Ruby Franke’s Daughters Spill the Tea on Their “Ruined” Childhoods
Well, folks, grab your popcorn because the saga of Ruby Franke, the YouTube mom turned infamous convict, just got a whole lot juicier. As Ruby serves her time behind bars for child abuse, her daughters are stepping into the spotlight to share their harrowing experiences—and they’re not holding back. Last week, at a Utah legislative committee hearing, the now 16-year-old and 11-year-old sisters blasted their mom during statements read by their father, Kevin Franke. And let me tell you, their claims cut deep.
The 16-year-old went straight for the jugular, pointing out how YouTube robbed them of their childhoods, stating, “You’re selling your life, your privacy, your body, and stories to the entire world.” She emphasized how Ruby’s vlogging brought them financial gain, but at what cost? “Had the bill been law back then, my mom would not have been able to withdraw all of my savings,” she lamented, echoing frustrations shared by many child influencers today, including those in the world of family vlogging.
Her little sister, just 11 and wise beyond her years, shared her own painful truth—”starring in my mom’s vlogs ruined my childhood.” She expressed how she felt pressured to act happy while, in reality, she was just a pawn in Ruby’s quest for views and cash. “Now, without even realizing it, I seek attention from others,” she confided, highlighting the psychological scars that have seemingly come from growing up in the online fishbowl.
Following Ruby’s arrest in 2023—where her children were rescued from an alarmingly abusive environment that left one son found emaciated with duct tape around his limbs—the family dynamic has since taken a dramatic turn. Ruby and her partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, are doing time for aggravated child abuse and could face up to 30 years in prison. It’s a shocking conclusion to what was once a picture-perfect family brand with millions in revenue from their YouTube endeavors.
As legislation emerges to protect children with influencer parents, Ruby’s story raises crucial questions about the ethics of vlogging about family life—especially the toll it can take on the young ones involved. It’s a powerful moment in the ongoing discussion about child safety in the digital age, and it seems Ruby’s daughters are ready to break the cycle. Get ready, folks; the ripple effect of their bravery will be felt for a long time.
Sources: Celebrity Storm Wire and E! Online, The Salt Lake Tribune, NBC News
