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Collin Gosselin Shares Message to Estranged Siblings After Years Apart
Collin Gosselin is hoping for understanding.
As the Jon & Kate Plus 8 alum’s memoir In The Shadow of Eight hits bookshelves, the 22-year-old candidly detailed the action he hopes his book might inspire in the six siblings with whom his relationship has been strained in recent years.
“I'm in this stage of my life now where I'm doing research,” he told E! News in an exclusive interview. “I'm pulling up all this documentation of everything from the past. And what I would tell them is to do your own research. The information's out there, but you can't always believe what you've been fed.”
Indeed, Collin—who has relationships with his dad Jon Gosselin and sister Hannah Gosselin but is otherwise estranged from his mom Kate Gosselin and his other siblings—hopes his side of the story sheds some new light on some of his siblings’ memories from their childhood.
“I took what was spoon-fed to me by my mom for so long and ran with it,” he continued. “You just believe everything your mom tells you. So that's what I did. But as an adult, I've done a lot of research and I would want them to know that."
He added, "Because for so long, especially after me being sent out of the home, she told them what she wanted them to believe about me.”
In fact, Collin hopes his memoir—in which he details alleged physical and verbal abuse from his mom, who for her part has previously called his allegations "ridiculous"—offers a new perspective for its readers, many of whom might think they know his story after watching the TLC show.
Michael Simon/Getty Images
“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 explained. “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.”
“Everything was polished,” he continued. “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.”
As for his relationships with Jon and Hannah, Collin, whose mom had primary of him until 2018, is grateful his dad and sister are both in his life.
“There was a lot of lost time to catch up for, especially with my father,” he said. “We didn't know how to be father-son. And we worked really hard at it, and there were so many things to work on. And it's just beautiful. We're like best friends now, and we laugh and share a lot of the same hobbies, and it's good.”
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
And while he can’t guarantee how his memoir will be received, especially among his family, Collin will never regret writing it.
“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.”
For a closer look at Collin's history with his family, 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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