Latest news with #Hildebrandt
Daily Maverick
25-05-2025
- Daily Maverick
Protest at circus turns ugly as activist is hospitalised after assault
A Gqeberha animal activist underwent surgery after allegedly being assaulted by staff of the McLaren Circus during a protest near the circus on Saturday night. Ralph West, a prominent animal and environmental activist, was reportedly assaulted during a protest at King's Beach, Gqeberha, on Saturday night against the use of animals by McLaren Circus. He underwent surgery on Sunday. While animal rights activists insisted that their protest was peaceful, McLaren Circus spokesperson Karl Hildebrandt said on Sunday they were 'disturbed' by the events. West said on Friday that he had informed circus owner David McLaren (whom he described as 'the chief dick' in a Facebook post) that he was not welcome in Nelson Mandela Bay. Hildebrandt said there was no 'peace' in the protest by Planty, Bru! and Beauty without Cruelty. Animal lovers in Nelson Mandela Bay have a long history of protesting against the circus's use of animals. Hildebrandt said that on Saturday, 'Before our scheduled 5pm show, an altercation broke out involving a male protester and a female circus supporter with her child. 'What started as verbal harassment quickly escalated into physical contact — pushing and shoving — amounting to clear gender-based aggression. A male member of the public had to step in to protect the woman and children. SAPS was contacted, but unfortunately, they provided very little assistance at the time. 'The male protester involved [West] had already been approached yesterday by David McLaren and informed he was not allowed on the property. Despite this, he returned today, continued harassing patrons, and blatantly refused to respect the boundary or comply. 'It must be made clear that the land and parking lot we are renting is private property. These protesters have no permission to be there. Yet they act as if they're above the law and free to do as they please, even if it means putting families at risk.' Hildebrandt said that Chad Cupido, the chairperson of Beauty Without Cruelty (Cape Town), 'With loudhailer in hand … was shouting provocative chants and disturbing attendees of our 5pm show. As a representative of an organisation claiming to promote compassion, Mr Cupido made no effort to maintain peace — instead, he actively contributed to the agitation and disruption. 'It's truly ironic that while these individuals claim to care about animal rights, they show little to no regard for human rights — especially those of women, children and peaceful members of the public. McLaren Circus offers family-friendly entertainment, but having adults shouting aggressively and scaring children outside our venue raises serious questions about what they truly stand for.' Peaceful and legal Toni Brockhoven, the national chairperson of Beauty without Cruelty, said the organisation had staged peaceful and legal protests at the McClaren Circus to object to the use of animals in its acts. 'We are always peaceful and legal. We don't disrupt traffic. We do not litter,' she said. She said the circus was looking for 'anything they can twist and manipulate. They are threatened by the … growing number of people who are protesting the use of animals.' However, Hildebrandt countered that the real story was that the McLaren Circus 'is celebrating 20 years of bringing joy, laughter and live entertainment to families right across South Africa. 'We understand that people are allowed to protest peacefully, and that's their right. But when they start trespassing and intimidating our staff and customers, that's no longer a peaceful protest — that's harassment. They're simply breaking the law, they're also infringing on our audience's basic rights, like their dignity, their freedom to choose what they support and their right to enjoy a day out without being harassed. 'The overwhelming support we get from the communities we visit shows that the public still values what we do. People come to McLaren Circus for the full experience — from the talented performers to the beautiful animals and the incredible bond our trainers have with them. 'We follow all the legal requirements, including the Performing Animals Protection Act of 2016, which is managed by the Department of Agriculture. And of course, welfare organisations like the NSPCA are there to keep all of us accountable.' Cupido said Beauty Without Cruelty had been protesting at McLaren Circus for more than 16 years. 'We are one of the most consistent and vocal opponents of the use of animals in circuses. Naturally, this positions us as a significant threat to their business model, and it's no surprise that Mr McLaren is now attempting to shift the narrative by attacking our organisation and my personal conduct. 'I did attend both protests — the first at 1pm and the second at 4pm. For clarity: I used a loudhailer during the first protest only, for roughly half of it. It is well within my constitutional right to do so. However, I chose not to use it during the second protest. This was a conscious decision we made after requesting that the circus turn down their intensely loud music, which we believed was distressing for the animals. Mr McLaren agreed to this request at the time, so it is disingenuous for him to now raise the use of a loudhailer as a factor in the incident, especially when it was not used at all during that time. 'To further clarify: at no point did I incite violence. Our protest was loud, yes, but peaceful and within the bounds of the law. The only aggression came from circus patrons and staff, not from us. 