Collin Gosselin: My Mom Zip-Tied Me & Locked Me in Basement

From reality TV darling to a shocking tell-all – Collin Gosselin, one of the stars of 'Jon & Kate Plus 8,' is pulling back the curtain on what he claims was a childhood filled with alleged abuse at the hands of his mother, Kate Gosselin. In explosive new interviews and ahead of his memoir release, Collin, now 22, is making claims that are difficult to hear. He alleges that Kate would make him sleep in a locked basement room, seemingly to isolate him from his father, Jon Gosselin. Collin vividly recalls one terrifying incident where, he says, his mother "dragged" him across a room by his ear, leaving it swollen. His teacher noticed, and when he spoke to his guidance counselor, his mother was reportedly "not very happy." He was eventually pulled from school in the fourth grade, too scared to speak up when child protective services investigated. But the allegations don't stop there. Collin claims after an attempt to run away, his mother allegedly used zip-ties to bind his wrists and ankles, locking him in his basement room. Days before his 12th birthday, he says Kate had him removed from their home entirely and placed in an institution, where he was "pumped with medication" and had very little contact with his family. He recounts being told, "This is for your own good," but now believes he threatened his mother's income and public image. For years, Kate publicly claimed Collin suffered from various behavioral challenges, including autism, bipolar disorder, and OCD. However, Collin reveals that an independent psychological evaluation later showed he had none of these diagnoses. He states he wasn't surprised by the results, just relieved to have it on paper. Reflecting on his life growing up in front of cameras, Collin admits, "My whole life that I lived was a lie." He claims his earliest memories are of camera crews taking over their home, filming their lives daily. He noted how even simple moments were exploited, like staging puppy photo shoots only to take the animals away once the cameras stopped rolling. He realized his childhood wasn't normal during his parents' divorce, overhearing his father express concerns about exploiting their children. So, what does Kate Gosselin say about these serious claims? While she hasn't directly addressed them in public, she has responded to comments on her TikTok. When a fan suggested she sue Collin for defamation if the accusations were lies, Kate replied that she couldn't because she's a "public figure," stating, "Rules are different unfortunately." She also implied that Collin suffers from mental illness, writing, "Sadly, Only parents who have a mentally ill child understand! It’s so tough and I’m learning that ppl have NO ability to understand unless they’ve been through it themselves." Collin Gosselin's story continues to unfold, leaving many questioning the true cost of reality television fame.