Kate Gosselin Responds to Son Collin's Abuse Allegations: 'My Kids Know Who I Truly Am'
The mother of eight, facing renewed accusations from her son's memoir, stated her children's knowledge of her true character is what matters most.
Kate Gosselin has publicly responded to abuse allegations made by her estranged son, Collin, in his recently released memoir, "In the Shadow of Eight." Gosselin, the mother of eight, defended herself in a TikTok comment section, asserting that her children's understanding of her is paramount.
Responding to a supporter on TikTok, where she had posted a video celebrating her boyfriend Steve Nield's birthday, Gosselin wrote, "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." The TikTok video itself did not mention Collin but showed Gosselin and Nield enjoying a birthday breakfast.
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Gosselin's comments come as a former nanny who worked for the family over a decade ago has corroborated Collin's claims. The former employee, identified as Ashley H., told People magazine that she witnessed Kate Gosselin mistreat Collin during her six-month tenure as a cleaner and occasional nanny. Ashley H. stated that Kate "very much outwardly treated Collin different" and that she "110 percent abused Collin."
"You could just feel it. I saw her grab Collin many, many times," Ashley H. claimed, adding that she reported the reality television star to Children and Youth Services at the time. She also stated that she was not the only person to report Gosselin.
In his memoir, Collin alleges that his mother subjected him to both physical and mental abuse. He claims that the abuse escalated from emotional torment to physical acts, including her allegedly yanking his ear and striking him across the face, leaving bruises. Collin also reiterates past allegations of being confined to a locked basement, sleeping on an air mattress, and being monitored by a camera.
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Kate Gosselin has consistently denied these allegations. In previous TikTok comments, she suggested that those familiar with mental illness would understand the situation, stating, "I know rational and logical people or anyone who has dealt with mental illness understands what's going on here." She has also stated that she cannot take legal action against her son due to her public profile.
Collin was sent to live in a residential behavioral health facility in 2016, remaining there for two years before moving to live with his father, Jon Gosselin, full-time. At the time, Kate Gosselin cited Collin's "unpredictable behavior and violent tendencies" toward his siblings and stated he had "received multiple psychiatric diagnoses." Collin was diagnosed with conditions including autism, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. A later adult re-examination by a clinical psychologist reportedly found no current psychiatric or behavioral problems.
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The Gosselin family rose to fame on the TLC reality series "Jon & Kate Plus 8," which documented the lives of Kate and Jon Gosselin as they raised their sextuplets. After their divorce in 2009, Kate continued with the show, rebranded as "Kate Plus 8," until its cancellation in 2017. Jon Gosselin was granted full custody of Collin in 2018 and his sister Hannah in 2016. Collin is reportedly estranged from some of his other siblings.
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