Reality TV Star Jon Gosselin Explains Why He Was Working as Cook at TGI Friday's
"Why can’t I work at a restaurant?" he asked.
— -- Photos of former reality TV star Jon Gosselin surfaced earlier this week that showed the father and DJ working as a cook at TGI Friday's.
The former "Jon & Kate Plus 8" star, 36, spoke to Entertainment Tonight about the job and why he has no issues working in a restaurant chain.
He said he started several weeks ago when a "buddy needed help so I said OK, why not" and added "I only work there 8 hours a week, because I like to do it. Why can’t I work at a restaurant?"
Gosselin was concerned as to who leaked the photo, when he's just putting in a day's worth of honest work.
"Today I’m a headline, tomorrow someone else screws up in Hollywood, and I’m off the front page," he said. "I just laugh. I have nothing to hide. I have a super supportive girlfriend, my family is great. My kids love me. I have a pretty simple life. ... I’m so thankful TGI Friday's hired me as a cook -- just as me, not the reality TV me. They respect what I do. It’s a passion of mine."
Gosselin said he also donated most of his paycheck from the restaurant to charity. Gosselin considers his full-time gig DJing at Building 24 night club in Pennsylvania, where he lives.
In a separate interview with radio show Kannon & Sybil, Gosselin said though he laughs off the photo leaking, "I'm not going to work there anymore. The trust and the teamwork is gone."
He said he wasn't happy that someone sold a picture to the media.
"Thanks a lot man, now I have to go through all this stuff," he added. "I got to leave a job I was passionate about."
As for his relationship with his ex, Kate, Jon said he sees most of the kids and lives 15 minutes away. He did say in previous interviews that he hasn't seen his son Collin in more than a year. In the radio interview, he mentioned being estranged from one of his sons, though he didn't use a name.
"They’re doing well," he told ET of most of the kids. "We’ll go to the pool in the summer, or the beach."
Gosselin starred on "Jon & Kate Plus 8" from the mid-2000's until the couple split in 2009. She continued with a show of her own featuring their eight children.
"I don’t talk to Kate," he said of his ex. "I’m not trying to stop the shows she’s doing now."
Kate Gosselin did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.