Jon Gosselin Opens Up About the Part of Collin's Childhood Story He Wasn't Prepared to Hear — Details

Jon Gosselin knew some of what his son Collin Gosselin had experienced growing up. But hearing how those events affected him was harder than he expected.

Jon said his son's recent account of his childhood gave him information about Collin's feelings that he had not previously known. He also identified one incident that he found particularly upsetting.

In the October 12 episode of "On Purpose with Jay Shetty," Collin discussed alleged physical abuse, isolation from his siblings, and a 20-month stay in a treatment facility.

His father, Jon, later reflected on the interview while discussing Collin's memoir, "In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood," with Entertainment Tonight (ET) on October 23, 2026

Jon said he already knew about some of his son's experiences but had not fully understood how they affected him.

"I feel upset. I feel angry, but I feel like relief that this is Collin's story. I want his story to get out," he said.

Jon explained that he knew some of the events Collin described but had not previously understood how his son felt about them. "I knew the factual things, but I didn't know how he felt and it's different as a grown-up when he talks about those feelings and emotions," he said.

Why Jon Needed Time to Collect Himself Before Work

Jon recalled that his boss called to check on him after he watched Collin's podcast interview. "I need a half an hour, I just watched my son's interview. I need to collect myself before I get in a car and drive to work," he recalled saying.

Jon also discussed the public response to Collin's account, contrasting it with his past experiences of criticism. "I'm not used to having validation and 'winning' and having so much support from the public. I'm used to defending myself constantly," he said.

The Two-Word Accusation Jon Made About Kate's Treatment of Collin

Jon said he was familiar with allegations of physical abuse but identified "mental abuse" as the part of Collin's account that affected him most.

"Not only the physical abuse cause I know she could be like that. It was the mental abuse," he said. He singled out the "gumball story" and described it as "mental torture."

According to Jon's account, Collin was allegedly told that everything would be all right and that he was forgiven, before being subjected to further mistreatment.

Jon said that incident made him particularly angry. "She needs to be held accountable for the crimes that she had committed on my son," he said.

Why Jon Wants Kate to Face Criminal Charges

Jon also discussed whether the allegations should lead to legal action. In a separate ET interview on October 22, he said he believed criminal charges, rather than a civil lawsuit, were appropriate.

"I don't even think it's suing. I think it's just criminal charges. So, that's up to the state," he said.

Interviewer Kevin Frazier asked whether Jon believed Kate Gosselin's alleged conduct had crossed into criminal territory and whether she should be charged. "Well, it has to be criminal," Jon replied.

Netizens Were Divided Over Jon's Remarks

On Instagram, users expressed differing views in comments about Jon's remarks. One netizen expressed agreement with Jon, writing, "Hundred percent agree with you, Jon!!"

Another user called for Kate to be held accountable. "I'm with you John. I think Kate needs to be accountable for what she has done," the commenter wrote.

A third commenter questioned whether Jon had previously known about Collin's experiences: "Are you telling us that your child never told you when you were with him growing up? Are you really surprised now I find that shocking."

Someone else criticized Jon's responsibility as a parent, remarking, "The person who should have held her accountable was you!"

A New Documentary Will Revisit the Gosselin Family's Story

According to an October 21 Variety report, Jon, Collin, and Collin's sister, Hannah Gosselin, are filming a Netflix documentary about their experiences on "Jon & Kate Plus 8."

Netflix's official description says the documentary will examine conflicting accounts within the family, including different memories of their childhood and time on television.

The series began in 2007 and followed the couple as they raised their twins and sextuplets. Following Jon and Kate's separation, the program continued as "Kate Plus 8."

Kate's Reported Reaction to Collin's Memoir

In June 2026, the Daily Mail reported claims from an unnamed source connected to the family about Kate's reaction to Collin's upcoming memoir.

"Kate had no idea this book was in the works," the source claimed.

The insider also alleged that Kate was "spiraling" over the book's release. According to the report, the source said Kate had told people around her that accusations against her were based on "zero facts."

Jon's Efforts to Help Collin Amid Years of Allegations

Jon and Collin had publicly discussed the allegations years before the release of Collin's 2026 memoir.

In a September 2024 interview with The U.S. Sun, Collin alleged that Kate isolated him from his siblings, confined him in a locked basement room, and sometimes restrained his hands and feet with zip ties.

"I was 100% treated differently," Collin said. He also alleged that he was excluded from family meals and activities with his siblings.

Jon supported Collin's account but said he learned about the alleged confinement and restraints after leaving the family home. "I never found out about her [Kate] singling out Collin, and the basement and the zip ties, until way afterwards," Jon told the outlet.

