Jon Gosselin is not holding back on his ex-wife 10 years after their divorce. The father of eight, who shot to fame with his family on Jon and Kate Plus 8, but has been vilified since 2009 after he split with wife Kate. It's always been assumed that Jon was the bad guy, however as the years have gone by it seems like more and more information is coming out about how he's not this evil person Kate has made him out to be.
Jon is making an upcoming appearance on The Dr. Oz Show and in a new preview, he talks about how the divorce between him and Kate has essentially bankrupted him. He claims that the network, TLC, helped Kate with finances but he was left all alone.
“I literally hung a sign on my gate saying, ‘If any crew members show up, I’ll have you arrested for trespassing,’” he says. “They sued me for breach of contract and I pretty much bankrupted myself. I’ve spent $1.7 million in lawyers fees from when TLC sued me and the divorce. TLC paid for [Kate’s] attorneys in the lawsuit and for her divorce.”
According to Jon, Kate fought for “legal custody to film my kids to sustain her lifestyle and their lifestyle," and says that "her belief system is skewed.”
“I believe her intentions, in the beginning, were good intentions, bringing kids into the world,” he tells Dr. Oz. “She fought to have these kids. But I think once fame and money got involved, it twisted her belief system. On my end, I’ve been fighting to get my kids off TV forever.”
In a statement with People, Kate called Jon "delusional."
“I have consistently made it a rule never to respond to Jon’s delusional ramblings, and I will not break that rule now,” Kate said in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE. “However, at some point soon, I look forward to making sure the absolute truth about our family is known.”
TLC, on the other hand, hasn't said a word.
This is the second interview in recent months that Jon has given where he makes allegations against his ex-wife. In an interview with the Daily Mail , Jon said that Kate was mentally abusive towards the kids, and even says TLC offered him money to stay in the unhappy marriage.
“I have watched my children suffer and I have not been able to say a word,” Jon said, referencing a gag order from their 2009 divorce. “It’s not about me, I don’t give a s**t, I’m like whatever, I’ll just go to work, you know? But my kids have suffered so much. Who’s going to defend them?”
According to Jon, TLC offered him $1 million to stay with Kate for another two years, which is something he couldn't morally do.
“I left the show so my children would never have to relive our divorce,” Jon said. “That’s it. I could have made millions of dollars if I would’ve just continued, took their offer and stayed married for two years and I probably wouldn’t even be sitting here today. But I couldn’t live with myself. I couldn’t live a lie.”
Jon then went on to claim that Kate is an emotionally and physically abusive person, and that's why Hannah and Collin have chosen to live with him permanently.
“I do know what she’s capable of, whether it’s mental or physical [abuse],” Jon said. “I have two kids in my house who left a whole pile of money behind. They left fame and money and came to my house. They left it all behind. I know my children have suffered abuse and I know one day they’re going to tell their own story. And sadly enough, I know what PTSD is. It’s really upsetting.”
Jon shared a letter that Collin sent him while he was living at an institute for behavioral problems, in which he begs his dad to "save" him.
“Dear Dad, I’m not trying to trick you, but I still love you,” Collin, 15, wrote in a June 2017 letter. “I told Mom I want to live with you, she said no. But right? She can’t choose for me. I’m old enough now, I’m YOUR son, not hers. She was abusive to me after I left your house. I’m sorry. Take this to court because … you’re my dad, my savior. Please help me and let me meet Colleen [Conrad, Jon’s girlfriend]. I’m counting on you to get me out of here. Daddy, I love you. save me. Please come FAST. I love you. Help me. BYE."
Jon now has primary custody of Hannah and Collin. While Collin's choice was because of being sent away, Hannah's was because she was tired of Kate's targeting.
“Hannah had had enough, she was always labeled the leader of the pack. She just got tired of being the leader of the pack and all that responsibility. She just wanted to be a kid,” Jon stated. “Kate targeted her. I mean, who puts all that pressure on to someone that’s 12 years old, it’s a lot.”
The protective father says his kids have expressed that they don't want to be on TV, but Kate is more or less forcing them to be.
“They have all said they have to film because they feel they need to provide a lifestyle for their mother,” he said. “They don’t want to film. They said they have to film. That’s heartbreaking. Why do my kids need to provide for themselves? They’re kids."
So if all of this stuff is true about Kate being abusive, why has Jon waited so long to speak out about this?
"I didn't want to upset the court, I didn't want to upset my children that were a lot younger," he said. "There's a lot of stuff I want to dispel - there's a lot of untruths. I have watched my children suffer and I have not been able to say a word. Kate wanted the gag order because she didn't want me speaking the truth. I know everything. I lived it with her and without her. So I know every single thing that has transpired and what has been portrayed to the American public, it's not all true."
Jon just wants the world and his kids to know that he loves being a dad, and he wants them all to live normal lives.
“I want to be genuine. I want a good upbringing for my children. I want them to be children and not on television anymore and I want them to live good, healthy, normal lives. I provide an income for my children. I go to work every single day. They need to enjoy their lives. Go to school and then go to college. I love my kids. That’s it.”
The full interview with Jon on Dr. Oz will air on Monday, November 18th.
