Madelyn Gosselin is a household name to many, thanks to her appearances on the popular TLC reality series Jon & Kate Plus 8. Born on October 8, 2000, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Madelyn is the oldest child of Jon and Kate Gosselin, who became famous for their unique family situation. The couple had twins, Madelyn and Cara, before undergoing fertility treatments, resulting in sextuplets' birth.
The show quickly became a cultural phenomenon and turned the Gosselin family into overnight celebrities. Fans were obsessed with getting an unfiltered inside look into the life of a family with eight children. The Gosselins' decision to document their lives on camera made them famous, but it also came with a price. The family's privacy was constantly invaded, and the scrutiny became too much to handle for Jon and Kate's marriage.
The couple divorced in 2009, and the show was renamed "Kate Plus 8," which continued to document Kate's life as a single mother raising her eight children. Many fans have wondered what came of the children from the show, specifically Madelyn Gosselin. Below we look into what she's been up to since the show ended and how much her life has changed over the years since the finale.
7 Did Madelyn Gosselin Go To College?
Madelyn is currently attending college at Syracuse University. According to her LinkedIn profile, she's in the English Textual Studies program at Syracuse, and her major has a concentration in Film and Screen Studies. The reality tv star is expected to graduate in the spring of 2023, according to her TikTok account.
"I am particularly interested in book film adaptations, my favorite of which is Pride and Prejudice (2005). Additionally, through my Art History minor, I further immerse myself in visual art, poetry, and the foundations of Contemporary art as we know it," writes Madelyn on her LinkedIn Profile.
"My passion for social justice overlaps greatly with my studies, and I am grateful to have to privilege to discuss art and writing that makes our world a better place with like-minded individuals."
6 Is Madelyn Gosselin Close To Her Siblings?
Since the show ended, Madelyn has also maintained a close relationship with almost all of her siblings despite the challenges of growing up in the public eye. When she's home with her family, fans can frequently spot her siblings in her TikTok videos.
According to Entertainment Tonight, however, Mady hasn't spoken to her brother Collin or her sister Hannah in over six years. Collin and Hannah live with the children's father, Jon, while the rest of the kids live with Kate.
"I haven't reached out to them, they haven't reached out to me," said Collin to Entertainment Tonight. "I want to respect their space and their time and respect how they feel about everything, so I'm kind of just waiting for the day that they reach out. I don't want to reach out. I don't want to invade their space. I'd rather just let them do it on their own terms."
5 Is Madelyn Gosselin Close To Her Mom, Kate Gosselin?
The show depicted Kate as a strict and demanding mother, leading to viewers' criticism of her parenting for years. However, in interviews, Madelyn has spoken positively about her relationship with her mother.
"She's always been there for us. She's a great mom," said Madelyn during a 2016 interview with People Magazine. Madelyn also spoke about the challenges of growing up in the public eye and the impact they had on her family. "It was definitely hard at times, but we always had each other. We were always there for each other," said Madelyn to People Magazine.
Madelyn has also defended her mother against the criticism she's received from the public. In an interview with the Huffington Post in 2014, Madelyn spoke about the negative comments she's seen about her mother online. "People say things that aren't true about her. She's a great mom, and she always puts her kids first," said Madelyn.
4 Is Madelyn Gosselin Close To Her Dad, Jon Gosselin?
Madelyn Gosselin's relationship with her father, Jon Gosselin, has long been a topic of discussion among fans of Jon and Kate Plus 8. As the show documented the breakdown of Jon and Kate's marriage, and the children were often caught in the middle of their parents' arguments.
In an interview with People in 2016, Madelyn spoke about her relationship with her father. She said, "He makes an effort to see us. He texts us and checks in on us. We see him when we can."
However, in an interview with Yahoo Entertainment in 2019, Jon revealed that he had not seen Madelyn and Cara in over three years. He said, "It's very upsetting. It's very difficult for me because there's no contact. There's no way to even get in touch with them."
While it doesn't seem like the two have made peace, Madelyn is sick of people poking their noses into her family's relationship. In a TikTok posted by Mady in February 2023, she held back nothing as she slammed critics of her family hard and fought for their privacy.
"Perpetuating the narrative that we are damaged or that we are crazy child stars or whatever you want to say is extremely harmful as myself and my siblings are going out into the world and will be functioning members of society with careers," said Mady in her TikTok.
3 How Does Madelyn Gosselin Handle Criticism From The Public?
Madelyn has had to deal with the intense criticism that comes with being a child star, without ever wanting to be a child star herself. In an interview with the Huffington Post in 2014, she spoke about the negative comments she's received online. "It's hard when people say mean things about you online. You try to ignore it, but it's not always easy," said Mady.
While she's always been the outspoken older sister, as she's gotten older, Mady has indeed found a voice for herself. She isn't afraid to speak up against what she thinks is wrong. Most recently, she's been fighting to ensure fans of the show understand she is her own person and doesn't live to please them.
"What I share on social media is my choice, and you are not entitled to anything more than that. I’m sorry if that’s hard to hear, but that is a boundary that I have set for myself and for what I share on here about my family, and if you can’t respect it, then unfollow me, or I’ll block you," said Mady on her TikTok account in February 2023.
2 Would Madelyn Gosselin Ever Be On A Reality TV Show Again?
Madelyn Gosselin has no official statement about whether she will appear on reality television again. However, Mady has been vocal in the past about her negative experiences with Jon and Kate Plus 8 and the impact it had on her and her siblings.
In an interview with People in 2016, Madelyn spoke about the challenges of growing up in the public eye. She said, "We didn't choose to be on TV. It was a decision our parents made. We just had to go along with it." Madelyn also spoke about the show's impact on her and her siblings' privacy. She said, "We were never able to have a normal childhood. We always had cameras around us."
Mady's negative experiences on reality television and its impact on her and her family may make it unlikely for her to want to appear on reality television again.
1 Does Madelyn Gosselin Wish She Never Appeared On Reality Television?
Based on past interviews, it appears that Madelyn Gosselin regrets growing up on reality TV. In an interview with People in 2016, Madelyn spoke candidly about the show's impact on her life.
"It's hard to make friends when people only want to be your friend because you're on TV. People think we're so lucky to have this amazing life, but it's not really that amazing when you're living it. I just wish people would get to know me for who I am, not just because of the show," said Madelyn to People in 2016.
Clearly, Mady still has mixed feelings about her experiences on reality TV. While she may have had some positive experiences and opportunities as a result of the show, she also acknowledges the challenges and negative impacts it had on her life.
