Collin Gosselin is recalling his reality TV upbringing and explaining how the experience “robbed” him of his childhood in many ways. He is also accusing his estranged mother Kate of “robbing” him in another way: by allegedly taking money he earned from appearing on his family’s reality shows!
Earlier this week, Collin was asked by a fan on TikTok Live what it was like being on TV, referring to the years he and his family starred on the TLC series Jon & Kate Plus 8. (The Gosselin kids also appeared on Kate Plus 8 with their mom following their parents’ 2009 split.)
Collin went on to explain the experience to fans by joking about having certain embarrassing moments caught on camera, before going on to reveal how much that lack of privacy really affected him.
“So, anything you did, it was seen, and as a kid, you almost feel like— I don’t want to say violated— but you just kind of feel robbed of your childhood a little bit,” he said.
While the 21-year-old acknowledged that every child who has appeared on reality TV may not feel the same way he does about the experience, he claimed that his family’s reality series was scripted to the point that it confused him as a child.
“ … in my specific scenario, things were so scripted to a sense that it just made it like, ‘What the heck?’” Collin said. “So, for instance, the cameras would be rolling and we’d be doing this activity, [or] that activity, and then they’d turn off [the cameras] and it’d be like, ‘Okay, cut. No more.’ So that’s why I say ‘robbed’ because things were just taken … so really it wasn’t real life, it was just a show … it was a performance.”
Collin– who is one of the Gosselin sextuplets– is estranged from Kate and only has a relationship with his sister Hannah Gosselin. (Collin also maintains a good relationship with Jon, who gained custody of both Collin and Hannah back in 2018, while the other six Gosselin kids remained in Kate’s custody until they were 18.)
During the same TikTok Live, Collin claimed to be in possession of court transcripts that show Kate confessing to taking some of the money Collin earned from his years on the shows.
“My mom unfortunately admits [in the court hearing] to taking money out of my UTMA account,” Collin told his followers.
(An UTMA— or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act account— is a custodial account set up for a minor by an adult that can be used for any purpose– not just education— once the minor reaches the age of maturity. The adult acts as a custodian of the account until the minor becomes an adult.)
“[She took] a very substantial amount,” Collin said on TikTok Live. “Money was taken out of the account that was made for me and my siblings. I literally have transcripts. I’m not just saying that. I have court transcripts where she admits to it.”
Collin stated that is currently working full-time while attending college. He revealed that in addition to working as a waiter, he is also a residential advisor (RA) at his college.
@killakora Collin’s live #collingosselin #fyp #jonandkateplus8 #TLC #livehighlights ♬ original sound – KORA
“I wait tables and I work pretty much full-time… I work hard. I’m paying for my tuition,” he said, adding that his job as an RA provides him free room and board, as well as a meal plan.
This is not the first time it’s been publicly mentioned that Kate allegedly took money from Collin. Back in 2022, Jon publicly accused his ex-wife of stealing more than $100k from trust fund accounts belonging to some of the kids, including Collin and his sister Hannah. Court documents obtained by The Sun showed that Kate admitted in 2019 to “borrowing” money from trust accounts belonging to her kids in order to cover her living costs.
When questioned about the trust accounts in court in 2019, Kate admitted to withdrawing $50,000 from the kids’ trusts on two occasions, noting she would need to withdraw more going forward in order to make ends meet for herself and her children.
“I will have to keep borrowing from it to survive,” she reportedly said at the time.
Despite purchasing a $750,000 home in 2019, Kate claimed in court that she had not worked that year and was paying her bills with “a lot of hope and a lot of prayer,” as well as the “borrowed” money from her kids’ trusts.
Kate also allegedly claimed in her testimony that her children actually owe her money for private school tuition that was paid out of her and Jon’s income over the years instead of the trust.
“So, I mean, I’m not looking to collect that, but I borrowed $100,000 from the kids’ trust,” she said. “And it owes me $387,000 technically.”
Recently, Kate has resurfaced on TikTok and has opened up about having to go back to work as a pediatric nurse. She claimed that she had to resume working her “regular” job after her time on TV, due to much of her earnings being used up to pay for her legal battles against Jon, as well as to raise her eight seven kids.
She also claimed that her earnings went toward paying for all of her kids’ college educations.
“Honestly? Providing for 8 kids, college funds which I am proud to say covered all of their college and more and LAWYERS,” she replied, when asked by a fan where her reality TV earnings went. “Sickening but I was [dragged] into court constantly and that costs A TON. Sad [because] my kids could have a lot more saved and I could have a retirement saved if it weren’t for lawyers …”
Last year, Collin spoke out about the physical abuse he allegedly suffered at Kate’s hand as a child, as well as his belief that Kate sent him to a mental hospital when he was 12 years old because people started noticing the alleged abuse.
Collin also recently attributed his lack of relationship with his brothers and sisters to his mother pitting the kids against each other, while also discussing the alleged abuse he suffered and comparing his time on ‘Kate Plus 8’ to that of a circus animal.
