just would’ve taken a lot longer.
IW- Do you think the success of the show, or the money that came from it the last couple of seasons made it easier to end the marriage?
JG- I had this conversation with Kate. Before, we relied on each other and God. Then you throw money into the mix and you feel like you don’t have to rely on each other anymore because you can buy everything. That’s seriously what it comes down to, even though she won’t admit to that, but, it’s true. We did it all ourselves- season 1, 2, 3, 4. We didn’t have nannies. we didn’t hire our nanny till last October. She’s been there one year and before that we did it all ourselves. And now you have this person, and employees, and lawyers, and people do your laundry, you know? It’s crazy….. and chefs and all that stuff- and you feel like you need them but that’s not reality. You don’t really need them.
Later this week- PART TWO
Tags: Jon and Kate Plus 8, Jon Gosselin, Kate Gosselin, TLC
Samantha, three cheers. You did a fantastic job.
I have to say I feel really proud of IW today. I feel the questions that were asked of Jon were fair and I like that he was given the opportunity to answer in his own words and have his answers printed in full. Considering the number of articles he has had written about him this year – almost all by people who don’t know him and many with a slant or bias – I think he deserved this opportunity.
Several of his answers were very enlightening. I feel he made some good points about the Deanna Hummel incident.
On the flip side, I still don’t think that he yet fully realizes and accepts responsibility for the negative consequences of his behavior over the last 9+ months. I think there is a better person waiting to come back out of this madness.
i think you did a wonderful job samantha. i don’t actually feel any different about jon than i did before i read the interview. i think he was trying to be a husband/maybe even christian that he thought he was supposed to be. i think he is basically not that person. he is a partying kind of guy. i don’t think he thought that was what marriage and fatherhood was going to be about at all.
as far as his christianity i cannot and will not judge. but i will say that in everyone’s life the fruit they bear shows what they are. and i think (because of the rabbi thing and subsequent interviews he did) jon is still searching but not willing to lay it all down for the cross.
i do think he is still playing the blame game and trying to justify his behavior. i think he really does feel that he is *somebody*. and maybe that is just a product of being in the spotlight.
i totally agree with his last answer! i think it’s very very true. and i think it’s insightful of him to realize it.
can’t wait to read the next part!
Wow, what a surprise! That’s great, Samantha!
It bugs me how he always talks about dividing the money into everybody’s “share , as if they were a singing group or something.
I’ll bet he never intended to go to Grandma’s for Thanksgiving. Hailey said he was going to Utah, but that doesn’t sound as good.
Was he as charming as he says he is, Samantha? Can’t wait to read the rest of it.
Wow, Samantha! What a coup! Can you tell us how you were able to do this? Are you a professional journalist?
The funny thing about Jon sometimes, and what I think many like about him, is how open he is. BUT, some statements don’t make sense. Plus, I don’t think he sometimes thinks like a women does, about the daily welfare of the kids. When he’s gone, he’s gone. Of course, he loves them when he’s gone, but I would guess (sexist maybe) that he assumes all is well with them. I bet when Kate’s gone, she’s thinking, “oh, Lordy, what’s up, who’s helping, are the all OK?”.
Who really knows, and (oh, Lordy!) why do I care!!!!
(BTW–my daughter is trying on “fashions” in her own words, where she wraps her towel around her ninety different ways. I love the way she goes “how about THIS fashion” each time she displays a different way to wrap it. Love, love, love the kids.” Oh year, she doesn’t have much of a clue about J&K since we stopped watching as a family in spring, (I don’t like her to see the divorce topic). Randomly she said this morning, I’ll have so many kids and be on TV!. Truly, she doesn’t see that so it seems so weird. Plus, don’t watch TLC, just gossip, nowadays.
Good job Samantha. Can’t wait to read part II, then I’ll make up my mind.
CincyMom, you are so right. He seems very open, but some of his responses don’t make any sense to me either.
Kiki- he seemed exactly like he used to be in the “couch” interviews. He was very nice.
