Kids, Inc.
The scenes leave a pit in your stomach. In Netflix's 'Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing,' two early teenagers are pressured to kiss by adults — a parent and a videographer — on camera. Hulu's 'The Devil in the Family: The Ruby Franke Story' shows the dramatic footage of Franke's 12-year-old son showing up at a neighbor's door with duct tape markings around his ankle, asking them to call police.
The pair of documentaries, released this year, shine a light on the perils of child-centered online content. 'Bad Influence' examines claims of abuse and exploitation made by 11 former members of the teen YouTube collective 'The Squad' against Tiffany Smith — who ran the YouTube channel, which drew two million subscribers — and her former boyfriend Hunter Hill. Both denied the allegations, and the suit was settled for a reported $1.85 million last year.
Ruby Franke, a mother of six, pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse in 2023 after denying her children adequate food and water and isolating them as she built a family YouTube channel that amassed nearly 2.5 million subscribers before it was taken down. She will serve up to 30 years in prison.
Concerns about the treatment of child entertainers have abounded since the days of Judy Garland and through last year's 'Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,' in which former Nickelodeon actors described performing under harmful and sexually inappropriate conditions. Less examined is the working world of child influencers, who are now speaking out about the harsh, unsafe or emotionally taxing constraints of being broadcast by their parents.
Viewers may be tempted to ask, 'Aren't there laws against this?'
'We have pretty documented evidence of the troubling pipeline for Hollywood and child actors, but we don't have nearly similar numbers for child influencers, primarily because the phenomenon of influencing is so young,' said Chris McCarty, the founder and executive director of Quit Clicking Kids, an organization dedicated to stopping the monetization of minors. 'A lot of the kids are too young to even really fully understand what's going on, let alone, like, actually speak out about their experiences.'
Child entertainer laws — which in some cases make provisions for minors' education, set limits on working hours and stipulate that earnings be placed in a trust — regulate theatrical industries. The world of content creators, where an account with a sizable following can generate millions of dollars a year for creators, is largely unregulated.
McCarty worked with the California legislature to draft an amendment to the Coogan Law, legislation passed in 1939 that requires employers to set aside 15 percent of a child actor's earnings in a trust. In September 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California signed Senate Bill 764, mandating that creators who feature children in 30 percent or more of their content set aside a proportioned percentage of their earnings into a trust for the child to access when they turn 18. The law went into effect this year and made California the third state (along with Illinois and Minnesota) to adopt financial protections for children featured in social media content.
Some notable family vloggers uprooted from California for Tennessee in the immediate aftermath. The LaBrant family, whose YouTube (12.8 million subscribers) and TikTok content (the mother, Savannah, has 30.3 million followers) mainly revolves around their five young children, explained their move to Nashville in a post, saying 'We truly feel like this is where God is calling our family.'
Brittany Xavier, a prominent TikTok creator with over 3 million followers whose content mostly showcases her three children, attributed her move to Nashville to finding mold in her family's California rental house.
They did not respond to requests for comment, nor did they cite the new law as the reason for their departures, but commenters on their videos and on Reddit have speculated about whether the new legislation contributed to their moves.
The amendment to the Coogan Law could be a starting point to more regulation. 'The law can also be expanded to make sure that kids have boundaries on their working hours and protections in terms of being guaranteed education,' said Mary Jean Amon, an assistant professor at Indiana University who specializes in research on parental sharing and beliefs about autonomy and consent.
That might prove difficult given the lack of boundaries between work and home for child influencers. In 'The Devil in the Family,' the Franke children protested rarely having any time off from making content — outtakes from their vlogs showed one of the family's sons, Chad, who is now 20, being told to answer with more enthusiasm when he was tired and didn't want to be on camera. 'It felt more like a set than a house,' Shari Franke, 22, says in one scene in the documentary.
'For kid influencers, those cameras are ubiquitous since most of the adults around them will have one in hand at virtually all times,' Amon said. 'Rather than playing characters, child influencers are observed as themselves, while also being heavily rewarded for pandering to the desires of strangers, and sometimes they're punished for failing to do so.'
