Newly Engaged Jon Gosselin Hopes To Reunite With Estranged Kids At Upcoming Wedding

Jon Gosselin is preparing to walk down the aisle for the second time and doesn't want to do it without his eight children despite his estrangement from some of them.

The reality TV star rose to fame for starring on "Jon & Kate Plus 8" with his ex-wife Kate Gosselin and their eight children. Unfortunately, their happy union ended in 2009 following cheating allegations against Jon.

Fifteen years later, Jon Gosselin is ready to give marriage a second chance with his longtime-girlfriend-turned-fiancée, Stephanie Lebo. The soon-to-be spouses recently sat down for an interview about their upcoming wedding, and the doting father shared his hope of reuniting with his estranged kids.

Jon and Stephanie recently participated in a joint interview about their upcoming union, but their discussion veered off-topic to the entertainer's estrangement from six of his eight children. When the interviewer asked if Jon planned on inviting these kids to his wedding, he confidently replied:

"Oh, yes. I would definitely do that. I would definitely send an invite to all of them. You know, they are my kids. It'd be nice for her to meet my other kids."

Jon got emotional while addressing his estrangement from his children, as seen in the clip shared by ET on Facebook. He had tears in his eyes while noting his desire to reconcile with his kids. In his words:

"I just kinda support the kids that are integrated into the family. And if, you know, other ones wake up and realize what's going on, the door's always open here."

Besides the six kids Jon had lost contact with, he was close to his other two children — his son Collin and his daughter Hannah. The same applied to their bond with his fiancée, with Stephanie raving about their relationship when asked about the children's reaction to her engagement.

"Hannah loves me, and I love her. She has waited so long. Collin gave me a special message the next day. The sentence was that 'I am the glue.' That resonated really well with me. So, he's very proud," Stephanie gushed.

Jon echoed similar sentiments, noting he sought Hannah and Collin's approval before proposing. "They were happy, and that's all it matters to me. I don't want to upset them, but I'm going to do this anyway, but hopefully, I have your approval," he recalled.

The interview sparked mixed reactions from fans, with many supporting Jon and Stephanie's happiness while bashing his ex-wife. One Facebook user claimed Kate was the worst thing to happen to the TV personality, writing:

"Kate definitely put him through the ringer! Her abuse was noticeable from the beginning! I didn't watch too many episodes it was not good. It was really sad! I'm glad he has found happiness!"

Another echoed similar sentiments, alleging they once met Kate at the store and had an unpleasant encounter with her. "I feel bad for what he must have gone through. I hope his relationship with his kids heals," the individual penned.

A third labeled Kate a "nightmare," while a fourth noted it was time for Jon to be happy.

Jon and Kate's marriage and unique family were documented on the TLC show "Jon & Kate Plus 8" (later renamed Kate Plus 8) from 2007 to 2017.

It followed the duo's lives as they raised their eight children in Pennsylvania. The pair became parents for the first time when they welcomed twin daughters, Mady and Cara, in October 2000.

Four years later, they welcomed the sextuplets: Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah, and Joel on May 10. The united household came crashing down in June 2009 when Kate filed for divorce following cheating allegations against Jon. At the time, the pair hoped to remain amicable for their children.

Unfortunately, after finalizing their divorce in December 2009, Kate and Jon became embroiled in a long and difficult custody battle. The mother won primary custody of all eight children, but two of the sextuplets, Hannah and Collin, began living with their father in 2022, per PEOPLE.

Last month, The Blast reported that Jon had proposed to Stephanie, his longtime girlfriend, after three years of dating. A source noted he popped the big question at his lover's favorite restaurant, Willoughby's on Park in Wyomissing.

The event began with a surprise dinner with both of their parents in attendance at a private dining area. Jon got on one knee, professing his love for Stephanie before putting the diamond gem on her left ring finger. The insider claimed the soon-to-be bride's father was super emotional.

Stephanie's father allegedly 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."

Will Jon Gosselin's estranged children attend his wedding to Stephanie Lebo?