HIGHLAND, UT – Ruby Franke, a vlogger once famous for portraying an idyllic family life on YouTube, now faces a prison sentence for child abuse alongside her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt. Her family is set to break their silence about the ordeal in the upcoming Hulu docuseries “Devil In The Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke,” premiering February 27, 2024.
The series promises unprecedented access to family members Kevin Franke, Shari, and Chad, alongside footage from their YouTube channel that was never made public. This initiative aims to shed light on the dark undercurrents that ran beneath what appeared to be a harmonious family façade.
The Frankes first captured the online world’s attention with their “8Passengers” YouTube channel, launched in 2014. Documenting day-to-day family life, they gathered a massive following of 2.5 million subscribers. However, as content evolved, so did public concern over Ruby’s stringent parenting style, eventually escalating to serious legal consequences.
Ruby and Hildebrandt, who co-hosted a podcast promoting strict parenting approaches, were charged with aggravated child abuse in August 2023. This arrest marked the unraveling of their media presence and ignited conversations on the dangers of extreme parenting methods.
The family’s eldest daughter, Shari Franke, recently stepped into the spotlight with the release of her memoir, “The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom.” Released on January 7, the book documents her experiences growing up under her mother’s stringent rules and the impact of their public life. Shari has since been candid about the negative effects of family vlogging, asserting that the digital exposure was damaging.
Reflecting on her upbringing, Shari expressed discomfort with the content her mother chose to share online. Concerned for her siblings’ wellbeing, she reached out to child protective services upon leaving for college, highlighting the disconnect between their public portrayal and private reality.
In the wake of her mother’s imprisonment, Shari has decisively stepped back from public life. She expressed a firm desire to maintain her privacy, emphasizing the importance of personal agency. “I’ve had my voice and agency taken for so long, and now, I’m putting my foot down,” she stated regarding her future intentions.
As the Franke family braces for the next chapter in their public narrative, many will eagerly anticipate their candid revelations in the Hulu series, hoping for insight into the striking contrast between online portrayal and real-life tribulations they endured.
