By Ann
Followers of Kate Gosselin’s Twitter feed witnessed a second online spat in as many weeks as Kate criticized Em Tanner Designs for using her to market products. It started when a fan asked Kate about the pink calendar she used on the show and later mentioned finding it on the Em Tanner website. Kate praised the calendar but accused the designer of marketing products by using her name without permission. Em Tanner defended herself by tweeting,
@Kateplusmy8 @Jessandken04 lol geez UNREAL…we designed a calendar among many other things FOR YOU FOR FREE not to market using YOU!
Kate challenged the designer to admit that she was asked not to call it “Kate’s Calendar” and Em Tanner corrected her,
@Kateplusmy8 umm no not to call kate gosselin calendar. will be changing name anyway cuz i cant stand u. haha.
Ouch!
It didn’t end there. Kate complained about being used and Em Tanner tweeted a series of denials and insults calling Kate “a piece of work,” “a winch,” “Khate,” “worse dancer,” and “miserable.” Then she took her defense attack to her Facebook page hosting a picture of a Halloween witch and a number of comments supportive of Em Tanner insulting to Kate.
Em Tanner promised to change the name of the calendar but despite her obvious disdain for Kate Gosselin, it’s still called “Kate’s Design.” For someone who insisted to Kate she would “NOT use YOU as a marketing tool,” she sure has a lot of Kate Gosselin on that site. As of this afternoon, Em Tanner links to clips of Jon and Kate plus Eight and Kate Gosselin is quoted praising the Original Funky Plates! Maybe she WOULD use KATE as a marketing tool?
I don’t think Kate should respond to these losers .But then again she is only human
Waaah, waaah ,waaah. Poor misunderstood Kate. You got it for free Kate. You continue to grift off others accept IPads from goofy fans plus many other freebies from manufacturers but when someone you think is profiting off you, you go ballistic. What a hypocrite you are. Not very Christian like Kate huh? But then you grifted off love offerings at churches while you hid that you and Jon had gotten alot of cash gifts you never admittted to.
I disagree…Em Tanner is the one that was very nasty and went ballistic. Very unprofessional.
Kate actually tweeted an apology for starting a Twitter war. It was her best tweet of the whole incident. She must regret saying anything. If it had been limited to the tweets I saw last night (just the explanations/complaints/denials) I would have scored it a win for Em Tanner– I thought she was just defending herself. But today? After I read Facebook and all of her tweets following? Yikes! She calls herself “quirky” and “feisty.” No, I think she’s thin-skinned and in denial. She could not drop it. Since she said she changed the name, but didn’t, and denied using Kate as a marketing tool, but does, I think I will just wait and see before I believe that she has emails “proving” Kate gave her permission to use her name any way she likes.
.
She won’t print the email proof. She won’t even print OUT the email proof for the rest of her office. But she was still talking about it. Hmmmm.
.
And she mentioned Jon one time– when she mentioned having emails giving permission. Hmmmm.
Hi Ann.
We are not the same poster. Welcome. Nice name!
Love,
Ann@IW
Seeing as Kate said what she did to get the whole thing started, I felt that EM had every right to defend herself. Where I think EM went wrong is she kept getting deeper and deeper involved with the INSTIGATORS and said some pretty powerful hateful words. This is a BIG NO NO if you are in business. Both ladies should have kept their mouths shut and taken it up in private.
I agree with Pam & Mo that it would be in Kates best interest to handle this kind of thing privately!
However, I can see why she was annoyed, if the business continued to promote it as kate’s callender if she’d been asked not too! I think callender lady got pretty nasty though & don’t believe for a second she has not profited from the as seen on J&K+8 links!
I do have to LOL at how well she’s playing the HATERS though, she didn’t know the show was over? Jon was the nice one? Using Kates name hurt business? I think CL must have been paying attention & probably received snarky mail from some of her new fans like all the other company’s they were trying to boycott!
Was EM Tanner on the boycott lists back in the day?
