Collin Gosselin, once known to millions as one of the sextuplets from the hit reality TV show Jon & Kate Plus 8, has come forward with shocking allegations of abuse by his mother, Kate Gosselin. In a heartbreaking interview, Collin opened up about the years of mistreatment, describing how his mother would allegedly tie his hands and feet with zip ties and confine him to a basement room for hours on end.
Collin’s Painful Revelation
Now 20 years old, Collin recounted to The U.S. Sun his harrowing experiences as a child. He claimed that his mother would zip-tie his hands and feet together, lock him in a small room in the basement, and leave him there for most of the day. The room, according to Collin, was nothing more than an unfinished storage area with a mattress on the floor.
"It was a very emotionally abusive relationship," Collin revealed in the interview, fighting back tears. "My mother would zip-tie my hands and feet, lock the door, turn off the lights, and just watch me through cameras." He explained that he spent long hours in this room, cut off from his siblings and the outside world. "I didn’t go to school for a period, so most of my day was spent in that room, away from everyone else."
Kate Gosselin’s Response
Kate Gosselin has yet to respond to these latest claims. However, in 2023, after Collin criticized her parenting style, Kate defended herself, stating that all measures she took were recommended by a team of specialists due to Collin’s "special needs." She expressed concern for Collin’s well-being, labeling him as a "troubled young man."
"Every action taken in our home was based on explicit recommendations from his pediatric psychiatrist and specialists," Kate wrote on Instagram. She further claimed that Collin’s erratic behavior had caused a rift between him and his siblings, leading the family to keep their distance.
Jon Gosselin Weighs In
Collin’s father, Jon Gosselin, confirmed the existence of the basement room, which Collin described in his allegations. Jon told The U.S. Sun that the current owners of their former family home once asked him, "Why is there a room in the basement with a bed and a lock on the outside?" Jon responded by saying, "It must have been terrifying for him."
Jon also revealed that his daughter Hannah, who now lives with him, was the one who first informed him about Collin's alleged abuse at the hands of their mother. Hannah and Collin have both been living with Jon since then, while the rest of the family has remained estranged.
Misdiagnosis and Mental Health
Back in 2016, Kate sent Collin to a special facility, claiming he had "special needs." At the time, she described his issues as a fluid diagnosis. However, Collin disputes this, stating that he was misdiagnosed and that he doesn’t have any mental health disorders. He even shared medical records with The U.S. Sun, asserting that the doctors were wrong in their assessment.
One of the most emotional moments of the interview was when Collin read aloud a letter he wrote from the facility to his father in June 2017. In the letter, he pleaded with Jon to get him out of the facility and accused his mother of abuse. "Dear Dad, I’m not trying to trick you, but I still love you. I told Mom I want to live with you, and she said no. Please help me ... I’m counting on you to get me out of here," Collin read, his voice breaking.
Estrangement from Siblings
Collin also shared how isolated he feels from the rest of his family. Except for Hannah, he hasn’t spoken to any of his siblings in about five or six years. "It’s tough," he admitted. Despite this, Collin said he still loves his brothers and sisters deeply and hopes that one day they can reunite.
"I love them very much, and I really hope that when I have kids, they can meet their aunts and uncles," Collin said, expressing his deep desire to reconnect with his estranged siblings in the future.
Kate Gosselin’s Attorney Responds
Kate’s attorney, Richard Puleo, responded to these allegations by stating that while there are always two sides to every story, he does not believe that Kate intentionally harmed her son. "If Kate had done what Collin is accusing her of, she would have been investigated and prosecuted," Puleo told The U.S. Sun.
He further suggested that Kate's actions were taken to protect herself and the family from Collin’s "troubled behavior" as a child. "I don’t think Kate ever intended to harm Collin," he added.
A Family Torn Apart
Collin Gosselin’s revelations have cast a dark shadow over the Gosselin family, once celebrated as reality TV stars. His allegations of emotional and physical abuse highlight the ongoing pain and trauma that have left this family deeply fractured.
As Collin continues to share his story with the public, it brings attention not only to his personal struggles but also to broader issues of mental health, family dynamics, and the pressures of life in the public eye. While Kate Gosselin remains silent, Collin holds out hope that one day, his fractured family can heal.
This emotional and troubling saga has captured widespread attention, reigniting questions about the long-term effects of reality TV fame on young children and the hidden struggles behind the glamorous lives portrayed on screen.