JON Gosselin’s girlfriend, Stephanie Lebo, is not on speaking terms with his ex-wife Kate or his six estranged children, but hopes one day they are, the couple said.
In an exclusive interview with The U.S. Sun, Jon, 47, and Stephanie, 37, said that while there have been no conversations yet, they are not against the idea of communicating with Kate, 49.
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This comes after reports Stephanie was talking to Kate and the children in her care; Alexis, Aaden, Leah and Joel, both 20, and older twins Mady and Cara, both 23.
Jon, who gained custody of two of the sextuplets Hannah and Collin, 20, back in 2018, does not have a relationship with his other six children and said he would love one day to have a “united” family.
Stephanie, who started dating Jon in 2021, told The U.S. Sun, “I am not on speaking terms with Kate, but I am not against the idea of speaking to Kate, if the opportunity arises.”
Jon added: “If they have the opportunity to speak to each other, I think that would be great only because we’re trying to build a relationship with the other kids.
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“And I think it’s important that we all become united and that it becomes a bigger, extended family.
“But I’m not gonna have any opposition. If Steph decides to talk to Kate or Kate decides to talk to Steph.
“[There have been no] full-on conversations at all and like I said I’d be open to it, and nothing against it, but that’s false.”
The former reality star also revealed he plans to propose to Stephanie before Thanksgiving – and all of his kids will be invited to the wedding.
“I am absolutely gonna pop the question this year, and probably before Thanksgiving,” Jon said, to which Stephanie jokingly replied: “Where is the surprise in that?”
And Jon hit back: “Well, it builds the intensity because it’s a really tight time frame!
“So, you know, you get excited and start guessing, and you don’t know what’s going on….
“As for inviting my kids to the wedding, I want them to be a part of any big event, especially that, adding a new person into my life, and into Hannah and Collin’s and the rest of the kids as well.
“So yes, they will definitely be invited. And you know, why wouldn’t they be?”
And despite Jon’s hope for a united family, he says he still hasn’t spoken to his other children for a long time.
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“I don’t like to speak for Hannah or anyone, but you know I see her walking around the house talking to her siblings, so she’s not hiding in a room talking to them if I’m in the room or whatever. It’s got more open in that way.
“But as for me, actually talking to you know, Alexis, Aaden, Joel, or Leah, I have not communicated with them in a long while, or Mady and Cara.”
LEGAL WAR
Jon and Kate have been embroiled in a bitter legal battle since their acrimonious divorce.
They used to star together on the reality show Jon and Kate Plus Eight, which chronicled their lives with their twins and sextuplets.
However, their relationship soured and they finally divorced in December 2009, with Jon leaving the show.
It’s important that we all become united and that it become a bigger, extended family.
Jon Gosselin on reconciling with Kate and his estranged kids
Over the next decade, the pair were locked in court battles over child support payments and custody arrangements.
The fight appeared to finally be over earlier this year when a lawsuit Kate filed against Jon for back payment of child support she alleged he owed was quashed, although her lawyer insisted it “wasn’t over yet.”
Jon previously told The U.S. Sun how he was “euphoric” that their court battle was done, and felt he could finally “move on” with his life.
Jon Gosselin’s Relationship Timeline
Below is a timeline of Jon Gosselin’s partners since he rose to fame on the TLC series Jon & Kate Plus 8.
- Jon married Kate Gosselin, the mother of his sextuplets and twin daughters, in June 1999. Amidst their reality show run, Kate filed for divorce, which was finalized in December 2009. Kate was granted full legal custody of their children.
- After a string of flings, Jon began dating Liz Jannetta in 2012, which lasted about two years. They even appeared in Season 4 of VH1’s reality series Couple’s Therapy to work through their differences.
- Jon’s next serious relationship was with Colleen Conrad, whom he’d known since childhood. The former couple dated for about seven years before parting ways in August 2021.
- The TV personality moved on with his current partner, Stephanie Lebo, a few months later. They kept their relationship under wraps for a while before going public in August 2023 in an exclusive interview with The U.S. Sun. Jon revealed that he and Stephanie were ‘really happy and in love.’
JON’S NEW LOVE
He started dating Stephanie around three years ago – a few months after he split with his ex-girlfriend Colleen.
The couple kept their relationship under wraps for some time before going public in an interview with The U.S. Sun last August.
Jon revealed he was madly in love with Stephanie and the happiest he’d been.
Stephanie said at the time: “We have so much in common because we have both been with people who are not the best for us, but we wouldn’t appreciate what we have together if it wasn’t for those experiences.”
He and Stephanie now share a house in Pennsylvania with Hannah and Collin – when they are home- and Stephanie’s daughter, who Jon says he sees as his “ninth child.”
KATE’S PRIVATE LIFE
Meanwhile, Kate shared her first social media post in almost a year, wishing four of her sextuplets a happy birthday, but making no mention of Hannah or Collin.
The former TLC star wrote, “No more teenagers in this house! Happy 20th birthday, my forever babies! I love you!
“Who feels old? I know I do! #20yearsold #ItsaPICKLE.”