WERNERSVILLE, Pa. — In a dose of reality for reality TV, Pennsylvania’s Labor Department has opened an investigation into whether the hit show “Jon & Kate Plus 8” is complying with state child-labor laws.
The Labor Department received a complaint against the show and is “gathering information” from its representatives, department spokesman Justin Fleming told The Associated Press. The fact a complaint is being investigated doesn’t necessarily mean the department thinks the show did anything wrong.
TLC said Friday it “fully complies” with state laws in its series about two parents raising 8-year-old twins and 5-year-old sextuplets, which drew nearly 10 million viewers for its fifth-season premiere Monday.
Child actors and performers are protected by Pennsylvania labor law, but it’s not clear whether the law applies to reality TV.
