(NewsNation) — Shari Franke, the eldest daughter of defamed “8 Passengers” YouTuber mom Ruby Franke, told Utah lawmakers the family’s social media presence robbed her of her innocence long before any crimes were committed.
“I don’t come today as the daughter of a felon, nor a victim of an abnormally abusive mother. I come today as a victim of family vlogging,” she said.
The 21-year-old, along with her five siblings, was featured on her mom’s Mormon family channel until February, when Ruby Franke was sentenced to 30 years in prison for child abuse.
“When children become stars in their family’s online content, they become child influencers,” Shari Franke said. “It is more than just filming your family life and putting it online. It is a full-time job, with employees, business credit cards, managers and marketing strategies.”
“The difference between family vlogging and a normal business, however, is that all the children are employees,” she added. “Children from before they are born until the day they turn 18 have become stars of family businesses on YouTube, Instagram and other social media platforms.”
What did Ruby Franke do?
Ruby Franke and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt were sentenced for child abuse in February.
A police investigation determined religious extremism motivated the women to inflict horrific abuse on Franke’s children. The women were each charged with six counts of felony child abuse after two of Franke’s six children were found malnourished in the basement of Hildebrandt’s home. Each pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree child abuse.
In her plea agreement, Franke admitted to torturing her son, including depriving him of food and water and subjecting him to physical labor, isolating him from others and depriving him of any entertainment.
She also admitted to kicking him, holding his head underwater and cutting off his oxygen by putting her hands over his mouth and nose, as well as binding him after he attempted to run away.
While her daughter was not subject to the same physical attacks as her brother, Franke admitted to also denying her food and water and subjecting her to long hours of physical labor in the summer heat without any protection from the sun.
Franke told her daughter she was evil and needed to repent, forcing her to run barefoot outside in the heat.
NewsNation’s Liz Jassin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
