Kate Gosselin wasn’t popular with TV viewers when starring on TLC’s Jon & Kate Plus 8. She was dubbed the original Karen for belittling her husband and kids. She and Jon divorced in 2009. The show continued with her as a single mom to their eight children. However, one of her kids detailed shocking claims of abuse. Keep reading to see Kate Gosselin’s response.
Collin Gosselin Releases Tell-All Memoir
Collin Gosselin is one of Kate and Jon Gosselin’s eight children. The former couple had twins, Mady and Cara, before welcoming sextuplets in 2004. Collin, now 22, has been estranged from his mother for over a decade. He revealed in the summer of 2026 that he was working on a memoir detailing the alleged abuse he suffered growing up.
In the Shadow of Eight was released on Tuesday, October 13. It included new details about alleged physical abuse. According to Collin Gosselin, his mother dragged him around by his ear and locked him in the basement.
He wrote in the book that he was sent to an institution right before his 12th birthday. He remained there for nearly two years before his father was granted custody. Collin hasn’t spoken to his mother since.
Kate Gosselin Breaks Silence On Son’s Bombshell Abuse Allegations
Hannah Gosselin also left her mom’s home to live with her dad. However, the other six children remained with their mother. Hannah and Kate have since reconciled. Collin revealed that he’s estranged from most of his siblings but hopes to reconnect with them.
Collin Gosselin’s shocking memoir has put Kate back in the crosshairs. Her social media accounts are flooded with negative comments. She hasn’t publicly addressed her son’s abuse claims. However, she broke her silence on the situation in a TikTok comment.
One fan showed support and pointed out that doctors decide if a patient needs to be institutionalized, not parents. “Thank you so much,” Kate Gosselin replied. “I know rational logical ppl or anyone who has dealt with mental illness understands what’s going on here.”
Ashley’s Reality Roundup reported that Kate Gosselin also heart-reacted to several other comments, including one that claimed Collin was violent toward his siblings.
Her Previous Post Addressing His Mental Health Issues
Collin Gosselin claimed in his book that his mother admitted to locking him in the basement in the intake paperwork at the facility. While she hasn’t directly addressed her son’s book, she spoke out several years ago about what led to the decision to send him away.
“My son Collin, whom I love with all my heart, has received multiple psychiatric diagnoses over the years. For the safety of myself, his brothers and sisters and for his own well-being, he was placed in a facility following years of outpatient treatment which proved insufficient for his needs,” she wrote on social media in 2023.
“The decision to admit him was made by emergency room doctors following one of his many attacks/ outbursts – this one involving his use of a weapon. Fast forward to the present day, and following Jon’s removal of Collin from treatment, my son’s unpredictable and violent behaviors have sadly continued regularly towards Jon, Hannah and others around him,” she added.
Collin Gosselin wrote in his book that he had independent testing done and doesn’t have any psychiatric diagnoses. However, the doctor who did the tests declined to share the details of the results for the book.
The former TLC reality star shared a lot in his book. He’s also opened up on Season 5 of Fox’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. Tell us in the comments if you believe Collin or Kate’s version of his childhood.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger