It was a couch full of awkwardness Thursday on the “Today” show when Kate Gosselin sat down for an interview with her 13-year-old twin daughters Cara and Mady. The kids clammed up for host Savannah Guthrie and refused to answer questions directed at them. But backstage, it got pretty loud, Confidenti@l has learned.
Guthrie was met with radio silence on air when she asked the girls about their recent People magazine cover, in which Kate claimed all her kids were doing well, even with her very public divorce from Jon Gosselin and a life growing up on reality TV.
Despite Kate’s attempts to force their mouths open and have words come out, saying, “It’s your chance, spit it out,” to her girls, they insisted on staying silent, which was painful to watch.
“This is the most wordless I’ve heard them all morning,” Kate said through clenched teeth. “I don’t want to speak for them but, Mady, go ahead. Sort of the things that you said in [People] magazine, that years later they’re good, they’re fine. Go for it, it’s your chance.”
“No,” Mady said. “You just said it.”
Kate went on to explain, “They get really frustrated that people assume certain things in our house and they always say, ‘But that’s not how it is, mommy. Why do they say that about us?’ ”
Mama Gosselin spoke for the remainder of the sit-down, with a scared-looking Mady piping in with just a few words. Apparently that wasn’t good enough.
Backstage after the disastrous non-chat, Kate let the girls have it, says our source.
“She went type-A crazy,” says our insider. “She was upset that they had a chance to speak for themselves and defend her and they blew it. She told them, ‘You embarrassed mommy,’ and some people heard. She was not happy.”
After leaving, Kate jumped into damage-control mode, tweeting, “Thanks to @TODAYshow for having Cara, Mady and me on the show today! 1st live interview can render even the gabbiest girls speechless :)”
She followed that up with another, writing, “@Boosterdude no damage done. They wanted to do interview with me, I said ’go for it’ #morelifeopportunities #proudmomnomatterwhat.”
But it was clear Wednesday that Kate had wanted the girls to shine, tweeting “Cara & Mady are SO honored to be on @TODAYshow tomorrow morning, talking all stuff ‘teenager’ (while I’m thinking stop growing up SO fast!)”
The girls’ father, Jon, chimed in, telling “Inside Edition” Thursday that he blames his ex for what happened. “Definitely. Someone has to sign the paperwork for them to go on television. It wasn’t me. They’re minors … You put our kids into a situation that they were not prepared for at all. They weren’t allowed to be themselves.”
We get it. Live TV is nerve-racking. There’s always next time, ladies.
NBC refused to comment when reached.
Mobile users can see video by clicking on this link.
YEEZUS, THE KEY TO WESTERN FAITH
Watch out, Scientology.
A website touting “Yeezianity,” a church dedicated to the teachings of Kanye West, is gaining in popularity since “opening” shortly before the new year. Confidenti@l spoke to the prophet pushing the gospel of Yeezus.
“This has been building for 100 years. The ideas behind Yeezianity originate in the New Thought Movement, which is a school of American philosophy, which was at its peak around the early 20th century,” Yeezianity’s founder told us under the agreement of anonymity.
“Yeezianity is the new American Dream,” we’re told. We were unable to ascertain where the “religion” is based.
The suddenly worshipped rapper hasn’t commented on Yeezianity yet, but the virtual church’s founder is confident He will appreciate their efforts.
“I realize he’s a very busy guy and also I know he’s cautious and he would want to think through how he wants to approach this,” we’re told. “I have total faith whatever he’s gonna’ do with it is gonna’ be dope.”
And we thought West’s ego was a problem before …
PHOTOS: KIM KARDASHIAN AND KANYE WEST'S MATCHING STYLE
PARADIS LOST
A word of advice to any beautiful women hoping to date Johnny Depp: This is what happens when you break up. After photos surfaced this week showing Depp’s current squeeze Amber Heard wearing a possible engagement ring, the actor’s ex Vanessa Paradis debuted a supershort haircut while flipping off paparazzi at Aroma Cafe in Hollywood.