I agree with those who have said this other person was the one ‘bashing’ Kate and not the other way around. The first poster unwittingly endorsed the person using Kate’s name,Jon’s name and the TLC show brand name around the Internet, I don’t blame Kate for speaking up and clarifying that those uses are NOT endorsed by her despite her name being attached to them. Saw the ugliness on the FB page, and tried to give a balanced viewpoint to the ‘Khatred’ running amok there, the page owner, NOT a ‘victim’ IMO, was having too much fun with all the hater adulation and high promises that they would spend hundreds of $$$$ on her products…hope she’s researched the likes of people she’s embracing so warmly now. Karma can be a witch!
Pam I think about everyone the Gosselins did product placement for was on “That List” With all the Khaterz saying they were going to give them business but have now changed their minds since they have now affiliated them selves with the Gosselins. Like they could ever afford those things in the first place.
I think they both should have had the sense to take this matter private.
I think ended it quickly on her end… but Em seemed to really enjoy being nasty about it. And today she’s still at it. I’ve heard she posted on FB about some conversation she had w/ Jon today.
The whole thing is silly, I think both women jumped too soon, nut Em Tanner is actually keeping it going. A few minutes ago, she posted yet another Facebook thread regarding it, Jon personally called her to thank her today after reading the exchanges.
Nut=but
I agree Marnie #12
Didn’t Em Tanner advertise at Babymama’s Fansite? I think that’s how I first found Em Tanner back in the day. Also, Princess Board readers– isn’t Em Tanner the one who had a snarky reply to the Gwoppers who were lecturing her about being associated with the Gosselins? I forget what it was, but it was pretty funny. “I appreciate you passion” or something like that?
Yeah, they were boycotting her.
Ann, it was “We admire your rigidity.” LOL, it gave me a hardy “ha ha” more than once.
/
Whatev Em, she needs to take it down a notch. I don’t agree w/Kate opening a can of worms on twitter, it always turns into such a mess. I do think she has the right to set the record straight w/the tabloid stuff. But, no one knew about any problems between her and Em. Of course, Em wants to defend herself.
/
Em can’t deny that she had “Kate” on the calendar. Whether or not she used Kate’s last name, it was certainly implied. It seems Em has a lot of bottled up anger to let loose. She is not a happy camper. It sounds like some of her gripes should be w/TLC not w/Kate.
The makers of Crooked Houses did really well after they were promoted on J&K+8, It was when the show was huge because of the divorce. I would think that Em has done well being featured. She is immortalized as part of the show.
Ann: No 2. Please provide the proof for these accusations. If you do not have the proof then you should state that you are just expressing your opinion.
It seems to me that Calendar Lady was caught with her hand in the cookie jar and crumbs around her mouth, and she is protesting too much. IMO.
So, Jon had to get involved? Uhm, they’re divorced. Is he going to follow Kate’s doings the rest of his life? He gave Em permission to share their conversation. Just like I don’t like Kate opening any kind of mess, I don’t like it when Jon does either. It’s just yucky that he likes and encourages this ganging up on Kate. He knows all about the haters, he called SG a friend. Why make Kate (and the kids) life harder than it has to be? It’s Jon being sleazy again…but whatev. It’s the same old Gosselin drama.
None of the haters paid attention to Jon’s arguing and outbursts on twitter. I can’t imagine if Kate said the things Jon has said. Their blind eye is very convenient.
She said it herself, she knew she couldn’t use Kate’s full name. That’s admitting she tied the calendar to Kate Gosselin. And really, why not? Promoting a product many people saw on tv and liked is good business. This was a win/win situation. EmTanner has gone on to make it a whole lot personal with jabs about dancing, etc…..
See, I think she’ll keep the Kate Gosselin connection. Viewers must still Google it. She knows where the referrals are coming from.
.
I wonder, have they figured out WHY she paid the $25 per link if she didn’t want to be associated with Kate Gosselin because of the hater emails she got?
With Jon in the mix, I just have to say, “What a mess.” Mr. Private Guy should have kept it private. This is why Kate should have ignored the Em Tanner reference.
.
I’m also sure no one forced her to pay $25 a month for the link. That is business, she knew that, can’t understand why she’s bringing that up. I’m also sure tht the $25 fee went to TLC and didn’t line Jon or Kate’s pockets.
–
I find it odd that Jon got involved, the product in question isn’t even something he used, he admitted many times he wasnt the organizer in that relationship. It’s no coincidence that Jon is PUTTING his name into the middle of it, signing with the Fellers recently is a big clue that he wants more of the limelight.
