Collin Gosselin Issues Blunt Message About Returning to Reality TV
What To Know
- Collin Gosselin is returning to reality TV as a contestant on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test Season 5, emphasizing that this time it is his own decision as an adult.
- He reflected on his childhood experience on Jon & Kate Plus 8, stating he was forced into reality TV as a child.
- Collin made it clear that his participation in the show is for himself, not his mother Kate Gosselin.
Jon & Kate Plus 8 star Collin Gosselin issued a blunt message about returning to reality TV ahead of competing in Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test Season 5.
On Thursday, September 17, Collin, 22 — one of Kate Gosselin and Jon Gosselin‘s sextuplets — attended the Special Forces Season 5 red carpet event at Fox Studio Lot in Los Angeles. There, he spoke to several outlets about what it felt like to willingly be in front of cameras again after growing up on his family’s TLC shows.
“It feels great,” Collin admitted during a chat with independent entertainment host John Joseph Krukowski. “I’m glad that I’m finally an adult making this decision for myself. And I think that’s very powerful because a lot of times, there are children being thrown into the industry, and it’s not their choice.”
He added, “And my big thing now is that it’s my choice… A big journey of personal growth, for sure.”
View this post on Instagram
Collin echoed these sentiments while speaking with Entertainment Tonight about participating in Special Forces.
“The really cool part of it was that I’m an adult now, and I made this decision to return to reality TV on my own,” he said.
The former Kate Plus 8 star explained, “I was forced on reality TV as a kid, with no choice. And as an adult, I want people to see me for who I am in this adult light. I just want to show them to keep going and tackle challenges… I’m not defined by my childhood, even though it was very rough. Those things don’t define us.”
When asked if he hopes that his mother watches him on Special Forces (she competed in Season 1 of the show), Collin replied, “I got asked earlier today, ‘Did I do this for my mom?’ and I didn’t do this for my mom. I did this for me.”
Additionally, Collin sent a direct message to Kate during an interview with Page Six at the red carpet event when asked if he hoped she would tune into Special Forces.
“Well, if she does, ‘Hey, Mom!’” Collin said, flashing a peace sign and laughing afterward. “Hope you enjoy.”
He also shared, “There was enough of my life that my mom took from me and childhood that she robbed from me. This isn’t about her. It’s about me.”
In Special Forces, Season 1, Kate suffered a neck injury on the first day, forcing her to leave the competition.
Jon & Kate Plus 8 aired for five seasons from 2007 to 2009, followed by Kate Plus 8 for six seasons from 2010 to 2017, and Kate Plus Date for one season in 2019. Collin and his siblings — fellow sextuplets Aaden, Joel, Hannah, Alexis, and Leah; and twins Cara and Mady, 24 — starred on most of those seasons.
On October 13, Collin will release his memoir, In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood, in which he will explore his childhood on reality TV and the alleged abuse he suffered.
Season 5 of Special Forces premieres on Thursday, September 24, at 9/8c on Fox.
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services