Jon Gosselin knows a thing or two about reality TV.
Gosselin, 47, rose to fame about 15 years ago as one of the stars of TLC’s “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” a show that focused on Gosselin’s unique, large family of sextuplets and another set of twins.
Earlier this month, Alec Baldwin announced that his family will be branching out into reality TV, getting their own show on TLC in 2025, tentatively titled “The Baldwins.”
Gosselin, a reality TV mogul, exclusively told Fox News Digital that she “doesn’t think it’s a good idea” for Baldwin to risk his fame, fortune and family for ratings.
Alec Baldwin turns to reality TV amid mounting criminal trial and legal costs
Jon Gosselin gave actor Alec Baldwin some advice about breaking into reality TV. (Getty Images)
“My advice to Alec would be to run in the opposite direction,” Gosselin said. “Enjoy your work and your family. And enjoy life with your kids, because we’re all getting older.”
“Jon & Kate Plus 8” aired on TLC from 2007 to 2009, the year the former couple divorced. A year later, the show was renamed “Kate Plus 8” and aired until 2017.
“I was always worried about ‘jumping the shark,’ which is, ‘You’re filming a reality show and then you go out and do something different in public and there’s a conflict,'” Gosselin said.
“My advice to Alec would be to run in the other direction. Enjoy your work and your family. Enjoy life with your kids. We’re all getting older.”
“Now you’re going to bring drama because cameramen are going to come and catch you in the act. You’ve tried to live a very private life your whole life, so why bring drama into your home? And you’re a paid actor.”
Jon Gosselin swears by weight loss pills after losing 32 pounds in two months and quitting drinking
He added, “I don’t think it’s a good idea to put your family on TV, especially your children. You’re a successful actor. You’ve already been scrutinized for a few things and now you’re putting your seven children in the public eye. I mean, you’ve already built this enormous fortune to protect your family and now you want to make it public? It just doesn’t make sense.”
Alec Baldwin has seven children with wife Hilaria Baldwin, and also has a daughter, Ireland Baldwin, with ex-wife Kim Bassinger. (Jason Mendez)
When Jon and his ex-wife first signed on to star in their own reality show, the Gosselins made the decision because they thought it was necessary to provide for their family while Kate worked 12-hour shifts as a nurse and Jon worked in IT.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to put your family, especially your children, on television. You’re a successful actor. You’ve already been under intense scrutiny in some ways, and now you’re going to put your seven children in the public eye.”
“I think we could relate because we both work. We have a lot of kids, how do we make ends meet? That was the premise of the show,” Gosselin said. “You have a very wealthy actor, or couple, and now they have seven kids. Yeah, well. They’re financially comfortable. Why are they going to make these kids that they’ve protected from the world with their wealth, now famous? You have to remember that you can’t stop being a celebrity.”
WATCH: Jon Gosselin says Alec Baldwin’s decision to appear on reality TV is “not a good idea”
Gosselin pointed out that Baldwin’s children, under the age of 10, with his wife Hilaria, had no say in whether they appeared on the show.
“I didn’t ask my 15-month-old kids if they wanted to do it. We were strapped financially and the world was different then,” he said.
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“You already know how reality TV ends, good or bad, branding or not. And… I just don’t get it. And the scrutiny. I mean, you’re already a legal disaster right now, so why, why would you bring that into your home? I just don’t get it. You have enough money to just hang out on an island somewhere, you know what I mean? Read scripts. Find a new movie. Do whatever.”
Jon and Kate Gosselin have eight children together. They divorced in 2009. (Amy Sussman/WireImage via Discovery Communications)
John said Baldwin isn’t “reinventing the wheel” when it comes to reality TV, so there’s no need to start now: “It’ll just be expensive and stressful. So why don’t you just live your life and get rich and get a boat or something and document it on Instagram?”
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While this first inside look into Baldwin’s home life comes a year after the show’s premiere, it remains to be seen whether cameras will be rolling when the award-winning actor goes on trial next month for manslaughter in the 2021 shooting death of “Lust” cinematographer Halina Hutchins.
Alec Baldwin will head to court in July for his manslaughter trial stemming from the shooting death of cinematographer Halina Hutchins on the set of the 2021 film “Lust.” (Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department)
Gosselin made her love of music the center of her life, becoming a DJ performing at major events across the country. (Jon Gosselin)
Gosselin, now a successful nationally touring DJ, has spent years trying to put the mental and physical stress of being on a reality TV show behind her, while John, with love in his life and plans to propose to his girlfriend, Stephanie, has recently focused on getting healthy.
WATCH: Jon Gosselin gives Alec Baldwin advice on his new reality TV career
“I was body-wise, I was unconscious, I ate in secret,” Gosselin said. “I never went to the gym, I never cared about my body shape, but now I’ve changed my life and completely transformed it with training, diet, exercise, and working out.” Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center“
“It’s just going to cost you money and stress you out, so why not just live your life, get rich, buy a boat, and document it on Instagram?”
Jon Gosselin has big plans for the future with his girlfriend, Stephanie. (Jon Gosselin)
Gosselin revealed earlier this year that he had lost 32 pounds in the two months since he started taking the weight-loss drug semaglutide, a generic version of Ozempic.
“You know what pisses me off? The regret of not starting this 10 years ago,” Gosselin said. Page 6“I’m so happy! I wonder why I didn’t do this sooner? Maybe it was just the wrong time.”
He went on to explain, “It’s been really good because it’s helped me quit drinking and it’s also helped me eat less and control my appetite so I’ve really focused on my diet,” adding, “I just focused on getting what I need in a healthy way.”
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