Collin Gosselin, one of the sextuplets from the hit TLC series“Jon&Kate Plus 8,”has released a memoir titled“In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood.”In the book, the 22-year-old alleges physical and emotional abuse throughout his upbringing and says he hasn’t spoken to his siblings in ten years. He was sent to a behavioral health facility at age 11 in 2016, and his father, Jon Gosselin, gained custody of him in 2018.
Kate Gosselin addressed the allegations indirectly this week, replying to a supportive fan on TikTok under a video celebrating her boyfriend Steve Neild’s birthday.“I know who I am and my kids know who I truly am and to me, that’s all that matters,”she wrote. Collin’s own message is equally direct:“I love them very much, and I want them to know that what was done to us as children is not normal.”
The Gosselin family has been in the public eye since their show premiered in 2007, and the couple separated in 2009. Years later, the children are adults with their own perspectives and platforms. The conversation now centers on reality TV’s impact on kids and how families navigate estrangement when the cameras are long gone.
Do you think children who grew up on reality TV deserve a platform to share their stories as adults? Sound off in the comments.
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Local Lawton
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