Jon Gosselin says he would not recognize his eldest daughters after years of estrangement
The former reality-TV star told a podcast he feels alienated from his 26-year-old twins, Madelyn and Cara, and has not had contact with them for over a decade.
Jon Gosselin told listeners of the "Legally Goff" podcast that he would not be able to identify his eldest daughters, twins Madelyn and Cara, if he saw them on the street. He said the separation began when the twins were 13, after their mother, Kate Gosselin, limited his involvement in their lives. "I’ve never heard their voice. One day I was an active everyday parent and I was just cut out of their lives," he said.
Gosselin expressed a desire for any form of contact, adding, "I don’t care if they call me an asshole or whatever, I just want some kind of response. Just text me or message me. At least I’ll know. Walking around for 13 years not knowing has pretty much eaten my soul away."
He noted that he missed key milestones such as graduations and proms and does not know basic details about his twins, including whether they have partners or what their favorite colors are. The former IT technician also said he is estranged from four of his sextuplets, citing a belief that his children have adopted a negative view of him based on the family's television narrative.
Gosselin did not place blame on his children, stating they "live in fear" and that he hopes they will reach out. He previously appealed to his estranged siblings in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, urging them to read his brother Collin's memoir for insight into their shared upbringing.
Madelyn and Cara have largely stayed out of the public eye, though Madelyn posted on TikTok in 2023 praising her siblings as "smart, kind, driven" and denying that they are "damaged" or "crazy child stars."