Jon Gosselin makes emotional plea to his kids after being estranged for more than a decade: 'I hope one day you reach out to me'

Jon Gosselin has issued an emotional message to his estranged six children. 

The 49-year-old father of eight rose to fame alongside ex-wife Kate Gosselin, 51, and their brood on TLC's Jon & Kate Plus 8, which aired for five seasons from 2007-2017.

They share twins Madelyn and Cara, 26, and sextuplets Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah and Joel, 22. 

'I hope you understand that I still love you,' he said in a new Entertainment Tonight interview. 'I hope one day you reach out to me.'

Kate filed for divorce from Jon in 2009 at the height of their reality TV fame, prompting a contentious custody battle.

Ultimately, Jon obtained full custody of Hannah and Collin, while his ex-wife was granted custody of the rest of the children.

It comes amid the release of Collin's bombshell tell-all memoir, In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood, released earlier this month. 

He levels abuse allegations against his disavowed mom in the book.

In his desperate plea, Jon begged his children, 'Please read your brother’s book because I think that will explain a lot. Be your own person. You are all adults now.' 

The former reality television personality urged them to 'form your own opinions and try to take in as much information before you talk ill will or anything about anyone in this family.'

Referencing Collin's book, he insisted that his desire to speak to his children is 'not about the book stuff.'

'I just want to know how their life is going. I mean, we’re perfect strangers now,' Jon solemnly shared.

He said he's been estranged from Mady and Cara for 13 years, and has 'no idea why.'

'And then the other four, I haven’t seen them since before COVID, maybe,' he revealed.

Last week Kate defended herself amid Collin's abuse allegations.

She responded to a supporter in the comments section of a TikTok video she posted, showing her celebrating boyfriend Steve Nield's birthday.

When a follower commended her for the sacrifices she has made as a mom, Kate replied: 'Wow. Thank you. I needed this encouragement. I know who I am and my kids know who I truly am and to me, that's all that matters.'

During a TikTok live in 2025, Kate got honest about their divorce, acknowledging that the downfall of the marriage 'did not turn out well for my kids.'

'I don't know if you have kids or don't have kids,' she said to her online audience, 'But I made decisions based on how I would want to be treated, honestly.'

In a 2023 interview with Vice TV, Collin accused his mom of abuse and said she treated him differently than his siblings.

Kate rebutted in a statement to People, claiming, 'My son Collin, whom I love with all my heart, has received multiple psychiatric diagnoses over the years. For the safety of myself, his brothers and sisters and for his own well-being, he was placed in a facility following years of outpatient treatment which proved insufficient for his needs.'