I thought Jon was going to have a week that was too busy to sleep yet he has time to phone some random tweeter?
25 bucks a month for a link isn’t bad. Why would she have paid it if she didn’t get a bunch of business out of it? I wonder? 😉 I hope she makes a few sales to the haters before they drop her and move on to the next kate “scandal”!
I think that Jon needed his ego stroked. As I read it, he make the phone call, and it appears that he has had many conversations with Calendar Lady in the past. She stated that he was one of a few that understood her sarcastic sense of humor (paraphrased). I find her tweets and comments mean-spirited and spiteful rather than sarcastic. JMO
Wonder if she gets that she’s being used by haters and people are turned off by unprofessional ism like that?
Celebs own their names, if you are going to sell a product linked to their name – you need to pay up. I’d love to sell Brad Pitt socks- how many do you think I could sell before his lawyers contact me?
Way I see it is she made money off the Gosselin name and refused to do a deal or stop after being asked to. She could have been sued, I’ve never heard of Kate suing anyone like this, but one time and she’d have gotten deals instead of grief.
If this woman thought she was going to come along and attach herself to Kate twitter after someone asked Kate about the calendar-and promote her product, she should have been smacked down. As it is- she gotten lots of attention. But to me , shes made herself look like an a cheap opportunist.
Haters would have to get a life to need a calendar though.
Wahoo, BH! ;0))
Why did Jon get involved? I think it is so childish of Jon to get his two cents into that exchange~He is obviously still very spiteful.
Jon is treading water again, he wants the spotlight off Kate and the kids. If he thinks that companies are going to look at him, they will know right now that he is not trust worthy. I do wonder how companies would feel if Kates fans, or just supporters of working Mom’s, attacked their business that Jon is promoting, be careful Jon, it might come back to bite you.
good post ann #21. i agree.
i also agree with everything you said bh #27.
i don’t think kate said more than was appropriate but i am glad that she ended it as she did and even told others she was done talking about it.
i think the only reason em t knew anything was the haters emailed her trying to make this a big deal. i read et’s fb where she was crowing about being in the headlines on bl’s blog. there’s a station in life to aspire to eh?
Oy vey! As someone who is coming into this late and trying to understand what happened, it seems only Kate had the good sense to back off and realize this sort of public spat doesn’t make anyone look good. I’m still not clear why Jon got involved? But we only know this because this EM Tanner said so — right?!
.
Bottom line, there are always vultures out there. EM Tanner sounds like one. If she is comfortable with that, whatever. I think Kate still struggles with people making money off of her and her kids. I understand that…but picking your battles wisely is something we all have to learn to do. I’m glad Kate is realizing this…
Jxxxxxxx
OMG- you are reading at RealityTvKids? COOL!! Seeee- you have SUPPORT. You are a hero right now!
———
Just have to love how haters are making this woman, and her business into a hero. Could you imagine some wholesaler googling ang having a company they want to use connected to that circus? Yikes!
*
Interesting enough, EmTanner admits, in that same thread on facebook, that she’s getting just as many hate emails as she is commending her for telling Kate off. That should speak volumes to her, as a businesswoman
I don’t think either one of them should have had that “battle” on Twitter. At least Kate had sense enough to back off, albeit a little late. I see Em was still at it today. It was one thing for Jon to call Em, but he should have never given her permission to share their conversation. Jon and Kate need to learn to get along and not say anything bad about the other, for the kid’s sake.
CJ, My understanding was that this new viewer endorsed the product, but Kate spoke up without naming Em Tanner… ECJ or one of her minions took it upon herself to “help” the situation by notifying Em Tanner that Kate was dissing her. That’s when the ugliness really ensued… Maybe I read it wrong, but that is what I thought happened the other night.
I was on twitter when the spat started, Kate never named em tanner until en tanner jumped in and tried to start a war. Kate squashed the matter quickly but em tanner kept it going and going. Em tanner seems to be enjoying the hater limelight for now.
While I wish Kate would have just kept quiet I do respect her right to defend herself but this is one battle she should have ignored.
No doubt this is the most attention em tanner has had since the hater attack years ago. She seems to be basking in it. Mud & sun = bliss for a pig.