CASSIDY’S LATEST SPIN
Born-and-bred New York DJ Cassidy, whose résumé includes an inauguration party for President Obama in the White House, will release his debut album this spring. Helping Cassidy out on “Paradise Royale” will be R. Kelly, John Legend, Estelle, Usher and Robin Thicke, who will also be touring with the dapper deejay starting next month. The pair will visit our neck of the woods March 2 when they perform at the Borgata in Atlantic City before coming to Madison Square Garden March 7.
POWER’S BACK ON
Good news for diners who like their eggs with a side of influence — The Loews Hotel’s Regency Bar & Grill relaunched its Power Breakfast Thursday. Police Commissioner Bill Bratton joined former commish Ray Kelly, ex-mayor David Dinkins, ex-wannabe mayor Joe Lhota and rabble-rouser Al Sharpton to reopen the eatery, which had been closed for 54 weeks while the hotel underwent a $100 million renovation. Loews CEO Jim Tisch and his brother, chairman Andrew Tisch, were on hand to unveil the good-as-new space.
IT’S A BETTY GOOD YEAR
The awesome Betty White turns 92 Friday. In honor of the still saucy actress, Sharper Image has unveiled a billboard in Times Square to celebrate it. It’ll stay up for just 24 hours. Making their gift even better is the brand’s sizable donation to one of White’s favorite charities, the Los Angeles Zoo. On turning 92, White told us, “92? I don’t feel a day over 91.’ Happy birthday, Betty!
PARTY FAITHFUL
Only N.Y. hospitality leaders Richie Akiva and Scott Sartiano could throw together a party on less than 24 hours notice — in a strange city. In Los Angeles for business, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Andre Harrell threw a bash for Leonardo DiCaprio, Bradley Cooper, Jonah Hill, Kevin Connolly, Margot Robbie and Orlando Bloom, was also celebrating his 37th birthday. Bottles of Ace of Spades and DeLeon tequila were paraded through the club for Bloom. Also in attendance were Usher, Bono, David Spade and Joaquin Phoenix.
PHOTOS: WOLVES IN CHIC CLOTHING: 'THE WOLF OF WALL STREET PREMIERES IN NEW YORK
T’S AND SYMPATHY TO HELP POOCHES
To raise awareness about the danger of puppy mills, Amanda Hearst has become a T-shirt designer. In partnership with her charity Friends of Finn, designer Michelle Smith and the Humane Society, Hearst designed a $90 tee with “#TopDog” on it. “I am pretty social media illiterate,” Hearst tells Confidenti@l. “But instead of just a super-typical saying on the shirt, I thought, why don’t we use the hashtag to make it more relevant and modern.” The shirts are available exclusively in Milly stores.
McCARTHY’S BITING WIT
Dirty, Sexy, Funny is right. Feeling guilty after biting into one of the promotional cookies Epix network sent our way to promote Jenny McCarthy’s new “Dirty Sexy Funny” show, The News' Chris Baud tweeted McCarthy, saying “I’m sorry I ate your face,” along with a photo of the McCarthy-shaped treat he’d disfigured. Much to our delight, McCarthy almost immediately replied, “I always gave good head.” If her new show is anywhere near this witty, it’ll be remembered longer than her 1997 program “Jenny.”
GET IN STEP WITH SJP
Starting Feb. 28, “Sex and the City” addicts will finally get to walk in Sarah Jessica Parker’s shoes — at least the collection she’s launching with Nordstrom. Parker gave O, the Oprah Magazine a sneak peek at the SJP collection by letting editor at large Gayle King try on a few pairs at the Crosby Street Hotel in SoHo.
PHOTOS: 'SEX AND THE CITY' TAKES NY
EX-TRA SPECIAL ADVICE
Fresh off a divorce filing from her ex, Eliot Spitzer, Silda Spitzer and daughter Sarabeth hit a breakfast at the Manhattan hotel in New York, where Silda led a “Lean In” discussion with a Dolly Parton quote.
STASI A WOMAN OF MYSTERY
The News’ own Linda Stasi was nominated for a Mystery Writers of America award. In the category of the Simon & Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award, Stasi was named for her hit book, “The Sixth Station.” The winner (we vote Linda!) will be presented with the award at the MWA’s Agents & Editors Party on April 30.
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