Jon Gosselin's Fans Echo 'He Deserves To Be Happy' After Getting Engaged To Girlfriend Of 3 Years
By Afouda Bamidele on November 28, 2024 at 7:00 PM EST
Wedding bells are ringing for reality star Jon Gosselin and his fiancΓ©e Stephanie Lebo!
The couple have officially taken the next step towards forever in a private proposal ceremony that has the whole internet happy for them.
Jon Gosselin and Stephanie Lebo have been an item for three years after their first fated meeting at a backyard BBQ in 2021.
Jon Gosselin Reportedly Popped The Question To Stephanie Lebo Before Their Parents
The super romantic and intimate event reportedly happened at the incoming bride's favorite restaurant, Willoughby's on Park in Wyomissing.
It all began with a surprise dinner, after which Jon dropped to one knee in front of both of their parents in a private dining area, professed his love to his beau, and put the ring on her finger.
The act was so sweet that it reportedly got Stephanie's father super emotional. Sources shared that he whispered in her ear, "You don't know how long I waited for this day for you, and there was a time where I thought it was never going to happen for you. I'm so very happy for you and Jon."
The patriarch advised the couple always to put love first and "never stop being in love," as they all continued the celebration while the newly engaged pair caught up with close friends.
In a close-up shot posted by Entertainment Tonight, the gorgeous ring featured a stunning emerald-cut diamond placed delicately on a tiny gold band, letting the stone do all the talking.
Elated Fans Express Their Satisfaction At The Reality Star's Happiness
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Jon got all the nods and encomiums for finding happiness again, especially "after being married to Kate," according to one happy fan. Another commenter wrote, "What an upgrade!" as another fan raved about Stephanie's "Gorgeous ring!"
This fan did not bother beating around the bush as they wrote, "I bet she doesn't whine about his breathing. So glad he's free from the clutches of that vile Sith Lord Darth Kate." Someone else hit the nail on the head, writing, "Good for him, he deserves to be happy [love emoji]."
The reality star's ex-wife got a few defenders on the post, bringing a new perspective to the very overwhelming narrative of her being a terrible person in their marriage. One commenter noted:
"He left her with all those kids while he went through his midlife crisis buying sports cars two seaters everybody seems to forget that you tried taking care of that many kids while your husband's off living his life Woman to Woman you'd become a whack job too."
Inside The Genesis Of The Newly Engaged Couple's 3-Year-Long Courtship
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The lovebirds met at a backyard BBQ in late August of 2021 and became official just weeks later but chose to keep their relationship out of the spotlight for two years.
Stephanie explained to The U.S. Sun in an interview that the 2021 event was "a graduation party and birthday party for our mutual friend's nephew's birthday, but he knew it was my birthday too, so he got me a special lotus candle, so when it spun around it opened up."
She added that he later tagged her to a post on Instagram, and they took their conversation to their inbox and "just never stopped talking." They celebrated their third anniversary this past summer, marking the occasion with a sweet Instagram post, "Three years...forever to go."
Stephanie is a former beautician turned research analyst with one daughter from a previous relationship. Her daughter, Giulianna, reportedly lives with her and Jon in Pennsylvania, and he refers to her as his ninth child. The reality star has eight children from his previous marriage.
What Went Wrong In Gosselin's Previous Marriage
As reported by The Blast, the TV star's former wife admitted in 2009 that they had been struggling with a series of personal issues before finally settling for divorce.
Kate noted that her former husband had become a different person shortly before their divorce. She recalled him staying out late regularly and allegedly spending impulsively.
According to her, the divorce was inevitable, saying, "I don't know that we're in the same place anymore, that we want the same thing."Kate added that she had struggled to understand her former husband's new persona for a while before the marriage went downhill.
Things became worse when Jon was sighted with a then 23-year-old teacher, Deanna Hummel, who, according to her brother, Jason, had been dating for several months. Jason claimed the relationship was not healthy for his sister, Deanna, and he only decided to speak up to help her.
Jon Gosselin Refuted Claims Of Owing His Ex-Wife Child Support
The former construction worker disclosed that he spent several years fighting for custody rights after their divorce but ditched the idea as it became too expensive.
"People are always like, 'Oh, I would fight so hard [for a better custody arrangement].' I'm like, 'Honey, you don't have the money to fight that hard. Do you know how expensive the court is? You have no idea," Jon noted in 2022.
He shared that the process was draining his pocket at the time as he had been in court for seven years fighting for custody and spending lots of funds.
Despite the twists and turns, Jon claimed he never defaulted in paying his dues to his children.The DJ claimed that he left all their shared properties behind for Kate and the kids after the divorce.
"I gave her $3 million. I walked away. I moved. [I said], 'Take all of it.' It was a moral sacrifice for my children," the father of eight explained.
Congratulations are in order to Jon Gosselin and Stephanie Lebo as they prepare for a lifetime together!