Shari Franke Confronts Her Past and Says 'Family Vlogging Ruined My Innocence'
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
As Ruby Franke spiraled from popular parenting YouTuber to convicted child abuser, her relationship with her eldest daughter, Shari Franke, deteriorated. Shari was one of the primary stars of the family's now-defunct YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, and some videos captured moments that many teens (and adults, for that matter) would feel mortified to have broadcast online.
One memorable example was when Ruby accidentally removed half of Shari's left eyebrow while waxing her daughter's brows. In another, Ruby shared footage of Shari bra shopping. Their contrasting views on vlogging and Ruby's increasingly erratic behavior eventually ruptured the mother-daughter relationship so much that they stopped speaking after Shari went to college in 2021.
Now 23, the former child influencer has been outspoken in condemning Ruby's actions and in working to protect other children from experiencing the same pressures and consequences she once faced. 'Family vlogging ruined my innocence long before Ruby committed a crime,' Shari told a Utah Senate committee in October 2024. 'I promise you that my experiences are not unique and are happening to child influencers all over Utah and the country.'
At the hearing, she also told lawmakers she lost friends because of the '24/7' work required to create content for the channel and feels regretful that her best and worst moments in childhood were made public online.$20.08 at amazon.com
Shari further detailed her experiences in the recent Hulu docuseries Devil in the Family: The Ruby Franke Story and her best-selling memoir, The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom. She says she and her five younger siblings were treated as de facto employees of the family business.
Partly thanks to Shari's testimony, Utah created a law requiring online creators who make more than $150,000 a year from content featuring children to set aside 15 percent of those earnings into a trust fund that the kids can access after turning 18. The law also creates a pathway for children to have posts and videos they're in removed.
Shari has no intention of broadcasting her own family's lives on the internet, though. In a December 2024 Instagram post, she announced her engagement and new boundaries about detailing her personal life online. 'For me, this is the end of me sharing my private life... I'm not going to talk about my wedding, future husband, or future kids. I'll continue to advocate for kids who didn't have a voice (so you'll still be seeing me, don't worry) but this is closure for me. I'm moving on with my life, and that's true freedom and joy ❤️.'
You Might Also Like
Nicole Richie's Surprising Adoption Story
The Story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Her Mother
Queen Camilla's Life in Photos
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
YouTube overtakes streaming rivals as the go-to for TV and movies
Gone are the days when YouTube was just for catching up on vlogs or diving into late-night rabbit holes. Today, the platform is staking its claim in TV and film. Why you're catching the 'ick' so easily, according to science Why AI Is Making 1:1 Meetings Irrelevant Where are the wildfires in Canada? Maps pinpoint the location of fires and air-quality threats from smoke According to a new survey conducted by Looper Insights between April 16 and 25, 66% of consumers discover TV or film content via YouTube. For 61%, it's already part of their regular streaming habits, and for 34%, it's a main source for TV and film content, as reported by Media Play News. This shift isn't surprising. In April, the Google-owned platform captured a record 12.4% share of all TV viewing. And it's not just rival streamers who should be concerned. For three consecutive months, YouTube has ranked as the No. 1 distributor of television content, according to Nielsen. Media executives are taking notice. Among the 65 surveyed, 84% view YouTube as a viable platform for launching long-form content, and 30% are actively considering it for upcoming releases. In Q1 2025, more Americans watched YouTube on TV screens than on mobile devices—a first. Meeting audiences in the living room, media companies have begun uploading premium content directly to the platform. Earlier this year, Warner Bros. quietly released more than 30 full-length films on YouTube, free to watch. Yet as YouTube continues its rise, creators face critical decisions. Some, like Ms Rachel, have signed licensing deals with Netflix. MrBeast (aka Jimmy Donaldson), YouTube's most-subscribed creator, brought Beast Games to the small screen via Prime Video. Still, many fans would rather their favorite YouTubers stay where they started. More than half (54%) of respondents said YouTubers feel more authentic and better suited to the platform that launched their careers. Meanwhile, nearly three-quarters (74%) of executives noted that creator-led shows often underperform on platforms like Netflix and Prime, citing poor audience migration and an overreliance on follower counts. The good news: The YouTube takeover is already in full swing—so creators may not need to go anywhere at all. This post originally appeared at to get the Fast Company newsletter:
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sad Secrets of 400lb Man Who Crafts Trump's Insults: Author
White House communications director Steven Cheung has built a reputation for his profanity-laced, scorched-earth style—but author Michael Wolff, one of Cheung's favorite punching bags, thinks his combative persona is just theater. 'Steven is actually a really sweet guy,' said Wolff—whom Cheung once called a 'lying sack of s--t'—on this week's episode of The Daily Beast Podcast. 'There's a sort of tragic feel about (Cheung) because he's so heavy,' Wolff continued, arguing that he has to be 'hidden away' and can't become White House press secretary because the candidate 'has to be a young woman.' Wolff, who has penned a series of blistering books on President Trump, claimed that during Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, Cheung was 'always collapsing somewhere.' He cited a specific event at Union Station where he said he witnessed Cheung 'having to be carried out.' Cheung, a former spokesperson for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, fired back at Wolff in a statement to the Daily Beast. 'Michael Wolff clearly suffers from Trump Derangement Syndrome and begged like a dog for an interview for his failed book,' he said. 'The only thing being carried out is his dignity after (he) continues to embarrass and beclown himself in a fleeting attempt to gain relevancy.' Wolff has grown accustomed to Cheung's attacks, which he believes are all part of a show for Trump, who famously rewards loyalty—and venom. 'Whatever Steven says or does is directed to an audience of one,' the author said. 'He issues these kinds of vituperative comments, which Trump likes. 'That's a good one,' Trump will say.' 'It's performative,' added host Joanna Coles, who was herself described as a 'blithering idiot' and a 'piece of s--t' by Cheung last month, after she questioned the president's eyebrow-raising weight loss claims. Wolff—also recently hit with the 'blithering idiot' tag—dismissed the insults as 'all boilerplate,' and claimed the White House even called him ahead of time to let him know Cheung would insult him as such. 'It's all being sort of in on the joke here,' Wolff said. New episodes of The Daily Beast Podcast are released every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Follow our new feed on your favorite podcast platform at and subscribe on YouTube to watch full episodes.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Prince William Joins Unexpected Family Member for Royal Outing in Rare Appearance Together
Prince William Joins Unexpected Family Member for Royal Outing in Rare Appearance Together originally appeared on Parade. Prince William was joined by his Aunt Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, for his latest outing on Friday. The two attended The Royal Cornwall Show, an agricultural event in Wadebridge, Cornwall, which both royals are formal supporters of. In batches of photos shared to Sophie's official Instagram account the two were seen tasting local favorites and interacting with the crowd. "Both are in high spirits as they laugh and enjoy trying gin and local cider during a visit to the Food and Farming Pavilion, which showcases dozens of the best artisan food and drink producers from across Cornwall," her social media caption read. The Duchess who is married to King Charles' brother, Prince Edward, is vice president of the The Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association and William, who regularly attends events with wife Kate Middleton, is also a patron. According to People, the aunt and nephew duo are typically not paired for royal outings, as they attend events with their spouses and have their own patronages and causes they appearance comes a day after William stepped in for King Charles in a formal capacity as he made his first visit to 4 Regiment Army Air Corps at Wattisham as Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps on Wednesday. Members of the royal family have continued to attend events in the monarch's place following his February cancer diagnosis. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Prince William Joins Unexpected Family Member for Royal Outing in Rare Appearance Together first appeared on Parade on Jun 6, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
