Collin Gosselin's New Memoir Alleges Abuse by Kate Gosselin: 'The Truth Is Finally Out'

Collin Gosselin, one of the sextuplets from TLC’s Jon&Kate Plus 8, has released a memoir titled In the Shadow of Eight, and the allegations inside are heavy. Now 22, Collin claims his mother, Kate Gosselin, physically and emotionally abused him and isolated him from his seven siblings. He says she spanked him with a serving spoon, smacked him hard enough to leave a bruise, and had him placed in a behavioral health facility around age 11, where he says he was put on more than a dozen medications. He also recalls his mother telling him,“Collin, you destroyed our family.”Kate’s attorney, Richard Puleo, has denied the abuse allegations, saying she acted to protect the family.

Collin’s father, Jon Gosselin, removed him from the facility in 2018, and the two remain close today. Collin says he’s also in regular contact with his sister Hannah, but it’s been eight years since he’s seen his other siblings. In the book, he describes feelings of relief at finally sharing his side of the story, telling readers“the truth is finally out.”Kate has previously said Collin received multiple psychiatric diagnoses and was placed in the facility for the family’s safety, a claim her attorney stands behind.

Beyond the memoir, Collin is looking forward. He’s finishing college and says he wants to become a Marine officer. The book also lands in the middle of a broader cultural conversation about child exploitation in reality TV and how families handle abuse claims behind closed doors. He says he’s determined to keep moving forward.

What do you think — should reality shows be allowed to feature young children at all? Sound off in the comments.