Jon Gosselin says he is a stranger to six of his children

Jon Gosselin has told Entertainment Tonight that he has not spoken with most of his children in over a decade, describing their current relationship as that of "perfect strangers." The former reality television star, known for "Jon & Kate Plus 8," admitted during the interview that he has lost contact with six of his eight children, a situation he has attributed to a long period of estrangement.

Gosselin, who appeared on the show alongside his ex-wife Kate Gosselin from 2007 to 2009, stated that he has not personally talked to his eldest children, Mady and Cara, for approximately 13 years. He noted that he has no idea why the two have remained out of contact for such an extended period. Regarding the other four children, Gosselin said he has not seen them since before the start of the pandemic. While he acknowledged that his daughter Hannah is still in communication with their mother, Gosselin confirmed that he himself has not spoken to her either.

The disclosure comes weeks after Gosselin's son, Collin, released the memoir "In The Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood." In the book, Collin, who is 22, accused his mother of restraining him with zip ties, striking him when he failed to perform for cameras, and isolating him in the family basement. Collin previously told Fox News Digital that he wants an apology from Kate Gosselin and for her to take accountability for her actions, stating that her efforts to protect her reputation have been at his cost.

In response to the allegations and fan comments on social media, Kate Gosselin defended her character. After a fan posted a birthday message to her boyfriend, Steve Neild, praising her strength, Kate replied that she knows who she is and that her children know who she "truly" is. She stated that this knowledge is all that matters to her.

Gosselin used his interview to address the children directly, claiming he had attempted to reach out to them both publicly and privately in the past. He expressed hope that one day they would reach out to him and urged them to read Collin's memoir. "I think that will explain a lot," Gosselin said. He advised his adult children to form their own opinions and gather information before speaking ill of anyone in the family.