Pop-Ed: Why Kate Gosselin Might As Well Cash In on the Fame

By Joel Keller Posted Apr 13th 2010 02:46PM

Kate Gosselin Dancing With the Stars Custody

Kate Gosselin is one tough person to defend.

After all, how do you stand up for a woman who -- along with her Ed Hardy-wearing ex Jon -- more or less displayed their eight kids in an electronic zoo for five years in an effort to become rich and famous? And the couple's awful, showboating behavior since their divorce has only made things worse. It also doesn't help that, on 'Dancing With The Stars,' Kate is continuing all those tendencies that made many fans of 'Jon and Kate Plus 8' loathe her with a passion.

But when word came out that Jon Gosselin wanted to change the custody arrangement for his kids because all of Kate's projects, including 'DWTS,' have made her an "absentee mom," one thought came to mind: "What else does he want her to do?"

Yes, Kate's probably not the most present mother at this point in her kids' lives. Besides 'DWTS,' she's about to embark on a book tour and is also about to start her new TLC show, 'Twist of Kate,' which will take her across the country, interviewing moms inspired by her struggles. But, at this point, Kate might as well take advantage of any opportunity that comes her way.

If this seems like a contradiction from what I wrote earlier, it's not. Follow the logic and see if you don't agree:

Yes, it was wrong for Jon and Kate to exploit their kids to begin with. But that ship has sailed. After the smoke from all the controversy and tabloid stories clears, Kate knows she's facing the huge task of having to care for eight children.

USDA statistics have shown that, even for low-income families, the cost to raise a child through age 17 can cost upwards of $200,000; for higher-income families like the Gosselins, that number is closer to $300,000. Multiply that by eight, and the Gosselins are looking at needing to find $2.4 million dollars just to get their kids to college age. That's not even including college, the extra security, nannies, and the intense psychological therapy that these kids are going to need for years to come.

So both Kate and Jon are going to have to find that money somewhere. Before this circus started, Jon was an IT guy, who, if he was good, could have maxed out at $95,000 per year, but probably would have been stuck at around $69K, according to the average salary calculated by Indeed.com. Kate was a nurse -- she decided to renew her nursing license soon after the divorce and the cancellation of 'Jon and Kate Plus 8' -- but nurses in Pennsylvania average about $65,000 per year.

The couple, if they were normal, everyday folk, would have had to both work their tails off, and probably go deep into credit card debt to keep the family afloat. Given the potential for nurses to work crazy shifts, Kate might have been away from the kids almost as much as she is now.

If you were in Kate's situation and you had these opportunities open to you -- ones that would pay you hundreds of thousands of dollars -- you'd take all of those offers too. Is she still trying to stay in the spotlight? Sure. But she's also pretty worried about how she's going to be able to afford bringing up her kids after the fame fades, which it inevitably will.

Kate Talks To Today About Time Away From Her Kids

How is what Kate is doing different, for instance, than a baseball player who's on the road for months at a time? He's an "absentee father," but no one is calling him neglectful (and believe me, not all of those players have had peaceful marriages... just ask A-Rod). Does anyone accuse Julia Roberts of being neglectful when she leaves her kids for months at a time to film and promote a movie?

At least she's trying; all we've seen Jon doing is suing TLC and smoking. Heck, he's even willing to ride his ex-wife's coattails and join her new TLC show.

So everyone who says that Kate is neglecting her kids, you might be right. I'm sure even Kate would want to be home more than she is now. But step back from the situation for a second and realize that at this point, she may not have any choice. Once you open the door of fame, it's hard to close it again.

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Tags: jon gosselin, kate gosselin

Comments

(618)

Tuesday 13 April

By MAGOOS

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This miserable no talent will end her days broke and living in poverty. You have to have a talent somewhere to survive and she has none. At the moment, she can push her selfish ambitions but they will end. Her children will be the big losers; I fear for their futures.

By janimuc

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its amazing people like you who are so judgemental and perfect a great quote for you let he who is without sin cast the first stone. can you ???? i don't think so . you will be the one to be alone with your bitterness.

By daisypinkflowers

WHILE LIKE YOU I AM NOT A FAN OF GOSSLIN, WHAT'S TALENT GOT TO DO WITH IT THESE DAYS; WHICH EXPLAINS THE KARDASHIANS, THE JERSEY SHORES CREW AND EVERY OTHER REALITY SHOW.

By Susan

Janimuc, wait a minute since when can someone not agree with with you people without you all pulling out the bible!! She started on TV being a stay at home Mom, showing the world that she spit out 8 babies and she and her hubby could handle it all, with alot of help!! Now she's on the road whoring herself out to any media that will look her way. Sorry, go be a nurse, she is nothing but trailer park trash anyway, she'll end up there, with 8 kids needing alot of therapy. Cast the first stone?? Kate did that when she put herself and her family on TV..explotation it is called!! Sin..Sin..Sinner!!

Wednesday 14 April

By Joan

Kate isn't "pushing" anything. She was asked on that show as well as others. Why shouldn't she go? So many people are bitterly judgemental. Who the h377 do you think you are? By the way Jon is acting, I wonder what was really going on in that house. Kate may have had good reason to act the way she did on that show. For one HE admitted having affairs right there in the children's home. By the audience reaction "Jon and Kate plus Eight" was a great success.

