The marital woes of Jon and Kate Gosselin have gone from mere tabloid fodder to something much more serious.
Earlier today, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine whether or not Jon & Kate Plus 8 is violating child labor laws, following a series of complaints against the program.
“We’re not saying that they are not complying with child labor laws. We’re investigating a complaint,” Troy Thompson of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor said. “We’re not saying that there was or was not a violation, just that we’re conducting an investigation.”
Earlier this week, Kate’s brother and sister-in-law specifically called for such an investigation, as Kevin and Jodi Kreider wondered why there were no “laws protecting children in reality TV shows.”
In a statement, TLC says:
“TLC fully complies with all applicable laws and regulations. ‘Jon & Kate Plus 8′ is no exception. For an extended period of time, we have been engaged in cooperative discussions and supplied all requested information to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor. We will continue to engage the appropriate officials and meet any standards or regulations that are applicable to TLC productions.”
A new episode of Jon & Kate Plus 8 airs this Monday. If you really have a problem with how Jon and Kate Gosselin treat their children, you won’t watch.