Jon Gosselin backs son Collin's abuse claims against mom Kate, issues warning

Anthony Robledo, USA TODAYSat, October 17, 2026 at 8:27 PM UTC

0

Jon Gosselin has nothing but love and support for his son Collin Gosselin after he publicly accused his mom, Kate Gosselin, of abusing him as a child.

Collin Gosselin, one of the sextuplets on "Jon & Kate Plus 8," opened up about the emotional scars of having his early adolescence filmed for the popular TLC show in his Oct. 13 memoir, "In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood."

In the book, the 22-year-old reality TV star said he faced isolation from his siblings, physical abuse and verbal attacks. He accused his now-estranged mother of locking him in his basement bedroom multiple times and said he was admitted into a behavioral institution in Philadelphia just before his 12th birthday in May 2016.

Jon, who divorced Kate in 2009 after 10 years of marriage, said in an Oct. 15 statement to Us Weekly that he couldn't be prouder of his son for sharing his "heartbreaking memoir and his mission to help other victims of abuse." The 49-year-old father of six sextuplets and twin daughters called out those who dismissed Collin's allegations.

"Also, let me be very clear: If you continue to falsely label my son Collin as 'mentally ill,' you will be held accountable," Jon said. "As you know, Collin has been evaluated by multiple independent psychiatrists, and that narrative is proven categorically untrue."

Jon Gosselin warns those weaponizing son Collin's mental health

The father of eight also condemned those sharing "false claims about [Collin's] mental health," which he said "is damaging to his reputation, his credibility and his future."

"Consider this fair warning: The days of using mental health to discredit and silence my son are over," he concluded.

Despite being estranged from his mother, Collin Gosselin still maintains a close relationship with Jon, who obtained legal and physical custody of him and his sister, Hannah Gosselin, in 2018. Twins Madelyn and Cara Gosselin, and sextuplets Alexis, Aaden, Joel and Leah Gosselin, have not publicly supported Collin; however, he doesn't blame them for living private lives.

"My mom fed them so much stuff about me, and they didn't see a lot of what happened," Collin told USA TODAY in October. "They would go off to school every day. I would be at home. I would bear the wrath of my mom."

Advertisement

Collin Gosselin last talked to Kate after being 'imprisoned' in facility

Collin spoke to USA TODAY about the alleged verbal and physical abuse, neglect and isolation that occurred when cameras weren't rolling.

He accused his mother of wrapping his arms and ankles with zip ties and said he hasn't spoken to her since he was "imprisoned" at the psychiatric institution Fairmount Behavioral Health System in Philadelphia.

Representatives from Fairmount Behavioral Health System and Kate's representatives have not responded to USA TODAY's requests for comment.

"I don't think putting your hands on your kid on the daily is what I would consider discipline," Collin says. "It's not doing anything in the brain of a child besides damaging it."

Collin alleges in the book that Kate hired a contractor to build a basement wall, creating a room with an air mattress, which he previously said he spent 70% of his time in. He alleges that the room had two cameras inside, was locked from the outside, and that he had to ask for permission to leave and use the restroom.

He also accused Fairmount staff of behaving aggressively, alleging they restrained him and sedated him. Later, trying to get out, he scribbled a letter in crayon to Jon and asked another kid to deliver it. After spending more than 20 months there, he was transferred to a residential program and eventually lived with his father in 2018.

"When I think back to that, I was imprisoned as a child and I'd see all these kids come and go and I try to make friends with them, and then they'd leave," he said.

Contributing: Kalia Richardson, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jon Gosselin backs son Collin's abuse claims against mom Kate, issues warning

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”