Expect to see a lot less of Jon Gosselin: A Maryland judge has ordered the reality dad, 32, to quit appearing in the media for now.
Following a one-day hearing Thursday, Montgomery County Circuit Judge Michael D. Mason granted a preliminary injunction aimed at halting media appearances by Gosselin, pending a trial that is set to begin Apr. 19. TLC claims Gosselin has been violating a contract with the network and its parent company, Discovery Communications.
TLC Chief Operating Officer Edward Sabin testified that Gosselin made unauthorized appearances and endorsements. He cited a pool party that Gosselin hosted at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Sabin told the court Gosselin's behavior was "embarrassing" and clashes with the wholesome image of the show, Jon & Kate Plus 8.
"Photos of Jon Gosselin with scores of bikini-clad women was inconsistent with our image brand of our show," Sabin told the court.
Sabin offered other examples of bad behavior: Gosselin's habit of signing autographs outside the family's Pennsylvania home; his lavish, photo-op filled trip to the south of France with then-girlfriend Hailey Glassman; talk of a "Hollywood Rebel" clothing line and another potential show, Divorced Dads Club, with Michael Lohan.
After Thursday's ruling, TLC issued the following statement: "The Court has validated our view that Mr. Gosselin has a valid, binding contract and that he has breached it repeatedly. Step one – getting the court to order Mr. Gosselin to comply with his contractual obligations – has been accomplished. Any further breaches going forward will be violations of a court order. We look forward to the next phase of the litigation, which is to pursue our claim for damages resulting from Mr. Gosselin's numerous breaches."
Gosselin did not appear in court. His lawyers also did not present any evidence.
Gosselin's attorney Mark Jay Heller had said Gosselin will "vigorously defend against" TLC's "baseless action."
Gosselin — who is in the midst of divorcing wife of 10 years, Kate, 34 — is also countersuing TLC, claiming it violated Pennsylvania's child labor laws in filming his eight children.
