Kate Gosselin is said to be deeply concerned as her estranged son Collin prepares to release a highly anticipated memoir about his childhood.
Collin, 22, has promised to address what he describes as “abuse, injustice, and the exploitation of children” in the upcoming book, titled In The Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood, which was announced last week.
A source close to the family claims the 51-year-old mother of eight was caught off guard by the news and did not know the memoir was being prepared.
“Kate had no idea this book was in the works,” the insider said, adding that “Collin hasn’t spoken to his mother since she abandoned him in an institution as a young child.”
The source continued: “She didn’t expect any of this to ever come out. Now she’s spiraling because she knows it’s about to hit the fan.”
According to the insider, the former Kate Plus 8 star has already told those close to her that any extreme claims made about her are based on “zero facts.” Collin, however, maintains that his book will include “the evidence to back everything up.”
Kate Gosselin is reportedly “spiralling” ahead of the release of her estranged son Collin’s memoir, which she allegedly only learned about after it was announced this month
“Kate can’t stop this book from coming out but I have no doubt she wishes she could,” the source added.
Collin’s siblings are also expected to be blindsided by the memoir, as they were so young when their brother was institutionalized and ‘don’t really know the truth of what happened to him’ beyond what their mother has shared with them over the years.
While it’s unclear exactly what will be featured in the book, Collin has promised to lift the lid on what it was really like growing up on reality TV as part of one of America’s most infamous families.
He previously lashed out at Kate in a 2023 documentary with Vice TV and then again in a shocking interview with The Sun in 2024, in which he accused his mother of abuse and of alienating him from his siblings.
Collin also revealed that Kate had him institutionalized in a mental health facility when he was 11 after he was diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and bipolar.
Kate refuted Collin’s allegations of abuse in a statement to People at the time, saying, ‘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.’
Collin was later re-diagnosed as an adult and was found by a clinical psychologist not to have any current psychiatric or behavioral issues.
Collin, who is now 22, is pictured heading to dinner in New York to celebrate the book’s announcement earlier this week
A young Collin is pictured with his siblings and mom Kate on their TLC reality show
Kate also accused Collin of having a ‘distorted perception of reality’.
‘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,’ she said.
‘Unfortunately, I believe Collin remains a very troubled young man who continues to need a lot of help. 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.’
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Collin announced his forthcoming book last week on Instagram, with the official release set for October 13.
‘This isn’t the story people think they know. It’s the story I’ve lived,’ he teased, adding that he did not pen the book for ‘entertainment’ purposes.
‘It is a story to instill responsibility in everyone to advocate and speak up against abuse, injustice, and the exploitation of children,’ he continued.
‘I not only poured my heart into this book for my younger self, but for ALL who have faced unfair and outright heinous acts as children. I am your voice. I stand with you.’
Collin has vowed to expose the ‘abuse, injustice, and the exploitation of children’ in the tell-all, titled In The Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood
Collin previously lashed out at Kate in a 2023 documentary with Vice TV and then again in a shocking interview in 2024, in which he accused his mother of abuse
He also reflected on his time on the small screen, writing, ‘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. Some because I was afraid. Some because I didn’t think anyone would believe me. And some because I just wasn’t ready.’
He added, ‘Writing this book forced me to revisit some of the hardest moments of my life, but it also gave me something I’ve been searching for for a long time: my voice.’
The book’s cover makes a strong statement, featuring a 2010 paparazzi photo of Kate’s hand over a young Collin’s mouth as he stands just tall enough to reach her hip.
Kate and her ex-husband Jon, 49 – who split in 2009 – share twins Madelyn and Cara, 25, and sextuplets Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah and Joel, 22.
However, Collin has come to refer to dad Jon’s ex-girlfriend Colleen Conrad as his ‘real mom’.
Jon tied the knot for a second time in 2025, marrying Stephanie Lebo.
Kate and her ex-husband Jon, 49 – who split in 2009 – share twins Madelyn and Cara, 25, and sextuplets Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah and Joel, 22
Jon & Kate Plus 8 aired for five seasons on TLC spanning 2007-2017, peaking at almost 10 million viewers for its season five premiere.
Kate filed for divorce from Jon in 2009 at the height of their reality TV fame, prompting a contentious custody battle.
Ultimately, Jon obtained full custody of Hannah and Collin, while his ex-wife was granted custody of the rest of the children.
During a TikTok live in 2025, Kate got honest about their divorce, acknowledging that the downfall of the marriage ‘did not turn out well for my kids.’
‘I don’t know if you have kids or don’t have kids,’ she said to her fans, ‘But I made decisions based on how I would want to be treated, honestly.’
