When did Kate Gosselin and Jon Gosselin separate? Former TV personality talks about their 'ugly' debate which didn't 'turn out well' for her children

Kate Gosselin opens up about her divorce from ex-husband Jon Gosselin, describing it as a difficult period and reflecting on its impact on her children. On August 27, 2025, the 50-year-old former Jon & Kate Plus 8 star disclosed all about her 2009 divorce and everything that followed in a live stream on TikTok.

In response to a fan’s question on how she navigated through her divorce, Kate Gosselin acknowledged that she made an effort to consider her kids while making decisions:

"I don't know if you have kids or don't have kids, but I just, I made decisions based on how I would want to be treated, honestly. And I didn't buy into all the drama and the hate, and the ugly. And I had kids involved, so I wanted it to be as peaceful for them as I possibly could."

She admitted that things did not go as she had hoped. She said:

"I did not hire an attorney that wanted to stir up trouble; I just wanted it to be peaceful, and I wanted the best for my kids. A lot of things happened that I could not control that did not turn out well for my kids, but I did my best. We just got through it to the best of our ability."

She concluded:

"It could've been a lot calmer and a lot nicer if everybody was willing to play nice."

After ten years of marriage and accusations of cheating, Kate Gosselin filed for divorce from Jon in 2009. After the breakup, their 2007 TLC reality show came to a quick end; however, Kate went on to feature in the spinoffs Kate Plus 8 and Kate Plus Date.

Kate Gosselin's money problem and legal issue

After the divorce, Kate Gosselin shared how it affected her finances, revealing that much of her TV earnings went to costly custody disputes. Kate is currently working 12-hour shifts as a pediatric nurse.

She answered when a fan asked her about her TV earnings:

"Honestly? Providing for 8 kids, college funds which I am proud to say covered all of their college and more and LAWYERS. Sickening but I was drug into court constantly and that costs A TON."

She added:

"Sad bc my kids could have a lot more saved and I could have a retirement saved if it weren’t for lawyers. It’s OK. I’m helping other families and I feel needed and I enjoy helping!"

Her ex-husband Jon was granted sole custody of two of the sextuplets, Collin and Hannah, in 2018. Meanwhile the twins, Mady and Cara, and the other four sextuplets, Leah, Alexis, Joel, and Aaden, stay with Kate.

Colin's public claims and family struggles

While the other sextuplets and the twins have had some amount of contact with their parents, Collin has an estranged relationship with his mother, Kate Gosselin. Collin, who is close with Jon, said that while growing up in the spotlight, he and his siblings were "forced apart" and "pitted against each other."

In August 2016, Collin claimed that his mother had enrolled him as he had “special needs.” In response, Kate told People:

“[There’s] a fairly fluid diagnosis of what those needs are, but he needs to learn certain strategies to help him deal with things. This has been a struggle we’ve had for a very long time, and it’s one I’ve dealt with on my own. I’ve felt very alone in this. By the same token, it’s not something that has only impacted me or him—our entire family has been impacted

His sextuplet sister, Hannah, asserted that Collin was kept away from his siblings, which prevented him from sharing meals with them in a Vice special. Kate Gosselin told People that he “received multiple psychiatric diagnoses over the years” and had developed a “distorted sense of reality.”

Collin was discharged shortly after joining the Marines, after it was discovered that he had been “institutionalized” when he was young. He then went on to open his own business.

Trending

Kate Gosselin is currently a pediatric nurse. The twins, Cara and Mady, who are now 24 years old, are college graduates and work in New York, while the sextuplets recently turned 21. Collin launched a pressure-washing business, Leah is in college, Joel studies accounting, Alexis and Aaden live more privately, and Hannah has a beauty brand.

Stay tuned to Soap Central for more information.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback