Is Jon Gosselin a Bad Dad?

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

06 Mar 2009 11:45 AM

A ton of people seem to think so, but it's not because the Jon & Kate Plus 8 star beats his kids or puts them in harm's way. Rather, millions of fans with Internet access are bombarding cyberspace with their criticism of the reality TV star's... shall we say... extracurricular activities.

According to Star Magazine and a slew of "entertainment"-based websites, Jon Gosselin, one half of the parenting team that rears a set of 5-year-old sextuplets and twin 9-year-olds, has been participating in behavior worthy of a timeout.

The tabloid recently ran an article (with pictures) of the 31-year-old father of eight partying with female co-eds from a local Pennsylvania college. According to witnesses, Gosselin showed up uninvited to a beer bash hosted by members of the Juniata College women's volleyball team. While there daddy dearest reportedly played beer pong with the ladies and took part in some tonsil hockey as well.

But, wait there's more to Gosselin's reported bad-boy behavior. According witnesses (who were all too willing to spill their guts to Star Magazine), a few weeks ago Jon was caught canoodling with a long-legged blond at a local Pennsylvania bar located a mile from his mother's house.

"He was acting like a drunk, girl-chasing frat boy," a bar patron told Star. "It really disturbed me. On the show he is so nice, but here, he was acting like an idiot."

Wait... it gets even better...

According to witnesses at Memories Sports Bar & Grill, the TV (quasi) star was "dirty dancing with several girls from the volleyball team, making out, kissing them on their necks and mouths."

It's significant to note that the bar where this alleged fraternizing took place is located within walking distance of Gosselin's mother's home. The same home that he is now reportedly living in. Yes, living in. According to reports, Jon and Kate decided to temporarily separate, and the harried father of eight young children is currently residing with his mother.

What to believe?

I won't bore you with my thoughts regarding Jon and Kate Gosselin except to say I think their children are adorable. However, I will note that the entire Gosselin family is scheduled to appear on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Monday. Some say that Jon and Kate will remain together at all costs until their contract with TLC expires in 2010. Others are not that optimistic.

But, getting back to the question of whether Jon Gosselin is a bad dad because he is allegedly bar hopping and partying with college girls. I wouldn't say that his behavior would necessarily qualify him as a bad dad... more like a bad husband.

What do you think of the Gosselin rumors?

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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1stTimeMomOf2 (2460) 06 Mar 2009 06:27 PM

I agree with you Michele. I don't know whether to believe the rumors or not, but if they are true I'd say it makes him a bad husband and not necessarily bad dad. His behavior wouldn't be a good example to his children if they witness it, but I'm sure he wouldn't let them see it which would be a point in his favor as a dad.

Michele Cheplic (37339) 07 Mar 2009 07:00 AM

It's so hard to tell what is rumor and what is fact, though I am looking forward to their appearance on Oprah. Then again, it's not like she's going to ask: "Hey Jon, have you been cheating on Kate?" in front of their kids.

ktemom (11) 08 Mar 2009 03:39 AM

I'm not sure that I buy in to all these reports about Jon being unfaithful. And this is no excuse, but have any of you noticed the manner in which he is treated by Kate? It makes me so uncomfortable just to watch her treat him with such disrespect. She yells at him in public, she puts him down in front of their children, she always has to be right. It is my opinion that she psycologically "neuters" him. IF he is being unfaithful, Kate ought to take a look in the mirror and feel shame for the disrespect that she shows him. I don't understand how she can love him and at the same time show such disrespect. I believe our marriage vows remind us that we are to love, HONOR and cherish our mates for life. That's what I have sought to do in my 37 year marriage ~ and my husband does the same. Mutual respect is necessary in a successful relationship.

Michele Cheplic (37339) 08 Mar 2009 01:49 PM

ktemom, I agree that Kate does have a tendency to hen-peck and disrespect Jon, however, I will say that he himself admitted that she was that way before they got married and knew what he was getting himself into. I doubt he knew that they would have sextuplets, but the bottom line is that Kate's attitude shouldn't come as a surprise to him. That said, I don't think that she always treats him in a way that she should be proud of. She insults him, he insults her and they just seem to roll their eyes at each other's rude behavior. Who knows... maybe that's how their relationship is... whatever works. THOUGH, if it's not working, then you've got problems. I just think fame has gotten the best of both of them.

JohnScot (5) 23 Mar 2009 03:17 PM

I don't know if I can believe those tabloids.....Though, I HAVE heard the same story in about 3 sites....I just think they're straining themselves with new house and dogs...they already have eight kids. I think they'll get over this though, because they've been through so much, and they made sure their kids would know that they'll be together forever. So...I don't want them to stay together because it's TV, but because they're not thinking about what they're doing to their kids.

Michele Cheplic (37339) 22 Apr 2009 05:33 AM

I'm sure they'll stay together until they're done filming the show and making money off their current situation. Despite their references to their faith keeping them together, it appears it's more like the TLC contract that's doing that. IMO.

bte1967 (5) 29 May 2009 11:20 AM

If all this gossip about Jon Gosselin is true, they show pictures of him with two girls...they could be just fans...why isn't there pictures of him in theses bars....physical contact with other females....pictures of him getting drunk? I think he just got out for a bit of freedom cause the boss lady was away....

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 29 May 2009 11:21 AM

The tabloids also say that he and Kate had an arrangement that allowed him to date other people. Who knows. I wonder how we would all appear if we had the cameras on us all of the time. http://baby.families.com/blog/our-jon-amp-kate-moments