TLC Gets Backlash After Announcing Jon & Kate Plus 8 Is Returning After A Decade

Summary

• TLC is bringing back Jon and Kate Plus 8, but fans are not thrilled with the nostalgic revival of the controversial reality TV show.
• Viewers criticize the exploitation of the Gosselin family's personal life and drama, questioning the need to revisit past controversies.
• Despite TLC's efforts to reignite interest, many viewers feel that some TV moments are better left in the archives, showing mixed reactions.

Hold onto your remote controls, reality TV fans—TLC is digging up a decade-old relic and, surprise surprise, it’s not going over well. The network has announced the return of Jon and Kate Plus 8, the show that gave us a front-row seat to the chaos of the Gosselin family’s life. If you thought you’d seen the last of Jon and Kate’s tumultuous journey, think again.

The original run of Jon and Kate Plus 8 kicked off in 2007, capturing the wild ride of Jon Gosselin and Kate Gosselin as they navigated life with their eight children. The show continued to air even after the couple’s highly publicized split in 2009, but TLC pulled the plug in 2011.

Fast forward to 2015, and the network briefly revived the show, airing three more seasons before it officially wrapped up in 2017. Now, TLC is resurrecting the old episodes for a new audience, much to the chagrin of many.

Fans Aren’t Excited To See The Gosselins On T.V.

Fans were quick to voice their frustration. “Seriously, TLC? Who asked for this?” one exasperated viewer tweeted. Another chimed in, “Why revisit this drama when we have so much new content to enjoy?”

It’s clear that not everyone is thrilled about taking a trip down memory lane. In a particularly scathing comment, someone wrote, “Some things belong forgotten,” echoing the sentiment that this revival might just be TLC’s biggest misstep yet.

Why Jon & Kate Plus 8 Was So Controversial

The controversy surrounding Jon and Kate Plus 8 was no secret. From the start, the show faced criticism for its portrayal of the Gosselin family’s personal life. Viewers were often uncomfortable with the way Kate seemed to manage her children and the ongoing public drama between Jon and Kate.

The show’s depiction of their relationship struggles, financial issues, and the sheer volume of their daily life felt exploitative to many, turning it into a lightning rod for debate.

After the show ended, Jon and Kate mostly retreated from the spotlight—though not without their share of drama. Jon has reinvented himself as a DJ, a surprising pivot from his reality TV past. In November 2023, he revealed his new career path on socials, hoping to stay out of the limelight and focus on his new passion.

Kate Gosselin, on the other hand, has faced her share of financial troubles, despite having brief stints on other reality TV shows, like Dancing with the Stars.

Though their oldest kids are now legal adults, most of the younger Gosselin children are in the custody of Kate, and reportedly don’t see Jon, though two of the quintuplets live with him. Kate and Jon have both been romantically linked to people since their divorce but have yet to remarry.

Despite TLC’s best efforts to reignite interest in the Gosselin family saga, it seems like a lot of viewers are ready to leave the past where it belongs. With the mixed reactions to the show’s return, one thing is clear: some TV moments are better left in the archives.