Those follower-strangers represent a danger far more difficult to address. Deja Smith, a stay-at-home mother from the Houston area, creates lifestyle videos for Instagram and TikTok, where she has a following of about 140,000. She shared details and images of her newborn daughter for most of the first year of her life until strangers started recognizing her child in public and leaving upsetting comments on social media. After reading more about the ways users can manipulate children's images through artificial intelligence and search for personal information like an address through photos, she wiped images of her daughter from the internet altogether.
'I honestly feel uncomfortable watching other family vloggers' accounts that are centered around their kid,' Smith said. 'I'm not interested, and I block because I don't want to be a part of that or supporting that kind of content.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
an hour ago
- Buzz Feed
408 Fun Trivia Questions And Answers For Trivia Night
Are you ready to feel your brain get more wrinkles in real time? Below are 408 trivia questions and answers about TV, movies, history, science, art, music, geography, pop culture, and food. If you can answer more than half of these correctly, I'd say you're pretty much the smartest person to have ever existed. Are you ready? What is the only continent without an active volcano? What was the first fully CGI feature film? What is the name of the largest ocean on Earth? Which electronic duo is known for hits like "Get Lucky"? What is the only letter not used in any US state name? What is a group of flamingos called? What is the name of the literary device that compares two unlike things using the words "like" or "as"? What is the largest island in the Caribbean? What sport uses a shuttlecock? What is the name of the three-headed dog in Harry Potter? Who sang "I Will Always Love You" for The Bodyguard soundtrack? Which ancient culture is credited with developing the first toothpaste, using crushed ox hooves? What was the first permanent English settlement in North America? How many bases are there in baseball? Who was the notorious pirate known as 'Blackbeard'? From what grain is whiskey made? In Shakespeare's Hamlet, what is the name of Hamlet's girlfriend? What is the highest mountain in South America? What is the study of insects called? What is the longest river in Canada? What is the process of a liquid becoming a gas called? Who wrote the novel Frankenstein? Who wrote the epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey? What is the capital city of Australia? Which body organ filters blood in humans? What is the rarest natural element on Earth? What is the value of pi (π) to four decimal places? What is the highest-grossing horror film of all time? What is the dot over the letter "i" called? Which Greek philosopher was the teacher of Alexander the Great? "The War Wolf" was a medieval weapon believed to have been the world's largest: What is the name of the hit Netflix series starring Penn Badgley as a stalker/serial killer? Which country celebrates 'Tomatina' with an annual tomato fight? What creature holds the record for the world's largest eyes? In which year did World War II end? Which herb is used to make a traditional Béarnaise sauce? Which famous physicist was a high-school dropout? What was the first toy advertised on television? What is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea? What is the only mammal capable of true flight? Before Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote what Broadway musical? Which art movement was characterized by abstract, geometric forms and bold colors? What was the first billion-dollar movie? What is the fastest running insect? Who was the legendary king with the golden touch? What is the name of the famous blonde actor who played Marilyn Monroe in the Netflix film Blonde? What is the name of the final book in the Lord of the Rings trilogy? Who was the first emperor of China? What is the name of the kingdom where the animated film Frozen is set? Which fruit was cultivated in Japan to naturally grow in square shapes for easier transport? Which country is home to the world's oldest known cave paintings? Who painted the famous artwork The Last Supper? What is the name of the theory that explains the origin and evolution of the universe? What is the main ingredient in traditional Scottish black pudding? How many sides does a tetradecagon have? Why is the Indus Valley civilization enigmatic? What is the capital city of Spain? What Summer Olympic sport uses a "piste"? What is the name of the dog in Family Guy? What element was once called 'brimstone'? What was the first city to reach a population of 1 million? Who played Vito Corleone in The Godfather? What golfer holds the record for most major championship wins? What type of acid gives grapefruit its tartness? What European country has 158 verses in its national anthem? In what country did cheddar cheese originate? What's the smallest country by land area in Africa? What is the capital of New Zealand? Who was the first woman to travel into