Former TLC reality star Kate Gosselin is finally responding to her ex-husband Jon and calling out son Collin’s “violent behaviours” in a new statement following the release of a shocking new documentary about the family.
“I have never wanted to have to do this; but I feel I have been backed into a corner and left with no choice. Although it saddens me to do so, I need to speak out now,” the former Kate Plus 8 star shared to Instagram. “My son Collin, whom I love with all my heart, has received multiple psychiatric diagnoses over the years. 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. The decision to admit him was made by emergency room doctors following one of his many attacks/outbursts – this one involving his use of a weapon.”
“Fast forward to the present day, and following Jon’s removal of Collin from treatment, my son’s unpredictable and violent behaviors have sadly continued regularly towards Jon, Hannah, and others around him,” she said, throwing water on Jon and Collin’s claims that they are living a happy life without Kate. “Collin’s distorted perception of reality is one of the many issues that he has always struggled with.”
She continued, “As many people who have family members grappling with mental health issues can attest, it is rarely and sadly surprising when complete fabrications occur, and is just another heartbreaking facet of this fight.”
“All parent child relationships are complex, but when mental illness is involved, it is incredibly complicated and painful, and certainly not easy for others on the outside to understand,” the statement continued. “All measures that were taken in our home were at the explicit recommendation of his pediatric psychiatrist and/or his team of specialists and were put into place to safeguard every member of our family, our friends as well as our family pets.”
“Unfortunately, I believe Collin remains a very troubled young man who continues to need a lot of help,” Kate maintained. “His brothers and sisters and I have not been directly involved in his life due to his history of unpredictable behavior and violent tendencies towards us.
“What his sister Mady posted on social media recently is completely accurate and I deeply appreciate her bravery in doing so,” Kate said, referencing Mady’s shocking statement from earlier this week clapping back against some of Collin and Jon’s claims. “This is all I have to say on the matter and I will not be discussing this subject any further at this time.”
Collin and Jon call out Kate Gosselin in new documentary
As previously reported, Collin and Jon Gosselin have made some pretty shocking statements about Kate and their time on TLC’s Jon & Kate Plus 8 in a new Vice documentary series called The Dark Side Of The 2000s.
According to Jon, he has no idea why 6 of his children (the ones living with Kate) do not speak to him. “I have no access to the kids I’m estranged from,” he said in a preview clip for the documentary. “I have no answers, like none, it’s the worst.” He continued, “I’d rather they be like, ‘you’re an a**hole, I hate you, you did this to mom…’ I have nothing, I have no closure.”
Collin has also been seen in preview clips for the new documentary, calling out Kate for sending him out of the house as a child when he was dealing with mental health issues.
Mady responds
Mady Gosselin, for her part, recently came to the defense of her mom and released her own statement about the family drama.
“I never wanted to have to speak up about this in order to allow my brother the ability to live privately after the conclusion of our family’s TV show, but I’ve been overwhelmed by hate messages in the last few days and I feel I must set the record straight,” Mady posted to her Instagram Story, as noticed by Page Six.
“I do not owe my allegiance to any person(s), who has physically threatened me and every member of my immediate family (some incidents as recent as last year),” she continued. “Further, I will never allow someone who has exhibited hateful and even violent behavior towards others based in their racial identity, gender identity, or religious beliefs to be in my life.”
“Kindness, tolerance, love, and acceptance are core values in my life and I refuse to compromise them for ANYONE,” shared Mady, adding, “even my brother Collin, who has unfortunately made his opinions very clear in private.”
Jon and Collin Gosselin was first introduced to reality TV viewers on TLC’s Jon & Kate Plus 8 back in 2007. The docuseries focused on the (at-the-time) married couple and their eight children: twins Cara and Mady, and sextuplets Alexis, Hannah, Aaeden, Collin, Leah, and Joel. The series aired until 2009, when a record-breaking episode documented the couple’s shocking divorce.
The series was later renamed Kate Plus 8 and aired for six seasons before being put on hiatus once again in 2009. According to recent interviews, Jon has no relationship with Alexis, Aaden, Leah, and Joel, and has not spoken to Cara or Mady in 9 years.
