Jon Gosselin has called for his ex-wife, Kate Gosselin, to face criminal charges after their son Collin accused her of abusing him during his childhood. The former Jon & Kate Plus 8 star said Kate needed to stop questioning their 22-year-old son's mental health after he publicly detailed allegations of mistreatment.
'She needs to stop. He is not mentally ill,' Jon told Entertainment Tonight in an interview reported by TMZ on 22 October. He also suggested he could have grounds for legal action against Kate over her comments about Collin.
Jon Gosselin Says Kate Could Face Criminal Charges
'I would definitely have grounds to sue Kate for defamation and libel. I don't even think it's suing. I think it's just criminal charges. So, that's up to the state,' Jon said.
He also questioned how the situation would have unfolded if he had been accused of the same conduct Collin described. 'Let's put the shoe on the other foot. What if I did these so-called things? Where would I be sitting right now? I'd be sitting in a jumpsuit and we would be doing a live feed,' he said.
👀 Jon Gosselin wants ex-wife Kate to tell the truth about Collin amid abuse claims. pic.twitter.com/l1Xnr63Kep
— TMZ (@TMZ) October 22, 2026
Jon's comments came after Kate appeared to suggest that mental illness was relevant to how people should interpret Collin's allegations. However, Jon's remarks do not establish that criminal charges have been filed against Kate or that authorities have launched a new investigation into the allegations.
Collin Gosselin Details Alleged Childhood Abuse
In an appearance on Jay Shetty's On Purpose podcast on 12 October, Collin described what he said was a troubling childhood behind the family's reality TV fame. He alleged that his mother once bound his hands and feet together with zip ties and locked him in a room.
Collin also claimed that Child and Youth Services received multiple reports concerning alleged abuse, dating back to 2006, when he was around two years old. He said authorities documented his account and bruises on his knees, which he attributed to incidents in which Kate allegedly picked him up and dropped him.
Collin Gosselin recalls the day he was institutionalized.
— Jay Shetty (@jayshetty) October 16, 2026
Watch the full episode on Netflix or Spotify today! pic.twitter.com/RIxZeCOj7M
According to Collin, the allegations were ultimately classified as 'unfounded.' The underlying agency records have not been independently verified for this report, and the reported finding does not establish whether the alleged incidents occurred.
Collin questioned whether authorities should also have checked on his siblings, who were still living with Kate at the time.
He further alleged that Kate pulled his ear hard enough to cause swelling. He said he was afraid to report the alleged mistreatment to a school guidance counsellor because children who report abuse may have to return home to the person they have accused.
Kate Gosselin Questions Son's Mental Health
Kate has pushed back against Collin's account, raising questions about his mental health in social media comments. In response to a supportive TikTok comment, she wrote that 'rational logical ppl' and people who had dealt with mental illness would understand what was happening.
She also addressed Collin's institutionalisation, saying she had no involvement beyond consenting to it because it was 'medically necessary.' Kate has denied abusing Collin and has defended the decision to place him in institutional care as medically necessary.
Her comments prompted further criticism from Collin, who has publicly disputed the suggestion that mental illness explains his allegations.
Collin Gosselin Fires Back at Mom Kate, Says ‘Maybe It’s Time’ for Her to Get a Mental Health Evaluation https://t.co/y40CdyiEIz
— People (@people) October 16, 2026
The competing accounts have reopened a long-running family dispute that began attracting public attention during Jon and Kate's divorce in 2009. Collin has previously described feeling isolated from his father and spending time in institutional care, while Kate has maintained that professional medical intervention was necessary.
Collin's Allegations Resurface Amid Memoir Release
Collin's allegations have gained renewed attention following the release of his memoir, In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood, on 13 October. The book revisits his experiences growing up in a family whose private life became the subject of reality television.
Jon's latest comments add another chapter to the public dispute, with him backing his son's account and challenging Kate's response. However, Collin's allegations remain claims attributed to him, and the reported 'unfounded' finding does not independently establish whether the alleged incidents occurred.