Judy- Pam went through the right channels to secure the interview, so we have her to thank
It was an interesting conversation!
Yeah, I guess he’s always seemed nice enough, just kind of clueless.
Nice job Samantha! I look foward to the second part, too.
CincyMom, you are so right. He seems very open, but some of his responses don’t make any sense to me either.
Ditto.
On the flip side, I still don’t think that he yet fully realizes and accepts responsibility for the negative consequences of his behavior over the last 9+ months. I think there is a better person waiting to come back out of this madness
Exactly Anya. He seems so nonchalant and flippant about it all. Once he does realize and takes responsibility, then perhaps he will be a better person. But, he’s got a lot of making up to do.
I wonder if he ever read this blog before. I hope he does now. Perhaps he can get off his “me” soapbox and realize he’s the father of ten kids and needs to grow up.
I still don’t get him whining about having to divide the money by 10. It’s not like TLC would have done a show about him if he hadn’t had the kids.
I think he is pulling the wool over your eyes – a man who hosts Las Vegas pool parties, cheats on his girlfriend and who clearly tells the paps to call him (see tmz video last week) – just to name a few is not trying to stay out of the limelight!
Great job Samantha!
Congratulations on a great interview, Samantha! Over all, my opinion about him hasn’t changed, but being sort of close to the actual interview source, and knowing that Jon was being pretty open and above-board, reminded me that ultimately Jon is a human being and deserves at least as much compassion as judgment.
I think he is pulling the wool over your eyes – a man who hosts Las Vegas pool parties, cheats on his girlfriend and who clearly tells the paps to call him (see tmz video last week) – just to name a few is not trying to stay out of the limelight!
Welcome, karen shaw! (I think you may be a new poster?) My impression of Jon is a little different. I think he pulls the wool over his own eyes – I think he wants to be a good person but for whatever reason (probably a variety of reasons, really), he’s lost his way a bit. I’m not sure how he justifies some of the things he does to himself, but the human capacity for self-justification is pretty great – I’ve certainly been guilty of it myself at times.
Congrats Samantha! Great interview and very fair and astute questions. When I met him, I too thought he was very laid back and very open. Very personable. With that being said I completely agree with jennie on this comment:
My impression of Jon is a little different. I think he pulls the wool over his own eyes – I think he wants to be a good person but for whatever reason (probably a variety of reasons, really), he’s lost his way a bit. I’m not sure how he justifies some of the things he does to himself, but the human capacity for self-justification is pretty great – I’ve certainly been guilty of it myself at times.
I think that both of them need down time away from all the hub bub to sit and think and let it all sink in as to what has happened to themselves and the family.
That was really neat that you could talk with him in a non Insider/ET type situation. I really don’t think he realizes that there are a lot of people that care about him and his family and their outrage is out of care and concern for what is best for him and his family. I just wish he would think through consequences before he acts, I think Kate did that for him when they were together, but now he’s floundering and the people he seeks out aren’t helping.
That is an interesting interview and very different from the New York piece that came out yesterday as well.
My overall impression of Jon is that there is not a “real” Jon Gosselin – his soul seems like a mirror of the people he is around. A nice guy interview when he is talking to a nice person; discussion of his brand and making money and his fame when interviewed around the Hellers. Of course, the problem is if you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything and I think that is totally what happens in Jon’s case.
My reaction to the Utah trip on Thanksgiving is that he should stop making excuses for it. He was in Utah on Thanksgiving when he couldn’t be with his kids anyway. No big deal except for his lying about it initially. He had a nice Thanksgiving with all his family on Friday. Lots of people celebrate that way.
I find it a bit odd that the only thing he wants to set straight is the dating list circulating. It seems like the supposed contract with Kate Major or the betrayal of Michael Lohan would be more important to set straight …. unless they are telling the truth.
His view that others are taking advantage and that he didn’t ask for the media attention don’t ring true. He encourages the paparazzi and we have all seen that.
