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Collin Gosselin Reveals What It Would Take to Forgive Kate Gosselin
Collin Gosselin isn’t ruling out a resolution with mom Kate Gosselin.
But it would take more than just words for the 22-year-old to build any bridge that leads to forgiveness after he says she was verbally and physically abusive throughout his childhood, an experience he details in his memoir In the Shadow of Eight.
“I know you've probably heard this a million times,” Collin told E! News in an exclusive interview, “but I'm a big believer that actions speak louder than words. And while we can say what we want to say, you have to back that up. And there's a lot of accountability that has to be taken on her part.”
He added, “I've done my due diligence, I've put everything out there, and she's yet to come forward and take accountability for what she's done.”
And indeed, with his new book, Collin—who is estranged from his mother and most of his eight siblings, save for his sister Hannah Gosselin—truly put his side of the story out there in his memoir.
“Telling my story was probably one of the most therapeutic things I've ever done,” he said. “I was scared to do so, and very nervous because you're always nervous. You're telling the story of a life you've lived and how people react and will they see me as damaged or broken?”
But despite his nerves, he affirmed, “It was the most therapeutic and liberating and freeing thing I've ever done.”
E! News has reached out to a representative for Kate for comment but has not yet heard back.
Michael Simon/Getty Images & Noel Vasquez/Getty Images
Much of Collin’s early life was documented on TLC’s Jon & Kate Plus 8, which followed Kate and Jon Gosselin’s journey after the then-couple, already a mom of twins, welcomed sextuplets.
While viewers may think they already know Collin’s story after watching the reality series, he emphasized that his book will pull back the curtain on certain events.
“What I want people to keep in mind is that many times in these productions, a lot of things are happening behind the scenes and not being shown,” he shared. “So, everything that was seen, even if it was the ugly moments and viewers think it was quite bad, I mean imagine that to another level.”
As he put it, “Everything was polished. And I just want people keep in my mind, especially when it comes to children, a lot of what we're seeing—it's not real. It is reality, but it is not real.”
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
As for writing and publishing his memoir, Collin hopes it serves a higher purpose in encouraging anyone who relates to his story to speak up.
“I just want them to know it is it is hard to speak about stuff that you've been through,” he said. “I always knew I wanted to, but it was hard to finally take the step and say like, ‘I'm gonna write a book.’”
He added, “I just want people to know that there's someone out there that's willing to do that. And no matter how vulnerable that is for me to be, it's powerful. You need to be vulnerable and you need to talk about your emotions.”
Plus, Collin hopes his story encourages people of all ages to speak up.
As he said, “When adults read my book, I want to instill that responsibility in them to talk when they see things.”
For a look at the Gosselin family over the years, read on.
Kate Gosselin/Instagram
Sextuplets Turn 21
Sextuplets Hannah, Collin, Alexis, Aaden, Leah and Joel turned 21 on May 10, 2025, and Kate shared pics from the latter four's birthday celebration.
Instagram / Kate Gosselin
Alexis and Leah toast to 21 in another scene from the celebration.
Instagram / Stephanie Lebo
Hannah's 21st Birthday Celebration
Hannah celebrated her birthday with her dad and his fiancée Stephanie Lebo.
Instagram / Kate Gosselin
Sextuplets' 20th Birthday
On Mother's Day 2024, two days after the former couple's sextuplets turned 20, Kate shared a tribute the four who lived with her: Alexis, Aaden, Joel and Leah.
"No more teenagers in this house! Happy 20th birthday, my forever babies! I love you!" she wrote on Instagram. "Who feels old? I know I do! #20yearsold #ItsaPICKLE."
Instagram / Hannah Gosselin
Hannah's Birthday Post
Hannah shared new pics of herself on her and the other sextuplet's 20th birthday.
Instagram / Hannah Gosselin
Hannah the Graduate
On to the next chapter! The sextuplet graduated from high school in 2023.
Instagram / Collin Gosselin
High School Graduates
Jon shared a pic of sextuplets Collin and Hannah graduating from high school in 2023, years after they had moved in with him.
Raymond Hall/GC Images
Girls' Trip
Kate appeared with twin Mady and Cara in New York City in this 2019 pic.
All Grown-Up
"Happy 18th birthday!" Jon wrote on Instagram in 2022. "Today is your birthday we gonna say it loud. I love you. Love, Dad."
Birthday Bash
"Our big celebration of #15 is finally winding down here! We celebrated ALL DAY LONG, beginning with a present at 6:30 am before school! I'm so very thankful for my ‘babies'.... somehow they are 15 already?!" Kate wrote on the special milestone in 2019. "I'm amazed by them each day! I'm so proud of the positive qualities I've seen developing as they edge closer to adulthood."
Back to Class
"This was yesterday! Feels like school never ended...and they're already back! #SeniorYear #EighthGrade #ProudMom," Kate wrote on Instagram in 2018.
Instagram / Jon Gosselin
Birthday Greetings
"Happy 15th Birthday Hannah, Collin, Alexis, Aaden, Joel and Leah!!!! Wow I can't believe you are 15!!! Time is flying by!!!" Jon Gosselin shared on Instagram when posing with Hannah and Collin Gosselin. "I love you all very much. I wish you the best day ever and I hope you enjoy your birthday celebrations today and this weekend!!! Love always, Dad."
Girl Power
"My beautiful 'little girls' .... they keep reminding me how many days until they turn 14. Today it was '12 days til we turn 14, Mom.' HOW'S THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!" Kate shared with her followers in 2018. "I told Leah that she's too small to turn 14. She said 'Yeah, true. Are you sure I'm not turning 11 or 12?' I'm positive. I gave birth to you. They'll always be my babies....I love them so very much!"
Growing Up Gosselin
"I can't believe they're 13!" Kate Gosselin wrote on Instagram when celebrating a major birthday for her sextuplets.
Donna Svennevik/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
Greetings From Alaska
Rewind to 2014 when Kate and her children found themselves visiting Alaska.
Doug Meszler/Splash News
Girls Trip
Kate also treated her twin daughters Cara Gosselin and Mady Gosselin to a trip to New York City in 2014, where they stopped by the Manhattan Hotel.
Happy Holidays
"A precious Christmas memory. My 6 were 6. Christmas Eve 2010 and they're SO excited for Christmas!" Kate Gosselin wrote on Instagram with a throwback photo. "Look at those adorable smiles! #TheyAreMyHeart #My8ReasonsToKeepOnKeepingOn #NoMatterWhat #TrueLoveX8."
Heidi Gutman/NBC NewsWire
Camera Ready
Back in October 2007, Jon and Kate Gosselin gathered their eight kids together for a trip to New York City. First stop? A visit to NBC's Today show.
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