Kate Gosselin responded to allegations that her ex-husband, Jon Gosselin, physically abused their son Collin.
“I am done hiding and will say this unequivocally: Jon is a violent and abusive person,” the Kate Plus Date star, 45, told People on Wednesday, September 16.
The Multiple Blessings author added that she “learned of this incident from CYS, referring to the Berks County Children & Youth Services in Pennsylvania. Kate explained, “Through them, I was then read multiple reports — from the police report, to Collin’s statement to the police, to the account of an adult eyewitness. They were all very similar, if not identical. Until I receive the letter from CYS about whether they’ve deemed the allegations founded or not, it’s ongoing. My contact at CYS has not told me otherwise.”
The Pennsylvania native, who is also the mother of twins Madelyn and Cara, 19, and Collin’s sextuplet siblings, Leah, Hannah, Alexis, Joel and Aaden, 16, concluded that if the incident didn’t qualify as an assault, she doesn’t “know what does.”
In response, a rep for Jon tells Us Weekly, “Jon Gosselin is a loving father who has never abused his son. He has done nothing but parent his children and attempt to stay out of the public eye for years. The recent allegations were deemed unfounded by the police department and CYS within 24 hours. Kate’s malicious statements are libelous, and if her false accusations of abuse continue, legal action will be taken.”
News broke on September 10 that Jon, 43, was accused of “causing bodily injury to a child through recent act/failure to act: hitting/punching.”
Collin called the DJ a “liar” in a since-deleted Instagram post, claiming, “Yesterday he beat me up and thought nothing of it, he punched me in the face and gave me a swollen nose and I started bleeding. He then continued to kick me in the ribs after I was on the floor.”
Jon’s rep denied the allegations, telling Us at the time: “Jon has never abused Collin. No charges have been filed against him and there’s no ongoing CYS investigation.”
The statement went on to say that the teenager has “endured severe trauma,” concluding, “Jon is a loving father who has worked hard to ensure that his son gets the support and help he needs.”
The former reality was granted full physical and legal custody of Collin in December 2018. The father-son pair also live with his sister Hannah, who moved in earlier that same year.
Collin called Jon “the coolest, most amazing dad” in an April birthday tribute via Instagram. “[He’s] the one who’s always had my back,” he wrote at the time.
Us has reached out to Jon Gosselin for comment.
