Collin Gosselin, the 22-year-old son of former reality television star Kate Gosselin, has revealed a significantly altered appearance and is preparing to release a tell-all memoir. The book, titled "In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood," is slated for an October 13 release and promises to address "abuse, injustice, and the exploitation of children."
Gosselin recently marked the memoir's pre-order availability with a dinner at a Manhattan restaurant, where he displayed a mature look, including a mustache and tattoos, a departure from his public image on TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8." According to an onlooker, he appeared happy and excited about the upcoming publication.
In a statement accompanying the book announcement on Instagram, Gosselin indicated that the memoir is intended to advocate for children who have experienced unfair treatment. He wrote, "It is a story to instill responsibility in everyone to advocate and speak up against abuse, injustice, and the exploitation of children." He also stated that writing the book has helped him find his voice after years of remaining silent due to fear or a feeling that his experiences would not be believed.
The book's cover features a 2010 photograph of Kate Gosselin's hand covering a young Collin's mouth. Gosselin, who is one of sextuplets born to Kate and ex-husband Jon Gosselin, has previously spoken out about his experiences.
In a 2023 interview with Vice TV, Collin accused his mother of abuse and of treating him differently than his siblings. Kate Gosselin, in a statement to People, denied these allegations, stating that her son had received multiple psychiatric diagnoses and was placed in a facility for his well-being and the safety of others after outpatient treatment proved insufficient. Jon Gosselin obtained full custody of Collin and his sister Hannah after his divorce from Kate in 2009, while Kate retained custody of their other children. The reality series "Jon & Kate Plus 8" aired from 2007 to 2017 on TLC.