I wish that some of Kate’s detractors would note what JON is saying about TLC creating “characters.” They can’t see to accept that TLC helped create the image of Kate as mean on the show and that does not accurately reflect her any more than the image portrayed of Jon reflects who he is. Also Kate has been vilified for saying the marriage would have ended without show and yet Jon is saying the same thing.
“I didn’t ask for this and I didn’t put myself in the media, it’s like people just write stuff about me, it’s ridiculous.”
Uh, yea you did! Every interview for the tabs that you got paid for and every time you went down to the fence to talk to the paps you asked for it. And don’t forget the impromptu chats on the streets of New York with the paps telling them about your sex life with Kate and reading them her email to you.
“So, for instance in January my friend Deanna was driving my car and we get photographed. All of a sudden I’m having an affair?”
You could have gotten away with that despite the video of you leaving her house in the wee hours had it not been for your man slutting around with every woman that would have anything to do with you.
“Of course. No one’s going to watch a show with two happy people. It doesn’t work.”
Actually, I enjoy “Table for 12. They are very nice to each other and she doesn’t have to beg her husband to help with the kids. He’s there for his 10 children every day…..all while working a job outside the house!
This guy is pathetic! But I have to agree with one thing Jon has been saying for the last year. He complains that his 20’s are shot because of all the kids. Jon was not mature enough for marriage at 22 and still isn’t. I’d love to see him answer the question of what he thinks his kids are going to think when they read all this stuff about them and what he said about them. Will they think it’s their fault that daddy lost his 20’s and had to go make a spectacle of himself?
“I mean who sues their own talent?”
This statement is why I think Jon is delusional. What talent does Jon have? What business wouldn’t sue him for not abiding by his contract?
From what I’ve seen, what little personality Jon has is not nice. He has not been nice to any of the women in his life since this whole cheating thing broke.
I do agree that they would have divorced anyway, but I think it would have been sooner rather than later.
People get divorced every day. It’s not as though it’s something strange that very few people have heard of. The golden opportunity was there to show a TV audience how to divorce with dignity and love your kids more than you dislike your spouse.
Or, if he really didn’t want to be in the limelight, he had his opportunity when TLC cut him from the show. They were still paying him. He could have taken that time to transition into a regular guy while not having to worry about child support, but he instead had a mantrum and used the kids as pawns. It is him that calls the paps for photo ops. *think yoga shots, horse and buggy, etc.* He also stayed at the fence line as much as possible. He WANTS the attention.
In the end, I think it’s the kids that will lose, and it appears Jon is just self-centered enough not to care. I don’t even think he will “get it” when he’s looking up out of the hole he’s digging for himself. He will swear someone else threw him in.
At least in this segment of the interview it sounds as if he’s given up on trying to look good by trying to make his soon to be ex look bad. I hope that continues in the next segment.
These are just my opinions. I’m not trying to be mean, but this is how things look from where I’m standing.
Rebecca, you have taken the words right out of my mouth, but said them better than I could. When I saw that”who sues their talent?” line, my jaw dropped @ Jon’s audacity and then I just shook my head because I realized the man is delusional and while some folks believe his self esteem suffered while living under Kate’s “rule”, I believe he has a huge ego and he thinks he’s God’s gift to women now that he’s single again LOL! hmmm unemployed father of 8, known to cheat in relationships…
Great interview!
I really enjoyed the interview after just finding your site. It is interesting to read Jon’s own words about things, even though unfortunately he still doesn’t quite “get it” about his life and the things going on it.
I don’t understand how Jon could question why TLC would sue him, even though it was he himself that went on every website and tv interview to bash TLC, entered into side deals knowing that he needed approval from TLC to do so, associated himself with very questionable, dishonest people who actually advised him to steal money from the family’s joint account. Not sure that he actually thought he could be as bad as he wanted and noone could stop him.
