And another article...trying to minimize the damage

From the Altoona Mirror. You've got the college trying to distance themselves from any publicity. Comments in red are mine.

Jon minus Kate and 8:TV dad visited mom, partied in Huntingdon
By Ashley Gurbal, agurbal@altoonamirror.com
POSTED: March 7, 2009

Reality TV dad Jon Gosselin of "Jon & Kate Plus Eight" has been spotted out and about in Huntingdon - minus his wife and their eight children.

Sightings of Gosselin partying with Juniata College students were reported this week by Star Magazine and several celebrity gossip Web sites. John Wall, a spokesman at Juniata, confirmed the stories.

"His mother lives in Huntingdon, and he was at a bar that Juniata students go to," Wall said Friday. "Apparently some of the students invited him to a house off-campus, and he was there for an hour and a half and went back to the bar."

Wall said Gosselin met the students at Memories, a bar on 13th Street in Huntingdon. An employee who answered the phone Friday afternoon at Memories would not comment on Gosselin's visit.

"We're not real proud that our picture was in a national magazine," said the employee, who declined to be identified.

The two female students hosting the party were unaware that Gosselin had been invited until he showed up, said Gabriel Welsch, assistant vice president of marketing at Juniata.

"They're not very happy that their names were shared," Welsch said. "One of the young women said to me that at first it was kind of novel, a celebrity came by their house and they took some pictures and he took off, but then the gossip columns did what they do and tried to make something more out of it, and they regret having opened that door." (That's what happens when you go around like a drunken slut!)

Welsch said at the party, Gosselin "was sitting on a couch for awhile, just sort of meeting people, and played a little beer pong ... and then he left."

Wall said the events happened maybe two or three weekends ago, but he couldn't confirm any dates. He said the college's newspaper, The Juniatian, covered the story, which may have been how Star Magazine picked it up and sent a reporter to campus.

"We don't really know how Star got it," Wall said. "The two girls whose names were in the story did not give them any photos. They got them from another student, but I don't know who it was." (That's what happens when you go around like a drunken slut!)

"Jon & Kate Plus Eight" is a reality TV series on TLC about Jon and Kate Gosselin and their eight children - twins and sextuplets.

Laurie Goldberg, TLC's senior vice president of communications, offered the following statement in an e-mail Friday: "Jon and Kate are part of the TLC family and we support them completely."

Wall said the publicity isn't positive or negative for Juniata.

"All the kids were over 21, and nothing really happened," he said. "This person's celebrity is kind of shining a light on the college, but it's not good or bad, it's just kind of neutral because they're following his behavior, and our kids' behavior seems to be pretty normal college kid behavior." (i.e. drunken slut)

Enjoying more Jon Backlash

Here is a tidbit in TV Guide. Nothing new but still nice to see.

Jon and Kate on the fritz
By Melissa Hank
Is the ‘Jon & Kate Plus 8’ couple divorcing?

Could it be? Are Jon and Kate Gosselin, the original octoparents on TLC’s Jon & Kate Plus 8, headed for Splitsville? According to rumous, you betcha.

InTouchWeekly.com reports that Jon, 31, was seen partying with girls from Juniata College in Pennsylvania on Feb. 6. Apparently he was at Mimi's martini bar when he followed the girls to a house party, where he played beer pong.

"He walked in with two girls he met at Mimi's bar," a student at the party said. "It was so cool."
Afterwards, Jon followed the revelers to Memories Sports Bar & Grill. Still drinking, he flirted with the girls and told one, "We might be getting a divorce." Yikes.

"He was dirty-dancing with several of them, making out, kissing them on their necks and mouths,” an onlooker told Star magazine.

“I thought it was rather surprising for a father with his wife and so many kids at home to be acting like this. He was all over one girl, a long-haired blond who's nearly six feet tall. He left with several of the girls, including her."

In response, Jon’s rep issued the following statement: "It is certainly hurtful for people to spread rumours and lies about us. It certainly makes me reluctant to live my life like the average person would. This has made it very clear that the simplest innocent gesture — such as taking a picture with a fan, can be taken out of context.”

As with most couples, Jon and his wife have had their share of spats and several have been captured on-camera for their reality show.

“As you can see on the show, I am not perfect, but I am a part of a loving family and couple," the statement said.

Jon and Kate’s children include eight-year-old twins Cara and Mady, and four-year-old sextuplets Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah and Joel. The children were the result of fertility treatments.

Jon & Kate Plus 8 originally aired on Discovery Health, but moved to TLC for Season 3. It is one of the highest-rated series on the network and is currently in its fourth season.
Most recently, Jon & Kate Plus 8 showed the Gosselins buying a $1.3 million mansion, taking in two German Shepherd puppies and renewing their vows in Maui, Hawaii.

Thoughts? melissa@tvguide.ca