Collin Gosselin's Memoir Alleges He Was Kept in "Basement Cell" and More Childhood Bombshells
Collin Gosselin is standing by his truth.
Less than two weeks after the Jon & Kate Plus 8 alum announced his forthcoming memoir In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood, he shared a pointed message about his mom Kate Gosselin.
Collin shared a New York Post headline on his Instagram Story June 27, per a screenshot obtained by People, that read, "Kate Gosselin 'spiraling' ahead of estranged son Collin's bombshell memoir: 'She knows it's about to hit the fan.'"
Alongside the post, in which he blurred the matriarch's face (though it was unblurred in the original post), he also added a comment from a follower: "What's done in darkness will always come to light."
E! News has reached out to Kate's manager for comment regarding the post but has not yet heard back.
The 22-year-old—one of Kate and ex-husband Jon Gosselin's sextuplets—confirmed June 17 that the memoir detailed what he described as some of the hardest moments in his life.
"For a long time, I wasn't sure I'd ever tell this story," Collin, whose book releases Oct. 13, explained on Instagram. "Growing up, millions of people watched my life on television. People felt like they knew me. They knew my family. They watched me grow up. But there was so much they never saw."
"For years, I kept those experiences to myself," he continued. "Some because I was afraid. Some because I didn't think anyone would believe me. And some because I just wasn't ready."
The former reality star emphasized that his memoir gave him the chance to share his own voice.
As he put it, "This isn't the story people think they know. It's the story I've lived."
As for what Collin details in the book, the synopsis says he delves into the alleged abuse he faced during his childhood.
Jon Gosselin/Instagram & JB Lacroix/WireImage
"Collin is finally sharing the truth about being held down," the synopsis said. "The basement cell where he was hidden for years, and the cocktail of powerful antipsychotics forced on an eleven-year-old boy."
E! News had previously reached out to reps for Jon and Kate regarding Collin's statements and memoir but did not hear back.
Over the years, Collin has shared insight into his strained relationship with his mom, 25-year-old twin siblings Mady Gosselin and Cara Gosselin, as well as siblings Alexis Gosselin, Leah Gosselin, Joel Gosselin and Aaden Gosselin.
In fact, he confirmed in 2022 that aside from Jon—who was granted sole physical and legal custody of Collin in December 2019—and sister Hannah Gosselin, he hadn't spoken to his family in more than five years.
Although Collin initially accused Jon of physical abuse in 2020, a rep for the former reality star denied the claims. The Pennsylvania Children and Youth Services said that suspicions of child abuse were "unfounded" in a September 2020 letter obtained by Entertainment Tonight from the County of Berks.
Instagram/Jon Gosselin
"Jon has never abused Collin. No charges have been filed against him and there's no ongoing Children & Youth Services investigation," the rep told ET at the time. "Collin has endured severe trauma. Jon is a loving father who has worked hard to ensure that his son gets the support and help he needs."
Kate has continued to deny Collin's public allegations, with her telling People in a July 2023 statement that her son "received multiple psychiatric diagnoses over the years" that led her to place him "in a facility following years of outpatient treatment."
"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 this is just another heartbreaking facet of this fight."
Kate's attorney Richardo Puelo said that his client wasn't interested in further exacerbating the situation, telling Fox News in September 2024, "She doesn't want to comment. Doesn't need to. The record speaks for itself."
As Collin prepares for the release of his upcoming memoir, keep reading for a closer look at the Gosselin family over the years.
Kate Gosselin/Instagram
Sextuplets Turn 21
Sextuplets Hannah, Collin, Alexis, Aaden, Leah and Joel turned 21 on May 10, 2025, and Kate shared pics from the latter four's birthday celebration.
Instagram / Kate Gosselin
Alexis and Leah toast to 21 in another scene from the celebration.
Instagram / Stephanie Lebo
Hannah's 21st Birthday Celebration
Hannah celebrated her birthday with her dad and his fiancée Stephanie Lebo.
Instagram / Kate Gosselin
Sextuplets' 20th Birthday
On Mother's Day 2024, two days after the former couple's sextuplets turned 20, Kate shared a tribute the four who lived with her: Alexis, Aaden, Joel and Leah.
"No more teenagers in this house! Happy 20th birthday, my forever babies! I love you!" she wrote on Instagram. "Who feels old? I know I do! #20yearsold #ItsaPICKLE."
Instagram / Hannah Gosselin
Hannah's Birthday Post
Hannah shared new pics of herself on her and the other sextuplet's 20th birthday.
Instagram / Hannah Gosselin
Hannah the Graduate
On to the next chapter! The sextuplet graduated from high school in 2023.
Instagram / Collin Gosselin
High School Graduates
Jon shared a pic of sextuplets Collin and Hannah graduating from high school in 2023, years after they had moved in with him.
Raymond Hall/GC Images
Girls' Trip
Kate appeared with twin Mady and Cara in New York City in this 2019 pic.
All Grown-Up
"Happy 18th birthday!" Jon wrote on Instagram in 2022. "Today is your birthday we gonna say it loud. I love you. Love, Dad."
Birthday Bash
"Our big celebration of #15 is finally winding down here! We celebrated ALL DAY LONG, beginning with a present at 6:30 am before school! I'm so very thankful for my ‘babies'.... somehow they are 15 already?!" Kate wrote on the special milestone in 2019. "I'm amazed by them each day! I'm so proud of the positive qualities I've seen developing as they edge closer to adulthood."
Back to Class
"This was yesterday! Feels like school never ended...and they're already back! #SeniorYear #EighthGrade #ProudMom," Kate wrote on Instagram in 2018.
Instagram / Jon Gosselin
Birthday Greetings
"Happy 15th Birthday Hannah, Collin, Alexis, Aaden, Joel and Leah!!!! Wow I can't believe you are 15!!! Time is flying by!!!" Jon Gosselin shared on Instagram when posing with Hannah and Collin Gosselin. "I love you all very much. I wish you the best day ever and I hope you enjoy your birthday celebrations today and this weekend!!! Love always, Dad."
Girl Power
"My beautiful 'little girls' .... they keep reminding me how many days until they turn 14. Today it was '12 days til we turn 14, Mom.' HOW'S THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!" Kate shared with her followers in 2018. "I told Leah that she's too small to turn 14. She said 'Yeah, true. Are you sure I'm not turning 11 or 12?' I'm positive. I gave birth to you. They'll always be my babies....I love them so very much!"
Growing Up Gosselin
"I can't believe they're 13!" Kate Gosselin wrote on Instagram when celebrating a major birthday for her sextuplets.
Donna Svennevik/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
Greetings From Alaska
Rewind to 2014 when Kate and her children found themselves visiting Alaska.
Doug Meszler/Splash News
Girls Trip
Kate also treated her twin daughters Cara Gosselin and Mady Gosselin to a trip to New York City in 2014, where they stopped by the Manhattan Hotel.
Happy Holidays
"A precious Christmas memory. My 6 were 6. Christmas Eve 2010 and they're SO excited for Christmas!" Kate Gosselin wrote on Instagram with a throwback photo. "Look at those adorable smiles! #TheyAreMyHeart #My8ReasonsToKeepOnKeepingOn #NoMatterWhat #TrueLoveX8."
Heidi Gutman/NBC NewsWire
Camera Ready
Back in October 2007, Jon and Kate Gosselin gathered their eight kids together for a trip to New York City. First stop? A visit to NBC's Today show.
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