Kate Gosselin broke down in tears on TikTok this week, giving fans a raw look at the struggles of adopting a high-energy rescue dog. The former reality TV star opened up about feeling exhausted and overwhelmed while introducing her new Malinois puppy, Koda, into her home. Throughout the emotional video, Gosselin repeatedly mentioned her boyfriend, Steve Neild, who has been helping her through the difficult process. The tearful update has brought fresh attention to Neild and the couple’s complicated dating history, which goes back nearly two decades.
May 26, 2026 – Kate Gosselin posted the emotional video on day 12 of bringing Koda home. She admitted she had been crying that morning. “I’m tired. It’s getting to be a lot,” she said in the clip. The 51-year-old mother of eight compared managing her two dogs’ schedules to raising her children. She added, “I am 51 now. I’m not 29, 30. So it’s just gotten to be a lot.”
The Malinois mix puppy has extremely high energy levels. Gosselin explained that Koda is “obsessed with her ball” and “could run forever.” She said she was starting to doubt herself. “The strain and stress have been weighing on both me and Steve,” she admitted. But she also said, “Probably no one else would have saved her. So I know that we’re doing a good thing.”
Who Is Steve Neild? The Former Bodyguard Who Became Kate Gosselin’s Boyfriend
Steve Neild first entered Kate Gosselin’s life as the family’s bodyguard during the height of Jon & Kate Plus 8 fame. He started working for the Gosselins around 2008, when the TLC show was at its peak. After Kate and Jon Gosselin divorced in 2009, Neild continued working as Kate’s personal security. He stayed by her side for public events, book signings, and TV appearances until 2014.
Neild comes from a security background. He worked as a security and safety consultant for Viacom from 2013 to 2019. In July 2020, he started his own company called Prudent Risk Management International LLC in Rockville, Maryland.
Neild was married to his ex-wife Gina Neild for 33 years. The couple tied the knot in Auckland, New Zealand in September 1990. They have two adult sons together, Kristopher and Michael. Neild filed for divorce in September 2023, and the divorce was finalized two months later.
Kate Gosselin’s Dating History: From Jon Gosselin to Jeff Prescott to Steve Neild
Kate Gosselin married Jon Gosselin in June 1999. The couple had twin daughters Mady and Cara and sextuplets Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah, and Joel. Their family became the focus of the hit TLC show Jon & Kate Plus 8, which ran from 2007 to 2017.
The marriage fell apart publicly in 2009. Both sides accused each other of cheating. Kate was linked to Steve Neild even back then, while Jon was linked to school teacher Deanna Hummel. Kate strongly denied having an affair with Neild at the time. In a 2009 interview with People, she called the allegations “disgusting, unthinkable, unfathomable.”
After her divorce from Jon was finalized in 2009, Kate kept her romantic life mostly private for years. She briefly dated millionaire Jeff Prescott in 2015. Reports said Prescott ended the relationship to be with a younger woman.
Kate Gosselin Went Public With Steve Neild in 2025 After Years of Secrecy
In September 2025, Kate Gosselin revealed during a TikTok Q&A that she was finally dating someone. She said she had been with the person for “a little over a year” and was “super, super happy.” She also said it was someone she had known “for a really long time.”
By November 2025, Kate made things Instagram official. She posted a carousel of things she was “obsessed with,” including two photos of Neild with the caption “My boyfriend😍.” Around the same time, her ex-husband Jon married Stephanie Lebo.
The public announcement brought back old accusations. Jon Gosselin posted a screenshot of the news on Instagram with the caption, “Guess who really ruined the marriage.” Kate’s estranged son Collin also wrote on social media, claiming his mother had an affair with Neild back in 2009. Collin wrote, “Now everyone thinks her being with him is some cute novel romance.”
Kate Keeps Neild’s Face Hidden On Social Media Out Of Respect For His Privacy
Even though Kate has publicly acknowledged the relationship, she rarely shows Neild’s face in her videos and photos. When she celebrated her 51st birthday on March 28, 2026, she shared a compilation video that included a dinner photo with Neild. His face was covered.
Fans asked why she kept hiding him. Kate responded in the comments, “He’s not always comfortable with it so I go with his wishes on being on here or not.” She added that covering his face “makes him feel more comfortable!”
In January 2026, fans also thought Kate and Neild had secretly gotten married after noticing a ring on her left hand. Kate quickly shut down the rumors, writing “No lol that’s just my regular jewelry.”
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Kate’s Emotional Dog Adoption Video Shows How Neild Supports Her Daily Life
The May 2026 TikTok video that started the latest round of attention showed a very vulnerable side of Gosselin. She was crying while explaining how hard it has been to manage Koda alongside her other German shepherd, Meika. She said Neild had gone to work that day, leaving her alone with both dogs. “I’ve just been on watch constantly hoping nothing happens and watching them all the time,” she said.
Kate first announced the adoption of Koda, then named Chiqis, in April 2026. She said she and Neild had secured the adoption papers and would bring the dog home in mid-May. The dog is a Malinois mix, a breed known for extremely high energy and intelligence.
Kate also revealed that Neild was the one who approved the dog choice. When a fan asked why she got a big, high-energy dog instead of a smaller one, she replied, “I did but this is the one steve approved 🤷♀️.”
The emotional video ended with Kate saying she and Neild are starting training with Koda soon. “But at the end of the day, probably no one else would have saved her,” she said. “We just have to hang in.”
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