Why would the hater herd think em tanner has grounds to sue Kate ? isn’t it the other way around ?
The fact of the matter is that even as of last night, ET had not taken Kate’s name off her website… Why would she have grounds to sue Kate… except twisted hater logic?
I saw that Judy and I agree. I don’t claim to have any legal knowledge and we have no way of knowing what kind of agreement they had in the first place but Kate seems to be pretty clear about it but then again so does ET.
Right now ET seems to have be content just the way it is so maybe she isn’t doing anything wrong.
For the moment ET has plenty of feed and a mud puddle.
Deborah, I haven’t been on Twitter today… Did ET say she was going to sue, or are the haters just prodding her to do so?
Actually, I think that ET probably has someone else managing her website and that is why she doesn’t make changes on the fly…
I so hope that Kate has a legal team to handle stuff like this. Of course, the end results might not be worth the cost. I, too, think that Em T is loving all the publicity and site visits. Right now she is the hater’s evil queen, but she will learn that there is no loyalty in hatersville.
Its the twisted hater logic at its finest. I read it at 15 mins last night. It came from the ‘legal eagle’ herself.
Rosemary, I don’t think Kate has the legal team any longer.
It did shake down like Judy #35 said it did tho.
Sounds like Em T is going to ride this wave for as far as it’ll take her. Maybe her pockets are Em-T too.
I just had the opportunity to read most of what Tanner wrote on her Facebook page. Wow. Boy is she a Bitter Betty with a mile long nasty streak. I would never do business with someone like that who comes unhinged so easily. For all I know, she may be “right” and Kate “wrong” (it’s probably more complicated than that though), but geez, talk about UNPROFESSIONAL. She also writes like an ESL student. Actually, most ESL students write better than her.
i find it really strange that so many posters i thought reasonable and rational are criticizing kate for saying anything. hells bells it’s her name to market as she sees fit. ergo, whyb is she being criticized for speaking up? darned if i would be so noble!!!
#47 Hear, Hear!!!
Criticizing….I don’t think so. More like offering an opinion and a very respectful one at that.
Ruth and Rosemary, I’ll speak for myself (although I agree with Pam too). Nothing I said about Kate was any harsher than I would say to my own sister, best friend or daughter. Basically, it goes something like this:
.
“Pick your battles.” “Don’t waste time on people who don’t matter.” “Make your own behavior above reproach.” “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Etc.
.
We are just girlfriends offering advice. 😉 Trust me, the vast majority of posters on this thread have Kate’s back and our advice (unsolicited, I realize) is offered with love.
Anya, Re #50 — You can speak for me anytime! You nailed it, as far as I’m concerned!
I cannot imagine what it must feel like every morning to turn on your computer, phone, etc. and to see what rumors or comments that you have to attack, clarify or deny. None of us have to deal with that. Right or wrong, like my deceased sister or brothers, I will always have her back.
No one is perfect. No you, not me, and not Kate Gosselin. I think it’s ok to disagree with someone’s choice without hating on them. Pam (#49) and Anya (#50) nailed it.
Radar Online has picked this up now with just a slight revision in the title.
John’s Sainthood is mind-boggling, isn’t it?
my reasoning: kate seems to be using her name/endorsement for money or at least support, so she says nothing when someone else uses it to attract a following! kate no longer can do a calender for herself. the use of her name without consent is not a big enough deal to hire a lawyer, what she CAN do is go on twitter and address the problem civilly which she did but i don’t believe it is helpful to kate to get “sisterly” criticism/comments. i would hope if it were my sister or friend i could keep from saying something that might cause them to question what they did. we all do our bestand certainly mean well but to always take the high road not for me.
54 Yesterday some khater tweeters and blogs said they were going to contact the tabloids.
Looks like all the tabloids are running with the same story. Too bad they won’t do a story on the haters who grew the story.
That is why imo that Kate should not say things on twitter. The haters are just waiting for something to run with. They delight in trying to get something on Kate,she is providing the ammunition they constantly are seeking,just makes it worse for her.
IMO Jon is still grabbing on to Kate’s coat tails to get his name out there.
And this was a dispute about Kate’s name not Jon’s name so he should of stayed out of it.