'I'd also like to clarify that this particular protest was not organised by Beauty Without Cruelty. We did not plan or promote it on any of our platforms. Our role was to support the broader collaborative effort organised and/or supported by the following organisations: Planty, Bru!, Humane World for Animals and the Human Animal Project. He said the situation escalated when West, who was chanting peacefully near the entrance, was shouted at. 'A woman from the queue ran towards him, grabbed him, and shoved him. She later apologised to me and the team and gave a statement to the police. Slammed to the ground 'A male individual then lifted Ralph and violently slammed him to the ground, causing a broken hip. He stood over Ralph while Mr McLaren and a circus clown falsely claimed Ralph had assaulted the woman,' said Cupido. 'We later returned with police, who recorded statements from witnesses and identified both assailants.' He said they then went to a police station to summon assistance and returned with members of the police. 'In what felt like a providential moment, the woman came directly to us — we did not go looking for her. She approached Candice (from Humane World for Animals), myself, and several other protesters and broke down completely. She apologised, was visibly shaken, cried, and entered a state of emotional distress. She made it absolutely clear that she was not assaulted or provoked by Ralph.' Madeline Mack from Planty, Bru!, who organised the protest, said West was hospitalised with a serious injury. 'He was at the first protest on Friday evening. He was told not to stand on the grass or block the entrance, and he complied, both then and again on Saturday. On Saturday, he was standing in the parking lot, which is public space, not private property. It is anyone's democratic right to participate in a peaceful protest and to share opposing views. This does not constitute harassment as Mr McLaren alleges. 'It is well known that Mr McLaren contacts the SAPS every time there is a peaceful protest, not only in Gqeberha but across the country. This has been well reported on and documented. Protesters in Gqeberha have even been accused of stealing his alligator one year, when the circus negligently lost it and later found it again; I believe it was found in a stormwater drain. 'We have video footage from Saturday that clearly shows that the female circus supporter initiated the physical altercation by attacking Ralph. Following that, another man began pushing him until he fell and broke his hip. At the same time, a third man tried to attack another protester and tore his shirt. 'No circus patrons or members of the public were assaulted; it was three of our protesters who were hurt. Ralph is the one most likely to lay charges, but as mentioned, he's still recovering in hospital. 'No charges were opened from McLaren's side, likely because the people who were assaulted were from our group. We called the police and gave full statements. We're now waiting for Ralph to be well enough to proceed, and the video evidence will clearly support what happened. No difference in opinion can justify such a physical assault on anyone exercising their right to peacefully demonstrate. Hildebrandt denied that circus employees had assaulted West. West's wife Sharon confirmed on Sunday night that he was still in the recovery ward after surgery and had been unable to open a case of assault. DM
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
‘I did not know my rights': Jodi Hildebrandt challenges conviction in high-profile child abuse case
ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4) — Jodi Hildebrandt, a therapist who worked with YouTube vlogger Ruby Franke, is challenging her conviction, saying she didn't know her rights when she pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse in late 2023. Hildebrandt and Franke were both sentenced to up to 30 years in prison on child abuse charges after accepting plea deals. At the time, Hildebrandt's lawyers said she was not the person she was being portrayed as but was accepting the consequences for her conduct. She had said one of the reasons she didn't want to go to trial was so the children didn't have 'to emotionally relive the experience.' PREVIOUSLY: Imprisoned Franke, Hildebrandt sued for alleged 'racketeering' abuse scheme Now, Hildebrandt is calling her plea agreement 'unlawful,' with documents saying it was 'unlawfully induced or not made knowingly and voluntarily with understanding of the nature of the charge and the consequences of the plea.' Hildebrandt filed a petition for relief on her own behalf last Monday, March 24, writing, 'I did not know my rights and my attorney did not inform me of them.' The petition listed several other claims, including that her counsel was 'ineffective' and the prosecution failed to give adequate notice of the charges. Attorney Eric Clarke that they 'weren't expecting this from Jodi, but I can't say that we're super surprised either.' 'I'm super confident that the entry of her plea will hold up, and that she won't be able to show that she knowingly, involuntarily didn't enter it,' Clarke told ABC. 'She's mentally ill': Ruby Franke's prison phone calls reveal evolving stance on Jodi Hildebrandt Hildebrandt and Franke were prosecuted after one of YouTuber Franke's children and asked a neighbor for food and water. State prosecutors would later claim that the offenders put Franke's children in a 'concentration camp-like setting,' regularly denied them food and water, and subjected them to 'physical torture.' The case — which already had a following due to the Franke family's former YouTube Channel '' — has since garnered greater national attention with the recent release of the Hulu docuseries 'Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke.' Franke and Hildebrandt will have their first parole hearing in December 2026, approximately three years after they pleaded guilty to the charges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Woman, 66 years old, gives birth to her 10th child: People 'should have more children'
