Kate Gosselin got candid on the lasting impact that her 2009 divorce from ex-husband Jon has had on their eight children.
The reality TV star, 50, answered questions about her life in a TikTok live on Wednesday, sharing that the divorce ‘did not turn out well for my kids.’
‘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,’ she shared in response to a question about how she got through the divorce.
‘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.’
The Jon & Kate Plus 8 star — who’s reportedly looking to land a cooking show and a cookbook deal for extra income — added that her goal was to ‘not stir up trouble.’
‘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,’ she said.
Kate Gosselin, 50, got candid on the lasting impact that her 2009 divorce from ex-husband Jon has had on their eight children
The reality TV star shared that the divorce ‘did not turn out well for my kids’ as she answered questions about her life in a TikTok live on Wednesday; Kate, Jon and their kids seen in 2007
‘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.’
Kate concluded that ‘it could’ve been a lot calmer and a lot nicer if everybody was willing to play nice.’
Kate and Jon have eight children together: twins Mady and Cara, 24, and sextuplets Hannah, Leah, Alexis, Joel, Aaden, and Collin, 21.
Their family life in Pennsylvania was documented on the TLC reality show Jon & Kate Plus 8 from 2007 to 2009.
After Jon and Kate divorced in 2009, the show carried on as Kate plus 8, airing from 2015 to 2016.
It comes after Kate pushed back against her son Collin’s allegations regarding their family estrangement.
The former reality star was on TikTok earlier this month, sharing some of her duties during the 12-hour shift she had just completed, while loading her dishwasher and trying to answer questions from fans.
In the comments, one person posted a screenshot of her son Collin’s recent TikTok in which he claimed he and his siblings had been ‘forced apart.’
‘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 said ; Kate seen with Alexis, Aaden, Leah, and Joel in an Instagram photo
Kate concluded that ‘it could’ve been a lot calmer and a lot nicer if everybody was willing to play nice’; Seen with Jon in 2009
Kate and Jon have eight children together: twins Mady and Cara, 24, and sextuplets Hannah, Leah, Alexis, Joel, Aaden, and Collin, 21; Kate seen with Mady and Cara
Kate is estranged from Collin and her daughter Hannah, who went to live with their dad Jon in 2016, as part of a nasty custody battle; Hannah and Collin seen with their dad
It comes after Kate pushed back against her son Collin’s allegations regarding their family estrangement; She is seen in a TikTok video
Collin, 21, has previously accused his mother of horrific abuse when he was a child
Someone posted a screen shot of Collin’s allegations that he and his siblings were ‘pitted against each other’ in the comments section, prompting a reply from Kate
She simply said, ‘He knows why’
Kate is estranged from Collin and her daughter Hannah, who went to live with their dad Jon in 2016, as part of a nasty custody battle.
In response to the screenshot, the star wrote ‘He knows why.’
Collin has previously accused his mother of horrific abuse, claiming she would lock him up in the basement and zip tie his hands and feet.
Kate placed Collin in a treatment facility when he was 12 for behavioral issues, a move that was contested by his father.
Elsewhere in the comments section, a follower asked why she was working 12 hour shifts as a home healthcare nurse.
‘Honestly? Providing for 8 kids,’ she said matter of factly.
‘College funds which I am proud to say covered all of their college and more and LAWYERS,’ she said referring to her expensive court battles with Jon.
‘Sickening but I was drug [sic] into court constantly and that costs A TON,’ she explained.
Kate was previously married to Jon from 1999 until their divorce in 2009; The exes and their kids seen in a promotional image for Jon & Kate Plus 8
‘Sad bc my kids could have a lot more saved and I could have a retirement saved if it weren’t for lawyers :(‘
Looking at the bright side, Kate wrote, ‘It’s okay. I’m helping other families and I feel needed and I enjoy helping.’
Others expressed their admiration for the mother-of-eight. ‘Looking back now, I can see how you were portrayed as the villain and you weren’t. I apologize for ever thinking that.,’ said another.
‘I recall disliking you, but now I feel like that is because of how you were portrayed on that damn show! I see how normal you are and now that I’m a mom I GET IT!! You are literally all of us Mom’s and I’m here for it!!!’ wrote a sympathizer.
‘I love this Kate,’ said a fan. ‘As we’ve all grown older, we now recognize how misunderstood you truly were. We hear you now.’