space? Who holds the record for the most Grammy wins of all time as of 2023? In which series do characters often eat at Monk's Café? What animal has the most neurons, second only to humans? What is the driest place on Earth? What is the highest-grossing Broadway production of all time? Who won the 2022 Grammy for Record of the Year? Who possesses Dana in Ghostbusters? What river flows through the most countries? Which animal's milk is used to make traditional Italian ricotta? Where does Homer Simpson work? Who is the only US president to have a patent? What desert covers parts of China and Mongolia? Which city is home to the 'Crookedest Street in the World'? What's the name of the process where solid turns directly into gas? What is the main ingredient in the Indian dish "saag paneer"? What unconventional biscuit flavor does Oreo offer in China? What fruit is the most consumed fresh fruit in the United States? Who won Best Actress at the 2022 Oscars for her role in The Eyes of Tammy Faye? Which artist released the hit song "Bad Guy" in 2019? Which flower was once so valuable it caused a financial bubble in the Netherlands? Which yeast extract spread is considered a staple in Australia? What's the max number of Instagram stories per day? What sci-fi film directed by Denis Villeneuve and released in 2021 is based on a novel by Frank Herbert? Who is the author of The Catcher in the Rye? What game includes a piece called the "pop-o-matic bubble"? What food is known as 'the bread of the desert'? What city was originally named Edo? What movie features the line "Here's Johnny!"? In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, what were the two feuding families? Which popular video game franchise features characters such as Master Chief and Cortana? How does Remy control Linguini in Ratatouille? What Brazilian dish is a meat and bean stew, typically served with rice and orange slices? How many times does the heart beat per day on average? Who composed "Rhapsody in Blue"? What type of beans are used to make traditional refried beans? Which fruit has varieties called Cavendish and Gros Michel? Who was the first host of the long-running game show Jeopardy? Which planet is tilted so far it rotates on its side? Which historical period is often referred to as the "Age of Enlightenment"? Which city is home to the largest underground shopping complex in the world? A SCOBY is used in making what? Which MCU hero has "America's ass"? What's the Mandalorian's name? Which creature's eye is larger than its brain? If a rectangle has a length of 6 units and a width of 4 units, what is its area? What is the only sea without a coastline? Which ancient civilization was the first to brew beer? Who voiced the character of Sulley in the Monsters, Inc. movies? In which year did the American Civil War begin? What word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it? Which South American country has coastline on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea? What is the art form of precisely folding paper into shapes and animals? What is the name of the HBO Max series starring Jean Smart as an aging comedy legend? Which British monarch most recently celebrated a Diamond Jubilee marking 60 years on the throne? What was the first color film to win a Best Picture Oscar? What is the largest state in the United States? What is the name of Batman's butler? Who formulated the laws of planetary motion in the early 17th century? Who is the artist behind the 1986 hit 'Livin' on a Prayer'? What Japanese dish consists of skewered grilled chicken, often served with tare sauce? What quirky food item did McDonald's once create a unique utensil for, called a "frork"? Which scientist is famous for developing the theory of relativity? What board game was originally called "Criss-Cross Words"? Which vegetable was the first to be grown in space? Which singer's real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight? What is the art of making designs or patterns on fabric using a needle and thread? What 1985 song by Kate Bush made a significant resurgence after being featured in Stranger Things Season 4? Who composed the Brandenburg Concertos? Who was the first rapper to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize? Which is the longest river in Asia? Who was the first solo female host of the Academy Awards? Who composed the opera The Magic Flute? What tiny animal can survive the vacuum of space? What is the world's oldest known musical instrument? Who composed "Clair de Lune"? What is the tiny plastic piece at the end of a shoelace called? Who first proposed the idea of continental drift? What superhero has a lasso of truth? What is the fictional brand of beer on The Simpsons? What popular mobile game involves swiping to match candies in a grid? What is the name of the car in Knight Rider? Which country is the origin of the Haiku? What is the easternmost point of the contiguous United States? Where is a shrimp's heart? What is the name of the Japanese dish that involves cooking thinly sliced meat and vegetables in boiling broth at the table? Which cactus is used to make