Collin Gosselin, 22, has alleged that his mother, Kate Gosselin, zip-tied his hands and feet and locked him in a basement room during his childhood. In an interview with ABC News, the former star of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" detailed years of alleged abuse and isolation that he claims were enforced to keep him away from his father, Jon Gosselin. The disclosures accompany the release of his memoir, "In The Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood."
Gosselin stated that the basement confinement occurred after a failed attempt to run away from the family home. He described how Kate allegedly placed his wrists together, secured his ankles, and used black zip ties to bind his hands and feet. He claimed this action was part of a broader pattern of isolation intended to sever his relationship with his father. Gosselin said that prior to this incident, a teacher noticed he had a swollen earlobe, which he attributed to Kate dragging him across a room by the ear during an abusive episode. He told ABC News that he subsequently spoke to a guidance counselor about the incident, noting that his mother was unhappy he had discussed it.
The former reality television star said he was removed from school in the fourth grade and recalled being too afraid to speak up when child protective services questioned him about abuse allegations. He claimed that days before his 12th birthday, Kate had him removed from their home and placed in an institution where he was "pumped with medication" and received little contact from family. Gosselin recalled being told the placement was for his own good, while acknowledging that he had threatened his mother's income and public image. "People will do anything to protect their reputation, especially my mom," he said.
Kate Gosselin has previously claimed that Collin suffered from behavioral challenges, including autism, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Gosselin countered that an independent psychological evaluation showed he did not have any of those diagnoses. He told ABC News that his earliest memories involve camera crews filming in his home, describing a lifestyle where lights were set up and cameras were rolling most weeks of the year. He said the first realization that his life was not normal came when he overheard conversations regarding his parents' divorce, where he learned his father did not want the cameras around their children.
Gosselin criticized the exploitation of children for television, citing photo shoots where puppies were brought in for fun but removed immediately after pictures were taken. In a sit-down with Jay Shetty ahead of the memoir's release, he stated that his entire life up until that point had been a lie. "I knew that, it's just that I needed it on paper," Gosselin said regarding the evaluation of his childhood diagnoses.
Kate Gosselin has remained silent about these specific new allegations, though Fox News Digital has reached out to her representatives for comment. Over the summer, she addressed some of her son's past claims on social media. On TikTok, she responded to comments asking why she had not sued for defamation by stating that rules are different for public figures and that malice is difficult to prove. She wrote, "The courts don't honor it if you're in the public eye." She also addressed a comment suggesting only parents of mentally ill children could understand her perspective, writing that it is tough because people lack the ability to understand unless they have been through it themselves.