Jon Gosselin Countersues TLC, Says He Needs Money

TLC is currently pursuing legal action against the man it made into a star with the “Jon & Kate Plus 8” reality show, Jon Gosselin. The network has sued for breach of contract, because Jon reportedly cashed in good money to do interviews with the written and spoken media. Just recently, Gosselin too has filed papers for a case against TLC, claiming the network is single-handedly making it impossible for him to sustain himself and his family, TMZ has learned.

The accusations and threats began when TLC tried to downsize Gosselin’s participation in the show, albeit offering him more money as well, an offer he refused. Not only that, but he also moved to block production on the reality series altogether, on the grounds that the network was exploiting his and Kate’s eight children. In response, TLC sued him for taking money from other media outlets when he was bound exclusively to the network. Now, Gosselin too is suing, saying TLC is effectively barring him from making any money.

“Jon Gosselin has fired back at TLC... firing back at the network that is trying to get an injunction prohibiting him from making dough on shows other than TLC. Gosselin wants the contract he made with TLC declared invalid on grounds it’s unconscionable – translation: Jon had no lawyer or manager when he sat down with TLC and inked the deal. The best part – Gosselin refers to himself as ‘an unsophisticated father of eight.’ He claims the deal was so bad... he and his family only pulled in $2,000 an episode at the beginning. That’s $200 a head,” TMZ writes of the latest development.

At the same time, Jon is also accusing the network of putting him in a position where he can’t but go to other media outlets to earn his living, since the show has been put on hold for an indeterminate period (which, ironically, is his own doing). “Gosselin also claims TLC violated child labor laws. Gosselin claims if TLC gets the injunction he’ll be ‘unable to earn a living as a television personality, and therefore be precluded from supporting his eight children, whereas Plaintiff (TLC) currently has its show on “indefinite hiatus”',” TMZ further informs.

Word in the industry also says that TLC is so certain it’s going to win this, that attorneys for the network are already gathering evidence of the many times Gosselin violated the exclusivity contract. Apparently, the moment the network gets the injunction, it plans on asking for money for every appearance that Jon did and got paid for.