Kate Gosselin is looking back at her 2009 divorce from Jon Gosselin.
The Jon & Kate Plus 8 alum gave her advice on dealing with divorce during a TikTok livestream on Wednesday, August 27, admitting that there were things she and Jon could have done differently for the sake of their eight children.
“I don’t know if you have kids or don’t have kids, but I just, I made decisions based on how I would want to be treated, honestly. And I didn’t buy into all the drama and the hate, and the ugly. And I had kids involved, so I wanted it to be as peaceful for them as I possibly could,” Kate, 50, said, per People.
According to Kate, despite her best intentions, the former couple’s divorce was tumultuous for their children.
Inside Kate Gosselin’s Life After Reality TV Career: What She’s Up to Now
“I did not hire an attorney that wanted to stir up trouble; I just wanted it to be peaceful, and I wanted the best for my kids,” she explained. “A lot of things happened that I could not control that did not turn out well for my kids, but I did my best. We just got through it to the best of our ability.”
Kate surmised that the whole experience “could’ve been a lot calmer and a lot nicer if everybody was willing to play nice.”
Kate and Jon, 48, wed in 1999 and quickly shot to fame due to their sizable brood. The former reality stars welcomed twin daughters Cara and Mady, 24, in October 2000. In May 2004, Kate gave birth to sextuplets Collin, Hannah, Joel, Aaden, Alexis and Leah, now 21.
The Gosselins documented their family life on the popular TLC reality show Jon & Kate Plus 8, which premiered in 2007 and ran for five seasons. Following Jon and Kate’s divorce, the show was renamed Kate Plus 8 and aired a further six seasons. The series ended in 2017.
Where Jon and Kate Gosselin Stand With Each of Their 8 Children
Over the years, Jon and Kate have had their ups and downs with each other and their eight children.
In May 2023, Jon told The U.S. Sun that he hadn’t been in touch with his oldest children, Cara and Mady, in nearly a decade.
“The last time I spoke to Mady and Cara was 2014. I periodically text Mady and Cara to see if I get a response and at this point, I’ve never heard from them,” he shared.
Kate, meanwhile, is estranged from son Collin, who recently revealed that he doesn’t speak to his other siblings.
During a TikTok livestream earlier in August, Collin noted that “unfortunately, I don’t talk to my siblings, and I very much wish that we did and that they knew who I actually was because we don’t know each other at all.”
