Collin Gosselin Says Fatherhood Could Top His ‘Special Forces’ High

Gosselin, a former cast member of “Jon & Kate Plus 8” and a recent New York Times bestselling author, said he is looking forward to building a life he can be proud of. “The one thing that could top this beautiful mission I’m on is probably being a father,” he told E! News. “But I feel so young. I’ve already found something so great and so meaningful, and to that I am very fortunate.”

He said he joined “Special Forces” to show a different side of himself and take control of his own story. The show puts celebrities through mental and physical challenges inspired by the real-life Special Forces selection process. In comments previously reported by The Blast, Gosselin said he wanted the experience to be about his growth, rather than his mother, reality star Kate Gosselin. He also described the process as healing and said he hoped his story could speak to children pushed into the entertainment industry against their will.

During his run on the show, Gosselin released his memoir, “In The Shadow of Eight,” about his difficult childhood and alleged abuse by his mother. He said writing it meant revisiting painful experiences but gave him a voice. He has also said the book and his public account of his childhood have further strained his relationships with Kate and his seven siblings. Gosselin said he misses his siblings and hopes to reconnect, urging them to research the past and make their own decisions.

He has said he is willing to move forward with his mother, but that progress requires her to take accountability. Kate appeared to dismiss his claims in a TikTok reply, thanking a user who said “terrible lies” were making headlines and referring to mental illness.