Kate Gosselin’s Former Nanny Says She Saw Troubling Treatment of Collin

A former nanny who worked in Kate Gosselin’s home is speaking out after Collin Gosselin described alleged abuse in his memoir, In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood. Ashley H., who says she filled in as a nanny for the family in 2013, told PEOPLE that what she saw off camera differed sharply from the family’s television image. Kate has denied abusing Collin and has attributed his claims to mental health struggles. Ashley described a household governed by strict expectations. She said staff had a detailed house manual and that the home was kept looking “unlived-in,” with the children not permitted to leave toys or belongings around. She also claimed the children had only a limited selection of school clothes for the week to reduce laundry. In Ashley’s account, Kate could be “robotic” with the children and made it apparent which ones she considered favorites. The former nanny alleged that Kate treated Collin differently from his siblings and said she saw her grab him repeatedly, including pulling him from a kitchen chair. Ashley characterized the hostility as unmistakable, while making clear these are her recollections and allegations. Collin’s memoir, meanwhile, describes being isolated in an unfinished basement and alleges physical incidents such as being hit, having his ears pulled, and being dragged by his shirt. He has said he believes the treatment was connected to his reluctance to take part in the family’s reality show. Ashley also recalled finding a large red plastic spoon among the children’s school supplies. She said one of the sextuplets told her it was the spoon their mother used when angry. Ashley said she worked for the family for about six months and contacted Children and Youth Services before leaving. She told PEOPLE she believes others also made reports and said she is sharing her account to support Collin. The article notes that Collin has described multiple reports to child-protection agencies; it does not establish the outcome of those reports or independently verify the nanny’s claims.