Kate Gosselin Reacts to Estranged Son Collin's Claims about Their Family

A recent TikTok that began as a lighthearted chat quickly turned emotional when the former reality star responded to comments about her son's post reflecting on their fractured family life.

On August 11, 2025, Kate Gosselin took to TikTok to share a short clip answering a few questions about her life as a nurse while also doing some lighthearted "kitchen talk." But what began as a casual update quickly shifted when the former "Jon & Kate Plus 8" star addressed a comment tied to her estranged son, Collin.

Just days earlier, on August 7, Collin had posted a TikTok reflecting on his childhood and fractured family life. The post was then reposted by a netizen in the comments section of Kate's kitchen TikTok.

In response, Kate shared, "He knows why.. [sic]," followed by a crying emoji. The brief but emotional reply immediately drew attention from viewers.

One person replied to Kate's comment, "No one knows what truly happened behind closed doors but what I do know is that everyone deserves to have a second chance in life especially if any mistakes were done when they were children. Forgiveness is so important in life and I pray one day your children and yourself can give him a chance [sic]."

While Kate's brief response to Collin's TikTok drew the most attention, much of the discussion in her kitchen video's comments section revolved around viewers reflecting on how they had once misunderstood her on "Jon & Kate Plus 8."

Many admitted that, after becoming mothers themselves, they saw her actions on the show in a different light. One commenter asked, "Your life seems so different Kate… wut do you miss most about your TLC days [sic]."

To that, Kate typed, "I miss our house in Pa. But mainly I miss when the kids were little. Not the stress, just their cuteness. At the time it felt like the days were long… but in hindsight it sped by. And I'm sad :( [sic]."

Her candidness struck a chord with fans who remembered the Gosselin household during the height of their reality TV fame. The exchange reflected not only Kate's willingness to open up about her past but also how viewers' perceptions of her had shifted with time.

As we previously reported, in Collin's August 7 TikTok, he penned a message to his seven siblings, opening up about the toll life in the public eye took on their bond.

Collin posted a throwback photo on TikTok with his siblings, writing that they were destined to take on the world together. The picture featured twins Mady and Cara, now 24, along with his fellow sextuplet siblings — Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Leah, and Joel.

He followed it with a picture of himself driving alone, reflecting that they now had to navigate life on their own and wondering how things might have been different if they had experienced it together.

The post, set to Adele's 2007 song "Hometown Glory," had an emotional message. Collin wrote, "Forced apart, pitted against each other. All the fame and money in the world, but what about kids being kids? I will always love them more than anything. The tears I shed behind closed doors, thinking about the memories we could've shared. I love you guys❤️."

After the 21-year-old shared his video, fans took to the comments section to ask questions. One person questioned, "Do you still talk with Hannah? I don't want 'tea' or anything, just hoping you still had one sibling on your side!"

Collin replied that he had seen Hannah earlier that day, helped check her car amid inspection concerns, and noted that her humor always brightens his day. He added that while they both have busy schedules with work and school, he treasures the time they get to spend together.

One netizen suggested that if Collin chose to have children in the future and stayed involved in their lives, he might better understand his mother's perspective. Collin replied bluntly to this comment, "The physical and emotional abuse I was put through, while having to be an animal in her circus on TV. Being locked up, isolated, zip-tied. Being sent away because I didn't fit into an equation."

He continued, "Having one visit from her after being completely cut off with no contact at 12 years old, in which the whole visit was her telling me how I deserved the situation I was in because I 'destroyed our family.' Yeah, I'm sorry, but I will never 'understand' that. I will break the cycle that she couldn't."

One supporter shared their concern, "As a mother my biggest worry is that my children won't have each others backs as adults. I hope that your siblings will reach out to you and your sister again."

In response, Collin said, "I can't wait to have kids and teach them the importance of siblings. I tell all my friends who have siblings to always value their siblings and hold each other close."

In 2024, Collin Gosselin opened up about his time in an institution, revealing that he had not seen or spoken to his estranged siblings since 2016. He claimed his mother sent him away not because of a behavioral disorder, as she had stated, but to protect the family's public image.

Speaking in detail about his upbringing, Collin said he was treated differently from his seven siblings and, despite being part of one of the most popular reality TV shows of its time, spent much of his childhood isolated and alone.

He alleged that there were times when his hands and feet would be zip-tied, and he would be locked in a specially built basement room containing only a bed and cameras to monitor him. He would sometimes remain there for an entire day or part of a day, and this happened several times.

At 11, he was admitted to a mental health facility after being diagnosed with several behavioral and psychiatric conditions, diagnoses he insists were false. Collin has even shared private medical records to show he has no such illnesses or conditions.

Because of what he described as a near-nonexistent childhood, he vowed that if he ever had children, he would never put them in front of a camera. Collin emphasized his deep love for his siblings, saying he would never harm them or speak badly about them.

"I think if we knew each other today, we'd be very good friends," he said, adding that he believes their negative comments about him in the media are the result of their mother's influence. Despite the distance, Collin remains hopeful for reconciliation. "Something I want more than anything. I just want to see my siblings," he noted, convinced they could still be a team again.

Kate Gosselin's lawyer, Richard Puleo, has maintained that she did not intentionally harm Collin. He noted that Kate acted to protect herself and her family from what he described as troubled behavior. In a 2023 statement, Kate reiterated that Collin had received "multiple psychiatric diagnoses."

Hence, after several unsuccessful outpatient treatments, he was placed in a facility for the sake of Kate and her other kids' safety. She stated that emergency room doctors admitted him following "one of his many attacks/outbursts," this time involving a weapon.

Kate asserted that Collin continued to exhibit erratic and aggressive behavior. She claimed that one symptom of his condition was "a distorted perception of reality," which led him to completely fabricate incidents. Kate also maintained that all steps taken to help Collin were done under the guidance of his pediatric psychiatrist and a team of specialists.

Even after his time in the facility, she described Collin as a "troubled young man" who needs help. She explained that she and her other children have remained apart from him out of fear of his "unpredictable behavior and violent tendencies" toward them.

However, Collin's father, Jon, has backed his son's account, saying the alleged mistreatment occurred after his divorce from Kate, during a period when he had no custody of their sextuplets or twins.

He also said he had received "50 to 60" letters from the Department of Human Services over the years concerning Collin and other children in the family, informing him that suspected child abuse reports were under investigation.

Jon alleged that Kate sent what she described as a "difficult" and "stubborn" Collin to a care facility despite there being no diagnosed medical condition apart from ADHD. According to Jon, while Collin was "caged" for three years, Kate visited him only three times for less than two hours in total and did not disclose his whereabouts to him.

With the conflicting accounts of what did or didn't happen, Collin's only concern now is rebuilding his relationship with his siblings if he ever gets the chance.