Regarding the last question Jon answered and reading his viewpoint, which I can really agree with, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jon is starting to wish he could go back to that point in time when it was just him and Kate, before they “got famous”, and were taking care of their family by themselves. Yes it was hard, but his life had actual purpose. It was him and Kate taking care of their big family, actually living real, normal lives.
The big house, publicity, lawsuit, failed business and personal relationships are taking their toll on Jon evidently. He’s now stopped talking regularly to the media, the lawsuit is pending this week, there are very few people that will talk to him. It is unfortunate that Jon has to learn about things the hard way – by this time next year, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jon were completely different and sorry for all that he squandered away this past year.
Great job on the interview Samantha
I notied he really went into detail as to why he wasn’t at his mom for Thanksgiving. People trying to cover their tracks usually over tell their stories. He has told so many stories in different interviews that you can no longer tell truth from fiction. The marriage was over in January, funny he stated something else before. He needs to man up and be truthful, he is not a good liar!!!
Congrats Sam and IW! You sure have come a long way since the old blogging days:-)
I don’t really follow the G’s much anymore, but from what I’ve seen, I think it’s easy to get caught up in the fame/money that being even a D list celeb/reality show drop out can bring. Hopefully Jon and Kate will get their heads out of their butts and give their kids a life with at least some degree of normalcy, but I won’t hold my breath.
“I mean who sues their own talent?”
I agree that this seems out-of-touch with reality. It sounds like the words of his lawyer or manager or both.
I would first like to say how incredibly happy I am for you all to get this interview! I am biting my nails off in jealousy! I love all of you and miss our simpler days on “Gosselins Without Pity”. I don’t speak to Pam as much as I used to, but you deserve all the success with this and other great interviews!
He does seem out of touch a bit, but this is after all, Jon Gosselin. I am so proud of you all! I cant wait to read the rest! Kisses to all of you1
Great interview! Can’t wait to read the rest. Good job Samantha!
I do agree with all the comments on his “talent” remark. Poor choice of words and a little delusional.
Congratulations to Sam on a great interview.
Lately, Jon doesn’t seem as hyper and agitated when speaking. He’s calmer but he’s contradictory.
As far as his remark about “who sues their talent’. What world? Really, those contracts are there for a reason.
I have to admit that I found myself getting sucked in when reading this interview. Must not get sucked into the Gosselin drama, lol!!!
Great job Samantha! How did you get access to Jon Gosselin?
Linda-
How I got access to Jon:
You know all those mysterious family “helpers” that keep coming out of the wood work? I too was one of the generous masses- and I can personally tell you they were always very generous with their yogurt supply!
Just kidding………….. I apologize in advance to readers who don’t get the yogurt reference. You should’ve been around a year ago
lol..yogurt supply!! That’s a good one. Great interesting interview.
Debbie, thanks for the kind words. It’s weird to think the “simpler days” were less than a year ago!
Samantha, LOL. Of course, I am going to have to remind you that it was yogHurt. Most be a PA spelling – ?!?
Seriously, though, how did you get access to Jon? Surely you didn’t pay for the interview?
We did not pay for the interview. I requested the interview through the agency that represents Jon.
Good questions, looking forward to Part 2.
Yes, great interview…congratulations to Samantha and this website. I’ll be glad to have this interview as a reference, since we know it is “truth, truth, truth” (lame reference to his “lies” t-shirt, I know), at least it is straight from Jon, and it is also recent. I’m another who is looking forward to Part 2.
Yes Samantha GREAT JOB!!! I’m also looking very forward to Part 2! CONGRATULATIONS!! I’m super proud to be a part of our IW group!
Gee, chefs, nannys,free supplies from PG, I’d do a Reality Show too, don’t forget the 22,000 each episode. I’m new at this site, so please forgive me for saying that I wasn’t much of a J and K follower except I would watch their show from time to time. I am not on either side also, so I won’t be bashing either one. I do find it amazing that fame and money can change people so quickly though. No matter your religion and up bringing, fame and lots of money can take you to another direction, and in this situation sad for the kiddies.
Great interview with Jon!