the Mexican dish nopales? Who is the oldest winner of a Best Actor Oscar? What rare element, discovered in 1898, is named after the country Poland? Which musical features the song "The Circle of Life"? What term describes the technique of using light and dark shading in drawing? Which sport uses the terms "googly" and "bouncer"? Which female rapper released the chart-topping album Invasion of Privacy? In what year was the Berlin Wall torn down? What is the original use of Play-Doh? Who gained fame with the viral 2019 song "Old Town Road," later collaborating with Billy Ray Cyrus? What is the world's smallest mammal by body length? Which TV show features a character known for saying "Treat yo self"? In which country is it illegal to own just one guinea pig? What architect was celebrated for designing the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao? Which animated series features a secret agent who transforms into a platypus? What's the name of the Cadbuy candy that consists of milk chocolate-covered honeycomb? What 1998 sitcom starred Michael J. Fox as a deputy mayor of New York City? What is the collective noun for a group of jellyfish? In which movie does a man age backward? In Little Shop of Horrors, what is Orin Scrivello? Which US Founding Father invented the swivel chair? What river runs through both Germany and Slovakia and is the second longest river in Europe? What is the rarest M&M color? What TV series had the first interracial kiss on American network television? What kind of meat is traditionally used in a Wiener Schnitzel? What is the name of the Italian dish made by pounding slices of meat thin and seasoning them? Which film director is known for their distinctive use of symmetrical framing and pastel color palettes? What's the name of the band in The Muppet Show? Which city lies on two continents? What part of the body does a rhinologist specialize in? Who voiced Smaug in The Hobbit films? In Daria, what is the name of Daria's best friend? What bread is traditionally used in a "banh mi" sandwich? Which 1984 film involves a destructive force called "The Nothing"? Which island nation is known for the dodo bird? Which famous artist had a blue violin in several of his paintings? Which cult TV series, created by Joss Whedon, was set aboard a spaceship called Serenity? What type of bread is made with natural yeast and became a quarantine trend in 2020? Who is known for composing the opera La Traviata? What dessert translates to "pick me up" in Italian? Who developed the first successful polio vaccine in the 1950s? What is the only continent without native ants? What 1982 film features computer programmer Kevin Flynn? In M*A*S*H, what does the acronym stand for? Which cult classic film features a character yelling, 'You're tearing me apart, Lisa!' Which civilization is believed to have first domesticated cats? What is the name of the high school in Grease? Which oceanic trench is the deepest part of the world's oceans? Which instrument is known as the "Queen of the Instruments" in an orchestra? What well-known Cajun dish from Louisiana features a strong, spicy roux with seafood or sausage? In Pan's Labyrinth, who is the antagonist? Which natural landmark is located at the intersection of Zambia and Zimbabwe? What is the name of the protagonist in the Legend of Zelda video game series? Which vegetable is also known as a courgette? Which K-pop group made history with the single "Dynamite," topping US charts? What singer is known as the 'Empress of the Blues'? What does the Latin phrase "Carpe Diem" mean? Who created the comic strip Peanuts? What movie involves a plot to steal the moon? In Twin Peaks, what is the name of the town's diner? What country gave the Statue of Liberty to the United States? What band was formerly known as 'The Warlocks'? What is the deepest ocean on Earth? What is a "schmear" often spread on in New York delis? What ancient wonder was a statue that stood approximately 33 meters tall? What is the name of the cat in Alien? What rare atmospheric phenomenon occurs when sunlight refracts through ice-crystal clouds? Which mammal has the most powerful bite? Porphyrophobia is the fear of: Which actor played both The Parent Trap twins in the 1998 remake? What is the chemical symbol for the element with the atomic number 82? Who is the lead singer of the band Maroon 5? Which animated movie follows a scientist who invents, among other things, spray-on shoes? What type of fruit is a Granny Smith? Who is the creator of the cult comic book series The Sandman? What treat is known as 'fairy floss' in Australia? Which war was fought between the years 1618 and 1648? What is the currency used in Turkey? Who wrote the famous novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? Who is the creator of the TV series The Simpsons? What famed magician died on Halloween 1926? Which part of the human body can grow back if a portion is removed? Who painted the renowned artwork "Liberty Leading the People"? Who famously rode a horse named Copenhagen at the Battle of Waterloo? The Parthenon is a temple dedicated to which Greek