Collin Gosselin Reflects on Alleged Abuse by Mother Kate Gosselin

Collin Gosselin, 22, has spoken about the alleged abuse he experienced from his mother, Kate Gosselin. In an interview with ABC, he claimed she would isolate him by making him sleep in a locked room in the basement, keeping him away from his father, Jon Gosselin. He recalled a teacher noticing his swollen earlobe, allegedly caused when Kate “dragged” him by his ear in an abusive incident.

Collin has also claimed that Kate had him institutionalized against his will. “My teacher saw … and I spoke to my guidance counselor about it,” Collin said. However, his mother was unhappy he spoke about it. In fourth grade, he was removed from school, too afraid to speak when questioned by child protective services regarding the abuse allegations.

He admitted his life before reality TV cameras was unclear to him, stating, “My whole life that I lived was a lie.” Collin was part of the reality show “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” and later “Kate Plus 8.” He claimed after one escape attempt, his mother allegedly zip-tied him and locked him in the basement.

Collin recalled how days before his 12th birthday, Kate had him removed from their home and placed him in an institution. He said he was “pumped with medication” with little family contact, being told, “This is for your own good.” He believes he was a threat to his mother’s income and image, as she allegedly sought to protect her reputation. Kate Gosselin had claimed Collin had various behavioral challenges, including autism and bipolar disorder, but an independent evaluation found these claims untrue.

In an interview with Jay Shetty for his memoir “In The Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood,” Collin shared that his earliest memory involved camera crews filming his family. “We were rolling every day,” he said, describing lights and cameras always in his home.

He further described how the first indication of his abnormal childhood came when his parents divorced. “It was never normal,” he reflected. He questioned the ethics of filming children in private moments. Collin described how staged events, like playing with puppies for photo shoots, would leave them disappointed when the puppies were taken away.

Fox News Digital reached out to Kate for comment, but she has largely stayed silent regarding the abuse allegations. Over the summer, she denied her son’s claims on social media, referencing that she “forced” him and his siblings apart. She explained she couldn’t sue for defamation due to public figure status, stating, “Malice is one of the hardest things to prove.” She mentioned consulting an attorney who advised that courts often don’t take action for those in the public eye.

Lastly, Kate expressed that only parents dealing with mentally ill children can fully understand such challenges.