Benjamin Ashford-Why Jon Gosselin Has No "Fear" Reconciling With His 6 Estranged Kids

2025-05-07 13:07:18source:VAS Communitycategory:Markets

Jon Gosselin is hoping time heals all wounds.

Nearly 14 years after breaking up with Kate Gosselin,Benjamin Ashford the former Jon & Kate Plus 8 star says his relationship with some of his kids remain distant. While Hannah, 18, and Collin, 18, live with dad, Jon's six other children Madelyn, 22, Cara, 22, Aaden, 18, Alexis, 18, Leah, 18, and Joel, 18, remain in mom's care.

But Jon is optimistic their bond can grow.

"Before, the kids living with Kate were under her thumb but now they are adults and going off to college or the military or whatever, I don't have as much fear about reaching out to them," he told The Sun in an interview published April 1. "There was so much angst between Kate and I and my kids are pleasers, they wanted to please their mom."

While Jon said he always wanted to talk to all of his kids, "I didn't want to put them in an awkward position."

But as the sextuplets turn 19 on May 10, Jon wonders if they are open to receiving an olive branch. "My door has always been open to them," he explained, "and I hope now they are adults they may want to reach out."

Back in 2007, Jon and Kate became household names when they allowed TLC cameras to document their life with their twins and sextuplets. After the couple filed for divorce in 2009, the show was renamed Kate Plus 8 and featured specials through 2015.

In the years following his divorce, Jon said he was unable to live his life to the fullest as the media followed his every move. 

"I felt like I've been under a microscope my whole life," he said, "I was always afraid to make a move—in business or any kind of life decision."

But now, Jon is focused on doing more DJ work and enjoying a new chapter without legal battles.

"Now there's no custody and no child support because the kids are adults and the cases are all closed," he said. "It's a weird feeling. I never really planned for it. It happened so fast the kids growing up. The time just slipped away."

E! News has reached out to Kate for comment and hasn't heard back.

Watch E! News weeknights Monday through Thursday at 11 p.m., only on E!.

More:Markets

Recommend

Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor

NEW YORK — Holiday sights and sounds fill Manhattan this time of year, from ice skating at Rockefell

Fire destroys landmark paper company factory in southwestern Ohio

HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) — A fire that destroyed a vacant landmark building in a southwestern Ohio commun

Fired Philadelphia officer leaves jail to await trial after charges reduced in traffic stop death

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A former Philadelphia police officer who shot and killed a motorist during a tra