If Jon believes he is going to sell anything with his name attached he is dreaming ~He destroyed the Ed Hardy name just by wearing their clothing ~LOL
Did Jon receive the same freebies from this company when they were married? No company should have brought this to twitter, and Kate should have ignored the whole thing. Jon’s new bosses are all women, wth, are their standards that low or is this all they can get to sign with their company.
I want to welcome Sam from the UK & twitter to Imperfect Women.
Thankd deborah I am a huge KG fan always have been since the ahow aired in 2007 xx
You’re welcome Sam 🙂
Hi Sam and welcome to Imperfect Women!
Sam tells me Kate Plus 8 is a hit in the UK and that at least 60% like her.
She’s new to the Gosselin blogs.
Is England just now seeing the show for the first time? If so, what year or season are they seeing?
Sorry about that, LOL….wrong thread.
Hi, Sam! I’m do hsppy to see you here. I’ve been watching you on Twitter and am so impressed with the way you’ve been handling the crazies! Welcome!
Pam,
You might be on the wrong thread but, YOU ARE RIGHT ON !
Hi Sam , nice to have another fan join us !
Hi Sam!
Welcome to IW.
Welcome to IW Sam 😉
The tabloid story is a prime example of exactly why twitter is not the best place to air grievances!
It’s just so easy for the tabloids to leave out the ET unprofessional attacking tweets & once again Kate appears to be an ungrateful diva, because that what seems to sell 🙁
It’s time for someone to fill out one of those tabloid forms and give then the REAL story!
Welcome Sam. You sure can answer the non-fans on Twitter. LOL!
It is the same old Gosselin drama and I feel sorry for Kate. As it has been said, many times, she doesn’t deserve the level of hatred (and interference) from the hate blogs, it has been going on so long (and the kids aren’t on tv!!). It’s a shame about Jon, whether or not he sold the story, he made it more of a sensation by contacting Em and allowing her to go public w/it. He will continue to try to jump in Kate’s spotlight, create drama and sell whatever tabloid stories he can. Sounds like she has just learned to deal with it. She said the kids were doing well and they come home happy from Jon’s. It’s a good thing they can make that part work.
Oh yes, and I want to add this for something Kate has twittered. Saying you “could say more but won’t” (para) is sort of cheating. I do think Kate got pulled into into this, but she needs to take it as a lesson as what should be on twitter and what shouldn’t.
Now ROL is reporting Hailey Glassman tweets with Kate. I don’t wonder if a lot of this is that the TLC contract is over and Kate can do as she wants. I think she is absolutely setting up the thinly veiled threat to Jon. You write a book and I’ll write a book. And all your blah, blah, blah about what a shrew I am has been read and said a million times before. I, on the other hand, have some real dirt on you and you will regret opening this can of worms.
Good Morning All: A book by Kate and Hailey. What a riot that would be. So much to compare.
I like that idea Rosemary that would be one way for Hailey to get the money back that Jon took from her~ she would never get it straight from Jon.
#52 Um, I beg to differ with that. :-\
Sorry CJ if you are having the same problems. Since I do not twitter (only read them), I do not get personal attacks.
I’m late to the conversation, and I’m not on Twitter so I don’t know what happened exactly, but this caught my eye for a few reasons.
I remember Kate and John had Em Tanner, even a link to Em’s website, on the John & Kate Plus 8 website they had up the first few years of the show. They were listed along with other products that the Gosselins had gotten for free and were displayed on the show. A “thank you” I’m sure for the free stuff at the time.
I also, personally, looked up Em Tanner in Knoxville, TN (I was living only 25 miles away at the time). I was curious about going to a local boutique where they had some of the t-shirts the Gosselins wore on the show for sale (Big Sis, Little Sis, etc.) In the process, I called the phone number and spoke to one of the owners (I can’t remember who, but Em Tanner isn’t the only owner…or wasn’t at the time). I specifically mentoined having seen the items on JK&8 and having found a link to their website on the Gosselin-owned webpage. I made some inquiries about having some t-shirts custom made, also having a nice conversation with the lady on the other end, and that being it.