“The physical and emotional abuse I was put through, while having to be an animal in her circus on TV. Being locked up, zip-tied. Yeah, I’m sorry, but I will never ‘understand’ that,” he wrote on TikTok. “I will break the cycle that she couldn’t.”
Collin also took to the social media platform recently to post an emotional video of himself and his siblings, in which he expressed how much he misses them. Despite this, Collin assured fans this week this that he is happy with where his life is today.
“I like life now,” he said. “You know, going to college and going to work and I’m getting this opportunity to be a [resident assistant] and it’s just nice, you know?”
Watch a clip from Collin’s TikTok Live below.
@killakora Collin live #fyp #collingosselin #jonandkateplus8 #TLC #livehighlights
RELATED STORY: Kate Gosselin Explains What Happened to Her Reality TV Earnings & Reveals Why She Had to Go Back to Work as a Pediatric Nurse
(Photos: TLC; Instagram; TikTok)
25 Responses
They made enough money during the show’s run, plus the house was paid off for Kate to never need to work again, if she was smart. Kate was making like $250,000/episode for her spin off. Plus speaking engagements, she was making millions per year.
She was blowing it, probably on designer clothing, and crap they didn’t need.
Her kids’ money should have never been touched even if she didn’t have $5 in her bank account, she should have gone and done what she has done now and get a job.
Why do I have a feeling the older two girls got their college paid for at least partially, and all the younger kids have to either work or take out loans?
They sold out their childhood for the show, and they have nothing to show for it.
I hope these kids can get a book deal or something.
Kate claims a fair amount of her money went ro court costs. Yet tlc paid her court costs. Colin has a right to talk about his feelings and what happened to him and maybe he doesnt feel heard. If he gets asked questions about his childhood he is entitled to describe it his way. Its mortifying how a parent can be so abusive and get away with it. Its flowers in the attic but only one kid. Disgraceful
Even if she had millions in court costs, her kids money should have never been touched.
It’s so disgusting. I don’t like Jon or Kate, but Kate seems like a real monster.
Kate, nobody feels sorry for you that you have to work a respectable, well-paid job at age 50. That’s *normal*. Most people would consider that “doing well.”
Say what you want about her but that kids creepy. Get a job and stop crying as your older sisters had no problem going to college.
Clearly you didn’t read the article. He stated he works full time as a waiter and as an RA at his college he attends.
I read it and he’s creepy and doing this with his indigent father. This child’s learned to play the same press blame game despite his siblings trying to just be people.
@smelly ~ 💯🎯
am no fan of any members of this fam, but the article CLEARLY states that he works.
#readingisfundamental
“They owe me money for school fees” – that’s not how raising kids works!
Right? Right out the narcissistic mothers hand book. That woman is so horrid.
Yep, and some network is going to reward her by putting her on a new reality show.
this sudden* flurry of gosselin media activity kind of makes me wonder if they’re pitching a reconciliation, ‘work out their problems’ type reality show. 🤔
*sudden to me, at least. they may have been posting this type of thing all along (i don’t follow any of them), but it’s new to me due to theashley’s coverage. 🤷🏼♀️
I think it’s just that the kids are now all old enough to do socials on their own and realizing that their accounts were drained.
Why is he still talking? She probably used some of the money for that special school she sent him to. Doesn’t make any sense why he keeps going. His siblings will never want to talk to him ever if he keeps it up.
Because as a parent, you generally pay for your minor children’s education… She is a nurse, she could have been making tons of money during the pandemic. Instead, she chose to be unemployed and steal from her children. That’s pretty sickening to me.
It wasn’t a “special school.” It was an unneeded mental hospital she trapped him at and wouldn’t tell his father where he was at. He has every right to speak out seeing as his mother spent years when he was a minor releasing a fake narrative about him having “special needs.”
This.
But even more so, children are not responsible for being born, or their expenses incurred until age of majority. Dumbf indeed.
When you procreate you are responsible for that kid unless you put it up for adoption.
Screen name certainly accurate…
They don’t talk to Hannah either apparently the siblings that stayed with in their mom don’t talk to Collin and Hannah.
They do talk to Hannah. They have been on TikTok talking to one another.
He needs to stop talking now he is making his self look bad , we all watched and nobody could stand his mom and we can all have sympathy for him but if he keeps saying stuff it is going to make him look like the problem and nobody wants that
Kate is not saint but I was never convinced he wasn’t problematic
For someone who said reality tv robbed him of his childhood, he sure has no problem talking about it now. If reality robbed you of so much why dont you go and live your life peacefully, no need to engage with the media. He reminds me so much of John who always runs to the media bringing up old issues. Say what you want about Kate, but she wasnt the one in the latter years running to the media every second with a story or tale to tell, that was John. Father and son both seen to enjoy the spotlight (IMO).
This family is so obnoxious. They were on TV for a brief period of time, not enough for anyone to care. Yet they keep thrusting themselves into the dimmest bit of spotlight to try to make themselves relevant