(Lancaster, Pennsylvania) Kate Gosselin, a former reality star, recently shared a heartwarming photo on Mother’s Day of four of her sextuplets as they celebrated their 20th birthday. The photo featured Alexis, Aaden, Leah, and Joel enjoying a chocolate-frosted cake with candles shaped like the number 20. The sextuplets, born on May 10, 2004, marked the end of their teenage years, eliciting nostalgic feelings from their mother.
However, noticeably absent from the celebratory photo were two of the sextuplets, Collin and Hannah. Collin, who resides with his father, revealed in a 2022 interview that he had lost touch with his mother and siblings over the past five to six years. The difficult family dynamic stemmed from the aftermath of Kate’s high-profile divorce from her ex-husband Jon in 2009, which resulted in a prolonged custody battle.
Despite the challenges within the family, the Gosselins gained fame through their reality TV series “Jon & Kate Plus 8” in the late 2000s. The show captured the daily lives of the couple and their eight children until their divorce, which led to Kate starring in “Kate Plus 8” in 2010, focusing on her and the kids. The series concluded in 2017, with Kate later appearing in a dating show, “Kate Plus Date,” in 2019.
Reflecting on their time in the spotlight, Mady, one of Kate’s twins, expressed frustration in a TikTok video about the public’s sense of entitlement to their family’s private life due to their past as reality stars. She emphasized that her siblings were thriving individuals, dispelling any misconceptions created by their on-screen personas.
The complexities of fame and the challenges of navigating a public image continue to impact the Gosselin family, showcasing the enduring effects of their reality TV legacy. As they navigate adulthood, the sextuplets are forging their paths while grappling with the complexities of their family history in the public eye.