Like I said, I don’t know what prompted the “Twitter war”, or Kate’s comments about her name being used inappropriately, but I remember that the t-shirts, plates, calendar all had references to being seen on the show at the time (2006 or 2007) on the Em Tanner website. Again, there was cross promotion for Em Tanner on the Gosselin site, IIRC.
Why is Kate complaining NOW, all these years later? Why is she complaining after she promoted the Em Tanner website herself on the Gosselin website? And, let’s face it, if there was any merit to what she/Kate was saying/tweeting there would be a lawsuit, not a twitter skermish.
It doesn’t sound like Em Tanner is being very gracious, however. I think if you “hate” Kate, you’d have changed the name on the calendar long ago…they’ve been using it for YEARS now. I don’t know how much current business they have. Maybe the website is old. But, yeah, if she considered Kate a detriment to her business, where’s the action?
Weird.
P.S. This may have been mentioned, but Kate definately mentioned Em Tanner ON the tv show AND linked her website at the time, for months if not years.
Why is it now a problem for Kate? Did Em Tanner just go public and make a killing, or what? Again, maybe Kate jumped the gun on potential litigation, but, jeez, what a BAD idea to twit about it.
Marci,
EM Tanner needs money, just like any other business. On Kate’s birthday she had a 37% off sale to generate business. A couple of days ago she had a Jodi sale. I’m waiting for a 50% off for a Jon sale. Looks like she hanging on until she gets through the whole family of names. I can’t imagine having so many products for sale at a discount at one time, unless they have been sitting around for years collecting dust. 🙂
Marci: When the show was on the air there was a quid pro quo. What Kate is objecting to, is now that the show is over EM Tanner is still using Kate’s name to sell products, and Kate is not receiving payment for the use of her name. If anyone should file a Cease and Desist, it should be Kate.
@Snickers & Rosemary,
I haven’t checked the Tanner website, but it wouldn’t surprise me if she’s still using the names that reference the items used on the shows. (Question: Does she/Tanner also say something like “As seen on John & Kate Plus 8” anywhere? And, if so, apparently the production company didn’t mind if the cross promotion went on in perpetuity? In other words, why is Kate complaining and they are not? Perhaps she’s the only one not making money anymore? This is not a cynical statement, just thinking out loud.)
The problem is, I don’t know that there was an actual written/verbal agreement between the Gosselins and Em Tanner at the time that made their quid pro quo relationship legal…and legal in such a way that Kate would have any grounds to object at this point. You’re right, if Kate doesn’t like them using her name any longer…say, she doesn’t want to be associated with the product any longer because it has fundamentally changed from what she ACTUALLY used on the show OR (and this would seem strange since there are DVDs, etc., not just Em Tanner products bearing her name) Kate doesn’t want to be associated with the early episodes of her show anymore…she SHOULD take legal action.
My point is, I don’t think she easily can…that she would have any steady ground to stand on…since there WAS, apparently (I’m not sure), an unwritten “quid pro quo” agreement between them to begin with. Just because Kate is no longer wearing/using their items on a show anymore (but do you think she’s stopped using those plates except for if they simply wore out?), when she was obviously perfectly fine with promoting them without compensation at the time, why should Em Tanner stop promoting a product by citing its most public consumer; i.e., Kate Gosselin?
Do you see where there might be some problems with Kate’s objections now at this late date?
And, obviously, neither side helped themselves with the Twitter bitching if, indeed, there is legal standing for either side, was my other point.
Marci,
I agree with what you said, but seems like Em Tanner’s business is riding on Kate and her family. Em should be able to stand on her own, if her products are so wonderful by now. The twitter stuff was not cool, on either side. Selling a few products to a handful of non-fans will never keep a business going.
Snickers,
Yeah, I don’t know all the details, who her stuff is selling to now or not. I know Em Tanner had a pretty strong local following before the association with the Gosselins…living in the area at the time, I could tell that much. And, really, her stuff was darned cute. Sounds like them not having anything to do with each other is the best idea all around since they have nothing nice to say about each other.
Marci,
Local business does well, I agree. When I am shopping on the internet, I want people from all sides to be respectful in how they are dealing with the public and their customers. I hope they both can just move on and forget the negative crap. Jon also reaped the benefits from the sales, but of course, she gave him a pass.