By now, most people have heard that the Gosselins, Jon and Kate the TLC network darlings who have a reality show called Jon & Kate Plus Eight, are getting a divorce. John and Kate is all about their marriage and their family of 8 children. While I have never sat and watch the show from start to finish, i have watched several clips of the show. What concerns me is that this family is now in crisis and still the show is planning on going ahead with the filming of it after they take a hiatus; while they work through some issues and chart a course into the brokeness that can’t be avoided when a couple decides to seperate and divorce when they have children. The show will now allegedly focus on seperate times with the children from the sounds of it.
I have listened to news reports that have made a mockery out of the trauma that they are going through by covering each and every mundane thing that they do together and seperately with the children. It is unfortunate, but this happens to millions of families around the world every day; it isn’t meant for public consumption. Lately,the media reports was all about suspected infidelity and book tours. Now in the last week or two, “the announcement” of a life changing decision was used to build up suspense for the weekly show. For real, people…doesn’t it feel a little like being a spectator for a disaster? Waiting and wondering how things are going to unfold, who will come out a survivor, and then, what paths each individual will take on their journey if, this all ends badly?
What started out as a show of entertainment and a way to support their family has consummed them. The publicity has to have turned into a kind of sword that now is only causing more pain. I can’t help it, i wouldnt watch the show….not because they are not interesting, not because i have taken sides with one or the other of the couple…but, merely because I do not consider this to be entertainment…i happen to think that by watch the show we are actually becoming part of the problem and hurting them as a family. Please, let them heal in their own way…out of the eyes of the viewers.
Kate’s own brother and sister in law are begging people to stop watching the show out of concern for each of the family members. I am sorry, but Jon and Kate Plus Eight is no longer entertainment…it is a family tragedy! There are people who love and care about what happens to each of them and this is painful to watch. Are we going to be forced to hear in the media of divisions of their property, custody issues over the children, visitation difficulties and blending of families sometime into the future of this family when and if they decide to move on with other relationships? Really, can’t we all just stop paying attention in this obsessive way and respect them enough to let them work out family issues in private to minimize damage to one another, the children and the friends and extended family members? Should people watch or stop watching this show; what is your opinion?
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