Colin Gosselin, 22, found an unexpected defender in his father’s ex-girlfriend after dropping a memoir that accuses Kate Gosselin of severe childhood abuse.
Colleen Conrad, who dated Jon Gosselin from 2014 to 2021, posted a lengthy tribute on Instagram Saturday celebrating the young author’s success and reaffirming their bond. The former couple split in 2021 while Conrad was battling breast cancer, a period she said overlapped with some of the hardest chapters of Collin’s life.
“When you came into my life, you had already been through more than any child should ever have to experience,” Conrad wrote on Instagram. “I didn’t know what the years ahead would bring, but I knew I loved you and wanted you to feel safe, loved, and supported.”
Conrad, who helped raise Collin during her seven-year relationship with his father, described watching him grow as “one of the greatest joys of my life and something I will treasure forever.” She noted that listening to the Audible version of his book proved deeply emotional, bringing back both beautiful and painful memories from their intertwined struggles.
“The Audible version didn’t include your acknowledgments,” Conrad added. “When my book finally arrived, I read what you had written to me and cried all over again.”
She closed with a declaration that carried sharp resonance given Collin’s fractured relationship with his biological mother: “No matter how old you get or where life takes you, I will always be your mom.”
Collin responded directly in the comments, thanking Conrad for standing by him during his darkest periods.
“I love you ❤️ I loved that you say you needed me too,” he wrote on Instagram. “It just shows how meant to be everything was. If I could’ve gone through all the hard things again I’d gladly do it, because it led me to you.”
He continued, “You’re kind, loving, funny and you love in a way that a real mother should. I’ll forever be grateful to have you in my life. Thank you for listening, showing up, and never giving up on that young, broken, hurting little boy who didn’t believe in himself.”
The exchange lands amid an escalating family war that has played out across social media and now publishing platforms. Collin’s memoir, “In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood,” arrived as a #1 the outlet bestseller and contains graphic allegations about his time in the Gosselin household.
Among the most disturbing claims, Collin alleges Kate confined him to a “small holding cell” for roughly two years during his pre-teen years, completely cutting him off from his seven siblings. He was later sent to a behavioral facility, and Jon secured sole custody of him in 2018.
Kate has rejected every accusation, framing them as symptoms of mental illness rather than factual accounts. In a TikTok comment earlier this month, she wrote that “rational logical [people] or anyone who has dealt with mental illness understands what’s going on here.” Her remark came in reply to a supporter who called Collin’s claims “terrible lies” and suggested memoir defamation should carry legal consequences.
Jon, who married Stephanie Lebo in November 2025, has taken his son’s side completely and publicly threatened legal action against his ex-wife.
Despite his father’s new marriage, Collin has preserved his connection with Conrad, who entered his life during the tumultuous period after his initial separation from Kate’s care. Conrad noted in her post that they “helped each other through some incredibly difficult times,” including her cancer treatment and the dissolution of her relationship with Jon.
The public support from Conrad offers Collin a maternal endorsement that stands in stark contrast to Kate’s denials. His gratitude centered on her sustained presence rather than any single grand gesture, emphasizing how her consistent belief in him helped rebuild his self-worth.
“Sometimes all we need is to know our mom believes in us and it gives us enough faith in ourselves ❤️❤️,” Collin finished.
The Gosselin family first entered American living rooms through TLC’s “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” which chronicled the challenges of raising twins and sextuplets. The show ran from 2007 until 2009, when Jon and Kate’s divorce became public and fractured both the series and the family. Kate continued with a spinoff, “Kate Plus 8,” while Jon largely stepped back from television. The children’s upbringing remained partially in public view until Collin’s removal from the home and subsequent institutionalization, events that went largely unexplained to viewers at the time.
Conrad’s post drew no direct response from Kate, who has limited her public remarks to the TikTok defense and has not addressed Conrad’s emergence in the narrative. The custody transfer to Jon in 2018 marked a turning point that allowed Collin to build the relationship with Conrad that he now describes as salvaging his sense of family.
Jon has not commented on his ex-girlfriend’s intervention, though his own statements have consistently backed Collin’s right to tell his story. The legal threat against Kate remains unspecified in its scope or timing.
The memoir’s success has ensured the dispute will remain in circulation, with Collin scheduled to continue promotional appearances.