Collin Gosselin, a former child star of the reality television show "Jon & Kate Plus 8," has spoken out against the industry, alleging that the pursuit of ratings often comes at the expense of children's welfare.
In his new memoir, "In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood," Gosselin details his experiences growing up in the public eye. He asserts that adults involved in the production were aware of children's distress but continued filming because "the show must go on."
"It's the simple fact that adults that are seeing these things, they surely understood that people are choosing not to say anything because the show must go on," Gosselin told Fox News Digital. He emphasized that children should not have to explicitly articulate their unhappiness for their feelings to be taken seriously.
Gosselin further stated that even without verbal complaints, adults should be able to discern a child's discomfort through body language and other non-verbal cues. "But even without a child saying anything, you can tell, you can absolutely tell. It's reading body language," he said. "We should be aware. We should be paying attention. We should be protecting children."
He claims that the demands of filming often conflicted with what was best for him and his siblings, suggesting that the production's needs took precedence over their well-being. "100% my entire childhood, what was best for production was this direct relationship to what was unhealthy for a child," Gosselin stated. "But nobody cared about the welfare of me and my siblings, they cared about my paycheck."
Gosselin also addressed his time in a treatment facility, describing a period where he felt medicated and lacked control over his life. "For a long time, my name was dragged, and I was put away. I was essentially put in a juvenile prison, put on all these medications," he recounted. "I was a zombie half the time. I had no control, I had nothing."
He expressed that sharing his story was a heavy burden but felt compelled to do so in the hope of creating change within the reality television industry. Gosselin indicated that he has not spoken to his mother, Kate Gosselin, and that reconciliation would require more than just an apology, stating, "Reconciliation requires action and accountability."
The series "Jon & Kate Plus 8" followed Jon and Kate Gosselin's family, including their twin daughters and sextuplets. The show aired from 2007 to 2009, later returning as "Kate Plus 8." Following the parents' divorce, Collin Gosselin lived with his father, Jon Gosselin, after Jon obtained custody.