deity? In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, what is the name of Buffy's first Watcher? What is the name of the yellow electric mouse Pokémon? Which philosopher is known for the quote, "I think, therefore I am"? Who voices the character of Bart Simpson? Which sitcom featured an alien with a spaceship shaped like an egg? Which ocean current was discovered by Benjamin Franklin? What is the largest bird of prey in the world? Which actor voiced Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy? What planet is known as the 'Evening Star'? Who voices the character of Joy in the animated film Inside Out? Which planet is known for having a hexagonal storm? Which notorious fermented fish dish is known for its overpowering odor in Sweden? What country is the Terracotta Army located? What is the largest bone in the human body? What instrument is famous for its use in bluegrass music and has a resonator? What is the square root of 144? Which fruit's juice can be used as an invisible ink? Which futuristic film features characters who only eat Taco Bell? What is the name of the fictional corporation in RoboCop? What kind of plant does the vanilla bean come from? Which classic horror film features a serial killer famously known as "Ghostface"? Which animated TV show features a character named Bender? In Donnie Darko, what is the name of the imaginary rabbit? Name the influential jazz trumpeter known for his album Kind of Blue. What Middle Eastern dish is made by wrapping rice and herbs in grape leaves? Which insect is known for its "waggle dance"? Which root vegetable can be used to predict the weather according to folklore? Which artist once exhibited a urinal as a work of art? Which 2019 film about a musician features Taron Egerton as Elton John? Who played the role of Hannibal Lecter in the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs? What is the main flavoring ingredient in traditional root beer? Which president kept a pet raccoon named Rebecca in the White House? Which pop singer released the album Future Nostalgia? What superhero is known for his love of chimichangas? In which city is the TV series How I Met Your Mother primarily set? What is the capital of Ireland? Who directed the 1927 silent science fiction film Metropolis? Which planet has a day longer than its year? What painting style is characterized by bold colors and exaggerated forms, exemplified by artists like Henri Matisse? What is the name of the captain of the spaceship in The Orville? What is the name of Ned's restaurant in Pushing Daisies? Which movie features a character saying, 'Good morning, and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night'? What viral 2017 hit by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee features Justin Bieber in the remix? In which movie does the character say, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner"? Which food item was used as a form of currency in ancient Rome? Who sings the opening theme song to The Big Bang Theory? What is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia? Which seafood delicacy is often harvested at night and is known as "beche-de-mer"? Which famous painting was stolen from the Louvre in 1911? Which two animals are on the Australian coat of arms? Who is the only actor to receive an Oscar nomination for acting in a Lord of the Rings movie? What film features an iconic dance scene to "Old Time Rock & Roll"? Which vegetable is also known as the "love apple"? What is the highest mountain in Africa? In ballet, what does "en pointe" mean? Which movie popularized the phrase 'wax on, wax off'? What film features a floating feather during its opening credits? What is the name of the Japanese organizing consultant who became famous for her method of decluttering? What was the first message sent by Morse code? Where is the world's only quadripoint, where four countries meet at a single point? Which ballet piece by Tchaikovsky is performed at Christmas? What is the Italian term for "slowly" in music notation? What city has the most bridges in the world? What term describes a painting done in shades of a single color? What does the acronym 'LASER' stand for? Who was the first Black actor to win an Oscar for Best Actress? What is the only bird known to fly backward? In what year was the first email sent? In which country is the smallest desert in the world? In which film does Audrey Hepburn sing 'Moon River'? What is the name of the French pastry made of choux dough filled with cream and topped with a chocolate glaze? Which famous band was originally called The Quarrymen? What food was originally called 'Fruit of the Angels'? Which animal is known for having up to 2,500 teeth? What was Rachel's last name in Friends? Which fruit is believed to be a cross between a grapefruit, an orange, and a tangerine? Storybrooke is a town in which fantasy series? Who sings "What's Love Got to Do with It"? Hawaiian Punch was first created as what? What Viking drink is made from fermented honey? Which country is home to the largest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni? Which music video by OK Go featured an