“Shocking Confessions: Ruby Franke’s Children Reveal Dark Secrets from Life in the Limelight”

Intro:

When we think of family vlogs, it usually conjures up images of happy moments, light-hearted banter, and picture-perfect family outings—kind of like a modern-day “Brady Bunch.” But what happens when the camera flips and the reality isn’t so rosy? It turns out, there can be a dark side lurking just behind the lens. Ruby Franke, the mother behind the popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers, has been at the center of a shocking controversy as her eldest children break their silence on the abusive treatment they endured in the name of content creation. Following their harrowing experiences, which culminated in Ruby’s arrest alongside her associate in August 2023, we’re faced with a pressing question: how far is too far when you’re documenting family life for an audience? As her children propose a new narrative against the backdrop of their mother’s downfall, they’re also urging us to rethink the ethics of vlogging familial interactions. The shocking revelations woven through their courageous testimonies reveal a tale that’s all too important to listen to. So, let’s dive into their story and see how it unfolds, shall we? LEARN MORE.

Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing

Ruby Franke’s eldest children have spoken out about how they were treated by their mother when she would try to create content.

The mother-of-six became a popular figure on YouTube through her channel, 8 Passengers, where she would share aspects of family life with her millions of subscribers on social media.

But after Ruby’s son escaped Franke and family therapist Jodi Hildebrandt’s property in August 2023, asking a neighbour for help with his ankles and wrists duct taped and bruised, both were arrested.

Franke and Hildebrandt were eventually convicted of four counts of aggravated child abuse in February 2024, and are set to remain behind bars for up to 30 years.

While Franke’s eldest son, Chad, spoke out about her erratic behaviour in an interview with his father, Kevin, earlier this year, her eldest daughter has now also had her say.

Shari and Chad Franke recently spoke on Good Morning America, focusing on the topic of family vlogging in particular, and how they are steering clear of that.

Chad, 20, insisted that he would do nothing like that to his family, adding via People: “I mean, Ruby clearly would slap us, flick our lips, whatever. I think Jodi brought out the worst in her, and that’s how it got to where it ended up.”

Shari explained: “I do think that family vlogging and family content is unethical.”

Franke’s son went on to explain that he has ‘learned from my mum’s mistakes’ as he hopes to have a family of his own one day, vowing: “I’m not going to be using any kid as an employee.”

Chad revealed that they would be hit while their mum was trying to film (YouTube/Good Morning America)

Eva Pilgrim, a reporter for GMA3, said that the main focus is ‘on moving on without Ruby’ for the children.

It has been a year and a half since the arrests, which has resulted not just in the prison sentence, but the divorce of Kevin and Ruby Franke, with the former gaining full custody of their four children who are minors.

Shari has even released a book titled The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom, which documents her own experiences in the Franke house during her childhood.

A Hulu three-part docuseries, Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, was also released on 28 February this year, looking at the eight-year period where the 8 Passengers YouTube channel existed, before the arrests.

Footage from the Hulu documentary showed Franke verbally abusing her children (Hulu)

Following the case, the state of Utah introduced a law that would protect children from social media content creators.

Governor Spencer signed off on a law that gives adults permission to erase any content of them as a minor from the internet, report NBC, as the law also requires parents to put money aside for children that make appearances online.

“Children cannot give informed consent to be filmed on social media, period,” Kevin Franke said of the legislation at a House committee meeting, report the Salt Lake Tribune.

He highlighted: “If we, as adults, cannot understand the emotional and psychological impacts of sharing our lives to millions of strangers online, how can we expect our children to understand them?”

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.