Collin Gosselin
Former child reality-TV subject on Jon & Kate Plus 8 and author of the memoir In the Shadow of Eight
Collin Gosselin (Former child reality-TV subject on Jon & Kate Plus 8 and author of the memoir In the Shadow of Eight) has appeared as a guest on 1 episode in TMT. Topics they speak about most include Child abuse, Fairmount Behavioral Health System, Child Protective Services.
In their words
Positions and remarks grouped by topic, each with the exact quote and where it was said.
Child abuse
Gosselin says he hopes one day to open a foundation where children can be safe and understood.
“I'd like to have the opportunity to open my own foundation, not an institution, a foundation, a place where children can come”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 1:30:48
Gosselin alleges that his mother had a locked room built for him in the family's unfinished basement.
“She had a room specifically built in the storage part of our unfinished basement that was cinder block walls and cement floors”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 21:59
Gosselin says a journal written by his mother when he was two describes her hitting him and praying to stop.
“And in the journal, she wrote about how she would hit me very hard and she would pray to God to help her to stop hitting me”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 17:14
Fairmount Behavioral Health System
Gosselin alleges that he received no education during his two years at Fairmount, which he calls illegal.
“I didn't have education for two years. That's illegal. Fairmount Behavioral Health Systems in Philadelphia, they didn't educate me”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 1:01:45
Gosselin says Fairmount's admission notes record his mother admitting that she had a room in which she locked him.
“So she has admitted right here on a document that she does in fact have a room that she locks me in”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 54:30
Gosselin says he was held at Fairmount for over 20 months, when typical stays were 7 to 10 days.
“But it turned out I was there for over 20 months. And the normal stay there is 7 to 10 days”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 48:08
Child Protective Services
Gosselin says a CYS report documented his account of being zip-tied and bruised, yet was ruled unfounded.
“This report details everything. Child told us that he was zip-tied. Child had bruises on his knees”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 30:10
Gosselin argues that adults tend to be believed over children and that society should start believing children.
“We think they're just saying this, saying that. We need to start believing children”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 29:20
Gosselin argues that child protection systems must act faster to remove children from abusive homes, because children will not disclose abuse if they must return home.
“So one thing that needs to change, there needs to be more speed and more intention in removing children from these situations”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 25:33
Recruit Depot Parris Island
Gosselin says a full psychological evaluation ruled out the six diagnoses his mother had publicly claimed he had.
“He did a full evaluation and he ruled out the six diagnoses that my mom claimed I had”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 1:21:04
Gosselin says the Marine Corps did nothing wrong in separating him over his mother's public claims of diagnoses, because of the liability involved.
“i understand and there's no wrongdoing by the marine corps because it would be a liability if they you know did let me through”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 1:21:04
Psychiatric hospitalization of minors
Gosselin believes his mother had him rapidly transferred to another facility to keep his father from getting him once custody proceedings began.
“So I believe my mom was playing a game of hot potato and moved me very fast so that my dad couldn't get me”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 1:05:32
Gosselin says he believes there was foul play behind his prolonged confinement, given his mother's influence at the time.
“I believe that there was foul play somewhere in there, definitely, 100%. I mean, my mom was a very powerful person back then”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 1:02:11
Exploitation of children on social media
Gosselin argues that children filmed for content cannot meaningfully consent to it.
“the child doesn't have a say in it. The child can't raise their hand and say, I don't want to do this if they don't understand it”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 11:52
Gosselin argues that filming every detail and emotional outburst of a child's life is not normal and amounts to exploitation.
“I don't think filming every little detail and everything they do and every emotion they have and every outburst they have, I don't think that's normal”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 8:42
In the Shadow of Eight
Gosselin says his aim in speaking out is to advocate for abused and exploited children, not to damage his mother's name.
“My greatest intention is not to go out there and soil my mom and throw dirt at her. It is to advocate for children”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 1:25:49
Defamation
Gosselin predicts that his mother will not sue him for defamation, and says she would lose if she did.
“Anybody can go and sue for defamation. But I'll tell you, and I'll say this right now publicly, she won't”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 1:23:55
Psychological trauma
Gosselin credits consistent care from a mother figure, Colleen, with his healing.
“And when somebody constantly shows up for you and is present and is there for you over and over and over”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 1:08:43
Fatherhood
Gosselin recounts that a fellow patient, Zach, smuggled his letter out of the institution, which allowed his father to find him.
“And I talked to Zach today still. And he told me, he's like, dude, I put that note in my underwear”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched Families (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 1:05:38
Appearances
COLLIN GOSSELIN: The Real Story Behind One of America’s Most-Watched FamiliesOn Purpose with Jay Shetty · Oct 12, 2026 · 1 h 36 min
Collin Gosselin tells Jay Shetty about growing up on Jon & Kate Plus 8, alleged abuse by his mother, his 20-month institutionalization, and his child-protection advocacy.
Often appears with
- Jay Shetty · 1 shared episode