elaborate choreographed routine on treadmills in 2006? What country's coastline is known for having the highest tides in the world? Who composed the score for Pirates of the Caribbean? What is the sum of the angles in a triangle? What is the fictional brand of cigarettes in The X-Files? Which musician is known for the 1975 album Songs in the Key of Life? Who invented the telephone? Which city has the largest underground rail network by length? Which vitamin can you get from sunlight? Which popular Mexican dish is named after a small donkey? Which band used a giant pig balloon during their live concerts? Who played the first female Doctor in Doctor Who? Which bird has the longest migration in the animal kingdom? What plateau is known as the "Roof of the World"? What is the largest landlocked country in the world by area? What element does "H" stand for on the periodic table? Which artist released the album Sour in 2021? What is the largest planet in our solar system? Which seafood is known to potentially poison its consumer due to its tetrodotoxin? In Blade Runner, what is the term for human-like androids? What strait separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand? Which movie features the famous line, 'I see dead people'? What art technique involves the use of wax as a binder for pigments? Which is the main component of a US penny? Who directed the 1982 science fiction film Blade Runner? Which famous artist had his ear cut off? What is the name of the body of water separating Saudi Arabia from Africa? Who was the Greek goddess of wisdom? Which country is home to the city of Timbuktu? How many edges does a cube have? What food is known as the "stinking rose"? In which country can you find the world's longest place name? Who won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2023? Who was the American artist and illustrator famous for his Saturday Evening Post covers? What is the chemical symbol for table salt? Which country is home to the most languages spoken within its borders? Who voiced the character Shrek in the Shrek films? What archipelago forms the northernmost part of Norway? Which actor plays the lead role in the film Erin Brockovich? Which national flag has different designs on the front and the back? Which English composer is known for "Pomp and Circumstance"? What is the highest capital city in the world? Who was the first scientist to propose the concept of the atom? What 2001 film stars Gene Hackman as a grumpy patriarch? What is the name of the famous novel by George Orwell about a dystopian society? Which is the only letter NOT on the Periodic Table? Which 2013 viral music video featured goats screaming alongside the original song? What is the name of the famous painting by Edvard Munch depicting a figure with a distorted face? What is the name of the musical symbol that indicates pitch? What TV series follows the lives of the Bluth family? What is the primary language spoken in Brazil? What is the art form of producing decorative handwriting or lettering with a pen or brush? What is the term for a baby goat? What is the name of the Hawaiian dish that typically consists of raw fish marinated in soy sauce? Which US state has a name that could be typed on one row of a QWERTY keyboard? What island nation is known as the "Land of the Thunder Dragon"? What American photographer is known for capturing rural America during the Great Depression? What city is built on 14 islands connected by over 50 bridges? What is a group of crows called? What river flows through the Grand Canyon? What Italian city is famous for the opera house La Scala? What was bubble wrap originally invented for? Which European country is known for having no mosquitoes? Who was the British monarch during the Spanish Armada? Where is the world's northernmost capital city? Which island is divided between three countries: Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia? What is the square root of 81? In what year did the reality show Survivor first premiere on CBS? What is the Spanish term for a small shared dish or snack? Which type of edible fungus is considered a delicacy and often compared to diamonds? Who wrote the famous play Romeo and Juliet? What is the capital of Hawaii? Where does Magnum, P.I. take place? Which is the only muscle that never tires? Who was the first Emperor of Rome? What is the currency of Japan? In which country is the fermented tea drink kombucha believed to have originated? Which was the first video to reach 1 billion views on YouTube? In which country did Caesar salad originate? What did David Bowie name his character alter-ego? Which Scandinavian country is connected to the mainland by the Øresund Bridge? What is the name of the famous novel by Jane Austen about the Bennet sisters? Which city was the first capital of the United States? What was the original name of the Google website when it launched in 1997? Which type of pasta's name means 'little worms' in Italian? What item did Alfred Nobel, the founder of the Nobel Prize, invent? What is the flattest continent in the world? What is the scientific name for the Northern Lights?
