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Jon and Kate Plus ... Some Drama
By: Jamie Sokolik | 06/11/2009
I'm going to say two of the most common names in the country, and you're going to be bombarded with very specific images and memories. Ready?
Jon and Kate.
In case you've been on Mars for the past six months, I'll explain why everyone is talking about them. Jon and Kate are the parents of a set of twins and a set of sextuplets. They are also the stars of a popular reality show on TLC called "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" that records their everyday lives raising eight kids. And - ready for the kicker? - Jon was caught very late at night drinking with a woman who was not his wife. From there, the media concluded he'd had an affair, and Kate is not sure what to think. Since this incident, the couple's popularity has surpassed their adorable children's, and they are in every tabloid in every grocery store across the country.
Bad press or good press?
While the show's ratings have skyrocketed (9.8 million people tuned in for the fifth season premier, which aired on May 25, 2009), there is some backlash. Kate has now been accused of having an affair with her bodyguard, and the paparazzi seem to follow the family everywhere they go.
Adding to the drama is Kate's sister-in-law, Aunt Jodi, who used to appear on the show frequently. Aunt Jodi's sister has started a blog called The Truth Breeds Hatred where she claims her goal is to "open eyes and help raise awareness for the need for laws to protect children in the entertainment industry." Whether she is sincere or not, her ponderings have caused quite a stir. The show is currently under investigation for possible violation of Pennsylvania child labor laws.
Kate has a blog on TLC's Web site, but each post seems to be a simple recap of the latest television episode. Is Kate missing an opportunity to defend her family's reputation and her own? Are their other social media opportunities that Jon or Kate could use to explain their side of the story? Should they address these accusations on the show, or are we all just tired of hearing about them?
Posted in Issues and Crisis Management, Public Relations
Sharon says:
Wed, June 17, 2009 at 12:32:pm
I think she’s absolutely missing an opportunity. Some family members have come out criticizing the show for exploiting the children, but where were those arguments when Jon and Kate were having good times? She needs to put a better spin on this.
In my opinion, it temporarily raised ratings but I think it’s bad press. Just because people are watching that doesn’t mean they’re not judging and ratings can go down as well as up.