He said Hannah later told him about Collin's experiences and that he subsequently received information from Collin's treatment facility.

Jon also said he received notices from Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services, Office of Children, Youth and Families, stating that reports of suspected abuse had been deemed "unfounded." He said the findings left him feeling powerless.

The allegations had also been discussed publicly the previous year.

In 2023, Collin appeared in Vice TV's "Dark Side of the 2000s" episode "Jon & Kate Plus 8: Family Circus," as reported by People. Collin accused Kate of being abusive and claimed she sent him away after he began telling others what was happening at home.

"That's kind of the reason why she sent me away," Collin said. "I was starting to tell people what was going on at home and, you know, she caught wind of that." Collin also said he hoped to reconnect with his siblings.

In July 2023, Kate issued a statement to People disputing Collin's allegations. She said he had received multiple psychiatric diagnoses and defended his placement in a treatment facility.

"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," Kate stated.

She also said that measures taken at home were recommended by medical professionals. "All measures that were taken in our home were at the explicit recommendation of his pediatric psychiatrist and/or his team of specialists," she said.

Jon disputed Kate's statements.

"Regarding these brand new false accusations, it seems clear that even today after not seeing her son since the 6th grade, Kate is unable to control her abusive words towards him," he told People.

The custody proceedings discussed in these reports date back to 2018. According to Jon's account in the 2024 interview, Collin wrote to him from a treatment facility asking for help. Jon described receiving the letter as "heartbreaking" and said he began seeking custody.

Jon has said a judge awarded him temporary sole legal and physical custody of Collin in 2018. Collin moved in with his father in December of that year, according to The U.S. Sun. But Jon's remarks were not the only developments in the family's ongoing dispute.

As previously reported, Kate also addressed questions about Collin's time in treatment on TikTok, while someone who once lived with Collin and his representative offered their own accounts.

The former reality TV star has faced questions about Collin's time in treatment. Her latest comments and a statement from his representative add new details to the public disagreement.

Collin has publicly accused his mother, Kate, of abuse, drawing attention to his time in residential treatment. The former "Jon & Kate Plus 8" star has also made claims about his behavior, prompting a response from someone who knew him personally.

Colleen Conrad Shares Her Experience Living With Collin

Colleen Conrad, who previously dated Collin's father, Jon Gosselin, discussed her experience in an Instagram post featuring a photograph of Collin with a dog.

A psychiatric nurse practitioner with more than 35 years of healthcare experience, Colleen said Kate's statements prompted her to speak publicly. She described how Collin behaved after moving in with her and Jon.

"When Collin came to live with us, I did not observe the symptoms or behaviors I would have expected based on some of the diagnoses he had received, nor did I observe the behaviors that have since been publicly described," Colleen wrote.

Colleen also discussed changes to Collin's medication during that period. "In consultation with his treating physician, we gradually discontinued his medications under medical supervision," she wrote.

She emphasized the importance of treating mental health concerns with compassion while respecting people's personal experiences.

"Mental health conditions are real, complex, and deserving of compassion and understanding. However, they should never be used to dismiss another person's lived experience or deflect legitimate questions about the past," Colleen wrote.

Kate Explains Why Some Visits With Collin Did Not Happen

Kate addressed her contact with Collin during residential treatment in the comments under a TikTok post.

"I visited EVERY single time the facility felt he was stable enough for a visit," she wrote in the comments. "Sometimes a visit was planned but the facility canceled it because he was too unstable and it would have to be rescheduled."

A TikTok user named Anna challenged that explanation. "I am a nurse at a similar facility, the nurses do not cancel a family visit due to 'behavior,' if behavior was present that is when they WANT the family to come," Anna wrote.

Kate didn't leave Anna's comment unanswered. Her response was direct.

"Were you a nurse at the facility where he was when he was there? No? Then you don't know," Kate replied.

Collin Gosselin's Representative Rejects Kate's Accusations

Collin's representative responded to Kate's public allegations in a statement shared by Entertainment Tonight on Instagram.

"It is disturbing that Kate continues make false accusations and publicly attack her own child despite multiple professional psychological evaluations contradicting her claims," the representative said in the statement.

The representative also addressed allegations involving weapons and animals, rejecting claims that Collin had harmed either family members or animals.

"Let us be absolutely clear: Collin has never used a weapon to harm a family member, nor has he ever harmed or killed an animal in his lifetime. These allegations are categorically false," the statement continued.

The representative also criticized Kate for making the allegations public, accusing her of trying to protect her reputation at her son's expense.

The statement ended with support for Collin's decision to share his experiences. "Collin has shown extraordinary courage in telling his story, and he will not be intimidated or silenced by these damaging accusations," the representative added.