UPI
2 hours ago
- UPI
Gabrielle Nevaeh: New 'Stranger Things' heroine Patty Newby relates to lonely Creel
NEW YORK, June 8 (UPI) -- Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, Monster High, That Girl Lay Lay and All That actress Gabrielle Nevaeh says starring in Broadway's Stranger Things prequel, The First Shadow, helped her check two things off her professional wish list. "This is the first time that I ever got truly emotional when I heard that I got a job because I just never dreamed that i could ever be a part of the Stranger Things universe or be on Broadway, and I somehow got the best of all worlds," Nevaeh told UPI in a recent phone interview. "I figured that maybe the Duffer Brothers would see my audition and consider me for something else, but certainly not Stranger Things: The First Shadow. The blockbuster play follows the teen versions of Joyce (Alison Jaye), Hopper (Burke Swanson) and Bob Newby (Juan Carlos) -- beloved adult characters from the Netflix series -- 30 years before the denizens of Hawkins, Ind., learn a shadowy government agency is trying to weaponize some kids' supernatural powers. In the stage drama -- which goes into Sunday's Tony Awards ceremony with five nominations -- Nevaeh plays a new Hawkins heroine, Patty Newby. Patty is the adopted sister of Bob, who will eventually grow up to be the kind-hearted Radio Shack worker (played by Sean Astin) who dies selflessly protecting Winona Ryder's version of Joyce from Demo-Dogs in Season 2 of the sci-fi series. "She's a warrior. Patty has had a really hard life," Nevaeh said. "She doesn't have anyone," she added. "Bob's at the age where he's obsessed with Joyce. Her dad doesn't like her. She doesn't have a mom. She doesn't have friends, so she is a loner. She's alone, but she is an optimist and she tries to make the best out of her situation." These are some of the reasons why she reaches out to standoffish Henry Creel (Tony-nominated Louis McCartney), a troubled outsider who arrives in town with his family. Viewers of the Netflix show are wary of Henry, however, knowing he will eventually kill his family and become the powerful villain Vecna (played in the series by Jamie Campbell Bower). He is only starting to understand his abilities in the play. "We get to see her nobility really shine through her relationship with Henry Creel who we know is Vecna and we get to see her heroism and the goodness that can be found in the darkest moments," Nevaeh said. "When I was developing Patty, [I thought], it's so easy for it to be the 'I can fix him story,' and it's also easy for Patty to take the route of, 'OK, I give up,' especially when she finds out that Henry truly is not normal." What was most interesting to Nevaeh to explore was how the teen misfits truly connect about the bad parts of their lives. "Patty sees Henry in a way that nobody else does and Henry sees Patty in a way that no one else does and they kind of need each other because there's no one else like them," Nevaeh said. "No one else can relate to their situation. No one else knows what it's like to be rejected by every piece of your life. Patty tries to give Henry a sense of belonging and Henry is the first person to ever see Patty and accept her for who she is." Both the stage production and TV show strive to authentically recreate the atmosphere of a small town in their respective eras. "The television series does an excellent job of showcasing things that were happening in the 1980s, whether it was politically, socially, economically," Nevaeh said. "We do a great job with Stranger Things: The First Shadow of touching on 1959," she added. "We don't necessarily go deep into it, but the undercurrent of the story is a little bi-racial girl falling in love with a little White boy in the 1950s and what does that look like? We can explore those tensions through a few of the other characters and really highlight the romance of the time that was 1959." In addition to enjoying nightly standing ovations, cast members of the play also find crowds of adoring fans outside the theater stage door waiting for them. "It's been absolutely incredible," Nevaeh said. "Lots of kids are coming now because it's summer time, but I have quite a few people who have come to see the show because they knew me from my time on Nickelodeon, which is a beautiful arc for me to have grown up being a child star and then doing something as important and profound as Stranger Things: The First Shadow and seeing those fans carry over. "It's just mind-blowing," she added. "I'm eternally grateful for the incredible response that we've been having." 'Stranger Things' Day: The cast through the years Left to right, "Stranger Things" cast members Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), Noah Schnapp (Will), Winona Ryder (Joyce), Matthew Modine (Dr. Martin Brenner), Millie Brown (Eleven) and Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin) attend the premiere of the first season of the series in Los Angeles on July 11, 2016. The show turned into a pop culture phenomenon. A fifth and final season is coming. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Domestic dispute turns to gunfire, killing 1 man in Tampa: TPD
The Brief A domestic dispute in Tampa turned to gunfire, killing one man, according to police. Police say that all the people involved are related or known to each other. A woman was also hospitalized with serious injuries, but she is now stable. TAMPA - One person is dead and another is injured after Tampa police say a domestic-related dispute escalated into a shootout on Sunday morning on the 1700 block of N Club Court. Investigators say that one of the people involved remained at the scene, and he has been cooperating with them. A man was taken to a local hospital where he later died, and a woman was also hospitalized with serious injuries, but she is now stable. Police say that all the people involved are related or known to each other. At this point, TPD says that the incident appears to be isolated and there is no threat to the public. READ: Trump sends National Guard to LA County amid anti-ICE protests What's next The investigation is ongoing and more details will come from the Tampa Police Department. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Information for this story was provided by the Tampa Police Department. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
