“These statements were made by family members who have been estranged from his life since he was 12,” she wrote in part. “Collin is not only someone I love dearly but has also been a significant figure in my family’s life.”
“After Jon and I separated, and Jon moved out, Collin lived with me until he turned 18 so I saw him every day. He thrived and was always kind and respectful,” she added. “He never talked back to me. He was never violent and is far from being considered dangerous. He is there for me when I need him, even bringing me white roses every time he visits.”
As Collin mentioned in his tribute to Colleen on June 17, he is set to relive that time in his life—not to mention his upbringing on Jon & Kate Plus 8—in the forthcoming memoir In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood.
“My life was always broadcast to millions, but what was actually happening in my life was never shown—in fact, much of it was deliberately kept hidden,” Collin told Us Weekly in a statement published June 17. “For years, other people told my story through headlines, television episodes and public speculation.”
“The book is about truth, survival, resilience and finding my voice after years of being silenced,” he continued. “If my story helps even one person feel less alone or gives them the courage to tell their own, then every difficult page was worth writing.”
E! News reached out to reps for Jon and Kate regarding Collin’s statements and memoir but has not yet heard back.
For more on the Gosselin family, read on.
