Kate Gosselin Addresses Estranged Son Collin’s Abuse Claims

Kate Gosselin is speaking out after estranged son Collin Gosselin once again accused her of childhood abuse.

In a Saturday, June 27, interview with the StrangeMcKnights YouTube channel, Collin, 22, made allegations of childhood mistreatment at the hands of his mom and invited Kate, 51, to undergo a lie detector test over his claims.

On Monday, June 29, Kate, 51, responded to fans in the comments section of a new TikTok video documenting life with her rescue dog, Koda. While the former reality television star didn’t discuss Collin’s claims in the video, she was nonetheless inundated with questions about her son.

One person wrote, “If you are 100% certain that the accusations against you are lies, my suggestion would be to take him to court and sue him for defamation!”

“I can’t bc I’m a public figure. Rules are different unfortunately. Or I def would!” Kate responded.

She added in a follow-up comment, “The rules are different for ppl in the public eye. I consulted a high power LA attorney (you’ve definitely heard of him) years ago when other ppl were putting crazy stuff out there and that’s what he said. The courts don’t honor it if you’re in the public eye :(.”

Kate and ex-husband Jon Gosselin shot to fame on TLC’s reality show, Jon & Kate Plus 8 — later retitled Kate Plus 8 following their divorce — which aired from 2007 to 2017. The show documented the couple’s lives with their eight children: twins Mady and Cara, now 25, and sextuplets Collin, Hannah, Alexis, Leah, Joel and Aaden, all 22.

In 2024, Collin detailed allegations of childhood abuse against his mother in an interview with the U.K.’s The Sun newspaper. Kate’s attorney told Fox News at the time that she would not be commenting on the claims.

“She doesn’t want to comment. Doesn’t need to. The record speaks for itself,” her attorney told the outlet.

Earlier in June, Us Weekly exclusively revealed the cover of Collin’s upcoming memoir about growing up in the public eye, titled In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood.

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“My life was always broadcast to millions, but what was actually happening in my life was never shown — in fact, much of it was deliberately kept hidden,” Collin told Us. “For years, other people told my story through headlines, television episodes and public speculation.”

“Now, finally, I’m sharing what was really happening behind the scenes,” he added. “This book is about truth, survival, resilience and finding my voice after years of being silenced. If my story helps even one person feel less alone or gives them the courage to tell their own, then every difficult page was worth writing.”

In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood is due for publication on October 13.