I think Jon is a nice guy. Has he done a lot of stupid things this past year? Oh yes!! What I see!! Jon fighting back, and trying to hurt Kate. Hurt Kate as bad as she has hurt him. Jon kept his mouth shut for years trying to make TLC happy, and Kate. Kate did not treat Jon as her partner, friend, or lover. She wanted him to jump as high as he could when she snapped her finger. Jon was not allowed to have an opinion, Kate wanted things done her way or no way. Kate showed Jon no respect what so ever!! And to belittle him as she did on National TV was a total disgrace. TLC was very wrong for airing and encouraging such behavior from Kate.
In every interview Kate comes off as this loving doting Mother, who’s only crime is caring about her Children. No doubt Kate loves her Children, but she loves herself more. The last two years of the show, has not been about the Children it has been about Kate. Kate’s wants and Kate’s needs. Forget about the needs of the Children or her husband.
Kate has said many of times, that Jon keeps things bottled up and then explodes over nothing. I think Jon hit the end of his rope. He has done what ever he could do, to try and hurt Kate. The problem is he ended up making himself look bad. Thanks to the Media and TLC.
Kate and TLC are the blame for the doom of this marriage. Kate and TLC should have back away from airing the show for a year, and let things settle down. Jon said he no longer wanted to do the show. He wanted to take a break. I believe had Kate and TLC stopped the show for a year, and let Kate and Jon work out some of their problems, they might have saved the marriage.
You tell me what man would stay home taking care of eight children, while is wife is running around the country? In Kates eyes she was making them money!! Jon should stay at home and keep his mouth shut and do what she tell him to do. After all she has provided him with cooks, maids, and nanny’s. Can you imagine having all those people in your home 24/7? No wonder Jon flipped out!!
Would I watch a show where Kate picks out a new slave? Are you kidding? What about the Children? Oh I forgot this is for the Children. ha ha ha
Mary,
I couldn’t disagree with you more. Jon’s faults are less obvious, but no less damaging to a marriage. Would I like to be in a relationship with Kate? No. But I thank the good Lord that my husband is not the kind of person who has to be told what to do like Jon or who announces every time he bathes the children or dresses them. I think that in general most women have very low expectations of men and their participation in child care. Therefore, when we see a man doing something or even anything toward caregiving we extend a lot of credit perhaps where little credit is due. Now that they are on their way toward divorce and without “the leash” that Kate wrongfully had around him he demonstrated his true colors — immature, without direction, self-indulgent, etc.
I don’t believe Jon announced every time he bath the Children? TLC Might have announced that. Yes I will agree that Jon has acted extremely immature. What I see is a very angry hurt man.
I’ll bet you treat your husband with a lot more respect than Kate has treated Jon? You praise your husband for stepping up and helping out. Something Kate fail to do most of the time with Jon. Jon could not open his mouth without getting belittled.
I do not agree with everything Jon has done, but Kate is not the lilly white perfect wife or Mother either. They both are wrong!!
Jon’s anger is his problem. He shouldn’t be trying to hurt Kate, his energy should have been focused on caring for his children and how it all affected them. Jon courted the media and the paps, he didn’t need any help from TLC to make himself look bad. He did great all by himself. btw, in the early show, Kate said she didn’t like the crew around, while Jon said he did. Whatever their problems were, the divorce is final now and he is still needing to focus on what’s best for his children.
You tell me what man would stay home taking care of eight children, while is wife is running around the country?
and
I’ll bet you treat your husband with a lot more respect than Kate has treated Jon? You praise your husband for stepping up and helping out. ~Mary
Not everyone sees a marriage this way. I don’t view it as stepping up and helping out when a man watches and cares for his own children. Women have historically been the ones to do this and Jon couldn’t hack it. It’s a shame that they couldn’t work out the trouble w/their relationship. I doubt anyone here sees Kate as a perfect wife or mother. I don’t think she’s an evil, manipulating, ball-crushing, villainess that some sites make her out to be.