Jon Gosselin says show is ‘not healthy’ for kids

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updated 7:13 p.m. ET Oct. 6, 2009

NEW YORK - The father of the children on “Jon & Kate Plus 8” says it’s “not healthy” for his kids to continue appearing on the TLC reality show.

Jon Gosselin says he had “an epiphany one day” and realized his 5-year-old sextuplets and 8-year-old twins shouldn’t be filmed at the family’s Pennsylvania home while their parents are going through a divorce.

He went on to say that he wants to become friends with his estranged wife and “figure out our marriage.”

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“We know we’re not going to be husband and wife anymore, but we’re always going to be mom and dad,” Gosselin said during an hourlong interview on “Larry King Live” Thursday.

Gosselin repeatedly said he’s made mistakes “and I have to learn from them.”

TLC network has shut down filming of the children on “Jon & Kate Plus 8” after receiving a cease-and-desist order from their father, Jon Gosselin.

In a statement, the network said production would remain suspended “pending further conversations” between both Gosselins, who are parents of 5-year-old sextuplets and 8-year-old twins. Filming not directly involving the kids is ongoing, TLC said Thursday.

“It appears that Jon’s priority is Jon and his interests,” his estranged wife, Kate Gosselin, said in a statement on Thursday. “My priority remains our children and their well being.”

The Insider Web site reported Thursday that Gosselin demanded through his lawyers that the TLC production crew vacate the property of the family home in Wernersville, Pa.

Wed for a decade, the Gosselins filed for divorce in June, after weeks of reports of marital discord and infidelities, which both spouses denied. The couple made their separation official on a “Jon & Kate” episode seen by 10.6 million viewers.

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Production halted on 'Jon and Kate'
Oct. 1: TLC has suspended production of its popular reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8." Msnbc's Alex Witt reports.
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But the series, which premiered two years ago, had originally clicked with viewers for its heartwarming look at the challenges of raising eight young children.

In her statement, Kate Gosselin said, “I’m saddened and confused by Jon’s public media statements. Jon has never expressed any concerns to me about our children being involved in the show and, in fact, is on the record as saying he believes the show benefits our children and was taping on Friday with the kids.”

On Monday, TLC announced that the weekly series would be renamed “Kate Plus Eight,” with a reduced involvement by Jon Gosselin, though he remains under “an exclusive contract” with TLC.

In her statement, Kate Gosselin said, “I do the show for my family because I believe it provides us opportunities we wouldn’t otherwise have. Jon used to share that belief until as recently as the day the network announced the name change of the show and indicated that Jon would have a lesser role in the show.”

Gosselin’s lawyer, Mark Jay Heller, did not immediately return calls to The Associated Press.

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