By themeeker

The idiot kate hasn't got any of my money and she can take a flying leap.

By bethany

I applaud Kate for the superb job she is doing of singlehandedly supporting her children. To support 8 children alone as she has been is something to be proud of.
It's always hard when one parent will not
help and the family is large. Keep on Kate,
we are praying for God to give you strength
and always a job so that you can take care of your kids. God Bless You !

By Kari

Kate's children are already spoiled brats and they'll definitely have emotional problems. They'll never make it to college because their mom will pimp them out to reality shows.

By lori

Bethany FYI....Kate is looking at mansions in Hollywood Hills with asking prices in the 2 million dollar range. And that’s not all–her requirements include a pool, six bedrooms, a hot tub and–A RECORDING STUDIO. Sure Keep Supporting POOR Kate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By aleja13

I support Kate on trying to support her Kids! You gotta do what you gotta do! Jon left her and now she is on her own. Im sure that all these ppl are just haters, because if they would have an opportunity, they would do it too!! the Ironic thing is that they are the ones making her more famous in a good or bad way who cares, but she is in everybodys mouth. Go Kate!!!!!

Sunday 18 April

By Simzee

She needs to be working her butt off like at McDonalds or somr other low paying job like most single Mothers in this world. She needs to be between a rock & a wall with not much of a choice. Basically, she needs humiliation. Only then can Kate change & see reality.

By susie

Yea for kate, I raised only 3 children in a very large city, a dead beat father who never came around. I held 1 decent job and 4 side jobs. I did it, but it was the hardest thing that God gave me in life. I worked many hours beyond what I wanted to do, I never got help from anyone other then friends support. So kate, you do what you think is best. I am now 60 years old and I don't regret one job or hour I had to work to put those children through life and college. I did not remarried until later after my children were raised, their natural father is deceased because of his games. So life gives us what we give it. If you haven't walked in her shoes then don't judge her.

By sszewczyk

Well she could quit all this and go on welfare. At least she isn't living off the taxpayers. I say more credit to her. If she can get the gigs she should take it. At least she is doing something and her kids will have what they need and she does spend all the time she can with them until she has to fly back to California for the tapings. Wanna bust on somebody then bust on that no account exhusband. I would love to smack the smirk off his face.

By lotsakiddies7

I agree 100%. This woman has made herself famous for having 8 children, a screwed up marriage, and PMS 24/7... THAT IS NOT A "TALENT"! I myself am pregnant with my eighth child, and it makes me sick that Kate has put her children in the center of all the drama that is making her rich and famous. My family will never see 2.4 million dollars in a lifetime, so I don't understand why that family needs that amount to survive. If they do in fact need that amount of money, Kate better give up dancing now, because I surely don't see a future in that. She should be ashamed of herself for getting rich , for nothing more than doing what MANY women do everyday. If being a b**tch, arguing endlessly with your spouse, making babies, and allowing society to watch these children grow up, being plagued, due to this selfish behavior, was a REAL job, there would be a lot of filthy rich women in this world! Bottom line is, She has 0 talent, a bad attitude, a failed marriage , and her children are going to suffer at her expense. And this makes her a "STAR"???????? The people who back this woman up and feel bad for her being disliked, are missing the moral point. Sure, she has 8 kids, her husband cheated on her (have you seen the way she treated him?), and she has to make a living. It happens everyday to ordinary people. But unlike ordinary people, she has violated her children's rights to privacy , (rights that they are far too young to understand that they have) to get rich. It is tasteless. The people that continue to back up, this untalented woman, are doing nothing more than enabling her and the media to continue to violate her children's privacy and the chance for a NORMAL life! If she hadn't made herself famous for being a b**ch in the first place, while making her poor husband look like a pitiful fool, and barking at her kids, on every episode of Jon and Kate plus 8, MAYBE, Just maybe, she would still have a husband, and an APPRECIATION for what FAMILY (not fame) is all about!!!

By godabarb

doesnt anyone ever wonder where the millions are they were earning ??????? Did they put money away for these WORKING kids?

Maybe she should stop whining and get a job.....I just change the channels when I see her on TV.

The "I am keeping all of this from the children" shows what a phoney or stupid person she is... they go to school and will have to socialize with folks who have watched BOTH parents make fools of themselves.....yes, the internet will allow them to see it all forever.

poor kids

By anax13

oh shut up you

By Annie

Please Magoos fear for your owns kids future, and mental outlook, with a attitude like yours loser!!!!!

By Jeff F

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Those costs of raising a kid are always unrealistically high. If it costs that much for a woman's time to put a price on everything, then the same goes for the dad's. You don't multiply the figure of 200,000 or 300,000 by eight because some of those costs don't have to be reapplied for each kid ie. housing costs, cars, toys, etc.

By Shelley

I really don't like her, and I guess it's fine that she'd rather be out in the media and famous than be home with her kids, if that's what she wants. What really irks me is that she keeps crying about how hard it is to be a single mom! Try raising kids, working, cooking etc, all without nannies and chaufers(sp?) and all the rest. Then you can cry about how hard it is. She says that she understands single moms, she doesn't understand me.

By Jeff

janimuc,

Aren't you judging the ones who you say shouldn't be judging? So who are you? Everybody judges everybody, that's reality.

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