Jon Gosselin has made an emotional plea to his estranged twin daughters, admitting that years without contact have left him feeling like a stranger to the two girls he once helped raise. The former Jon & Kate Plus 8 star said he would not even recognise Madelyn and Cara if he passed them in the street, as he begged them to reach out after more than a decade apart.
Speaking on Tuesday's episode of the Legally Goff podcast, the 49-year-old said he did not care whether his daughters called him names, insisting he simply wanted some acknowledgement. 'I just want some kind of response. Just text me or message me. At least I'll know,' he said.
Jon, who shares eight children with ex-wife Kate Gosselin, said he had been cut out of the twins' lives when they were around 13. 'Walking around for 13 years not knowing has pretty much eaten my soul away,' he added.
Gosselin Says He Would Not Recognise His Twin Daughters
The DJ admitted that he knows very little about Madelyn and Cara's lives today, having missed their graduations and proms. He said he did not know whether either had a boyfriend or girlfriend, what their favourite colours were or whether they could drive.
'I know nothing,' he confessed, revealing that although he still has photographs of the twins, he would struggle to identify them in public.
'I wouldn't be able to pick them out in the street,' Jon said, describing the situation as 'upsetting' and 'gut-wrenching'. He added that he sometimes has nightmares about what his daughters might believe about him.
Jon Gosselin makes heartbreaking admission about eldest daughters amid ongoing family rift https://t.co/ysFtZoT1b6 pic.twitter.com/wChFm2p1XD
— New York Post (@nypost) November 4, 2026
Gosselin Claims He Was Cut Out of His Daughters' Lives
Reflecting on their estrangement, Jon alleged that Kate, 51, had alienated him from his eldest daughters following their separation. He speculated that Madelyn and Cara may have grown up believing he did not want to see them, although neither has publicly addressed his claims.
He also recalled that Kate had allegedly told Collin that his father did not want to see him, while telling Jon in court that Collin did not want to see him. Jon suggested the twins may have been given a similar impression.
'I don't blame them,' he said, suggesting his children may have been left feeling afraid. He also believed the way he was portrayed on the family's reality television series may have influenced their perception of him.
Gosselin Is Also Estranged From Four of His Sextuplets
Madelyn and Cara are not the only children with whom Jon has a fractured relationship. He maintains relationships with Collin and Hannah, who moved into his care in 2018, but remains estranged from their siblings Leah, Alexis, Aaden and Joel.
Jon Gosselin sends a message to his six estranged children as he reacts to son Collin's recent memoir, 'In the Shadow of Eight,' in an exclusive interview with ET. pic.twitter.com/9kTJV7FEFh
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) October 23, 2026
Jon and Kate married in 1999 and welcomed their twins in October 2000, followed by sextuplets in May 2004. Their family became household names through the TLC reality series Jon & Kate Plus 8, which documented their lives raising eight children.
The couple announced their separation in 2009, with their divorce finalised that December. Kate was awarded sole legal custody of the children, while their physical custody arrangements became the subject of prolonged disputes.
Madelyn Previously Asked Fans To Respect Her Privacy
Jon's latest comments come amid renewed attention on the family's complicated history following the release of Collin's memoir, In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood, on 13 October 2026. The book includes allegations of physical and emotional abuse against Kate, which her attorney has disputed, arguing that her actions were intended to protect Collin and the family.
Madelyn, meanwhile, pushed back against public speculation about her family's private lives in a 2023 TikTok video. She objected to people making assumptions about her childhood and portraying her siblings as damaged or troubled former child stars.
She described her brothers and sisters as 'smart', 'kind', 'driven students' and 'funny', insisting their lives were not the public's business simply because they had grown up on television.
Jon has also appealed to his estranged children in an October 2026 interview with Entertainment Tonight, saying he still loved them and hoped they would eventually reach out. He encouraged them to read Collin's memoir and form their own opinions, adding: 'Be your own person. You are all adults now.'
