Reality Show Damaged the Gosselin Children, Says Kate’s Brother

“Jon and Kate Plus 8 ,” TLC’s highly successful reality show featuring Jon and Kate Gosselin and their eight children, ended in November 2009, when Jon blocked cameras from the children’s life saying the network was exploiting them for profit. Though he later went back on his words, Kate’s own brother, Kevin Kreider, is now singing the same tune – in a court of law nonetheless, as TMZ can confirm.

Kreider was asked to testify in a hearing stemming precisely from Jon’s initial claims and he painted a not-too-favorable picture of what was going on in the Gosselin household at the time the show was still filming. Coming only days after TLC announced two new shows with Kate and the children, this could actually put her future in jeopardy, if proven accurate, it is being said.

“Jon and Kate Gosselin’s 8 kids suffered psychological damage while filming Jon & Kate Plus 8... this according to Kate’s own brother. Kevin Kreider and his wife Jodi just testified at a Philadelphia hearing on child labor laws and reality television shows. Kevin said the kids had no privacy during the taping – even their potty training was captured on video. Kevin also said the kids suffered psychological damage as a result of the show, adding there were safety issues in the house, including large lighting equipment that created a danger,” TMZ writes.

Aside from being taped when potty trained, the kids were also asked to fake major events like the unwrapping of the Christmas presents in order for the cameras to capture them in ways that could satisfy producers. Moreover, the same producers would be constantly asking the family – and the children in particular – to “act” because they wanted more drama on the show, perhaps aware that this boosted ratings. Ironically enough, Jon Gosselin is now denying that TLC ever exploited his children.

“Kevin’s testimony is interesting... considered a potty training scene was filmed at his house. TLC tells TMZ the allegations are ‘either completely inaccurate or a distorted representation for maximum attention.’ Jon Gosselin also released a statement, saying ‘the allegations made by Kevin and Jodi have not been my experience at all during the production’,” TMZ goes on to say.