A 66-year-old woman in Germany has given birth to her 10th child. Alexandra Hildebrandt, owner of the Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, welcomed her new son, Philipp, on March 19, according to and other outlets. The mom had her first child back in 1977, followed by eight children after she turned 50 — who were all born via C-section. Pregnant Woman And Baby Saved After Doctors Find Grapefruit-sized Tumor: 'Extremely Rare' Her children include Svetlana, 45; Artiom, 36; twins Elisabeth and Maximilian, 12; Alexandra, 10; Leopold, 8; Anna, 7; Maria, 4 and Katharina, 2. Hildebrandt told TODAY that she did not use any fertility drugs and did not have difficulty conceiving. Read On The Fox News App Her new baby Philipp was born via C-section at Charite Hospital in Berlin. He weighed in at a "healthy" seven pounds, 13 ounces, although he was kept in an incubator. For more Health articles, visit In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Hildebrandt shared her happiness in welcoming another child, noting that she feels "like I'm 35." Professor Wolfgang Henrich, director of the Clinic for Obstetric Medicine at the Berlin Charite where Hildebrandt was treated, told Bild that her age and number of C-sections is an "absolute rarity in obstetric medicine and represented a challenge." "Because of her particularly good physical constitution and mental strength, Ms. Hildebrandt managed the pregnancy well," he said. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "The operation was completely uncomplicated." Hildebrandt confirmed with the publication, "I eat very healthily, swim regularly for an hour, run for two hours, don't smoke or drink, and have never used contraception." "There is such a tendency to be unfriendly to children," Hildebrandt also told Bild. "Many people would revise their judgment once they had contact with children. We should encourage people to have more children!" Fox News Digital reached out to Hildebrandt for further article source: Woman, 66 years old, gives birth to her 10th child: People 'should have more children'
Fox News
27-03-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Woman, 66 years old, gives birth to her 10th child: People 'should have more children'
A 66-year-old woman in Germany has given birth to her 10th child. Alexandra Hildebrandt, owner of the Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, welcomed her new son, Philipp, on March 19, according to and other outlets. The mom had her first child back in 1977, followed by eight children after she turned 50 — who were all born via C-section. Her children include Svetlana, 45; Artiom, 36; twins Elisabeth and Maximilian, 12; Alexandra, 10; Leopold, 8; Anna, 7; Maria, 4 and Katharina, 2. Hildebrandt told TODAY that she did not use any fertility drugs and did not have difficulty conceiving. Her new baby Philipp was born via C-section at Charite Hospital in Berlin. He weighed in at a "healthy" seven pounds, 13 ounces, although he was kept in an incubator. For more Health articles, visit In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Hildebrandt shared her happiness in welcoming another child, noting that she feels "like I'm 35." "We should encourage people to have more children!" Professor Wolfgang Henrich, director of the Clinic for Obstetric Medicine at the Berlin Charite where Hildebrandt was treated, told Bild that her age and number of C-sections is an "absolute rarity in obstetric medicine and represented a challenge." "Because of her particularly good physical constitution and mental strength, Ms. Hildebrandt managed the pregnancy well," he said. "The operation was completely uncomplicated." Hildebrandt confirmed with the publication, "I eat very healthily, swim regularly for an hour, run for two hours, don't smoke or drink, and have never used contraception." "There is such a tendency to be unfriendly to children," Hildebrandt also told Bild. "Many people would revise their judgment once they had contact with children. We should encourage people to have more children!" Fox News Digital reached out to Hildebrandt for further comment.
The Guardian
12-03-2025
- The Guardian
‘Truly jaw-dropping': astonishing true-crime show Devil in the Family is next-level TV
Ruby Franke turned her life into content for years, so there is a bleak irony in her content being repurposed now to reveal the extent of her crimes. As a vlogger, she and her husband, Kevin, made a living from YouTube, posting videos on the popular channel 8 Passengers, now defunct, about Mormon family life and parenting their six children in the picturesque city of Springville, Utah. But in 2023 Franke was arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse and sentenced to up to 30 years in prison. The astonishing three-part documentary Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke tells the story, from the beginning of the family's internet fame in 2015 all the way to Franke's imprisonment. It starts with the now infamous and distressing doorbell-camera footage of one of the Franke children, a 12-year-old boy – the documentary blurs the faces of the four youngest children and does not name them – who turns up on a neighbour's porch, asking to be taken to the nearest police station. He is evidently injured and emaciated. Later, we see more from that day and witness the neighbour sobbing when he realises the state the child is in. The boy has escaped imprisonment from the house of a woman called Jodi Hildebrandt. It is the spark that lights the inferno. The first episode follows the rise of 8 Passengers, a channel that gave the illusion of a slice-of-life vlog, but was so considered and curated that the bulbs in the family home were all changed to ultra-bright, to emulate television studio lighting. The family members, including the children, were roped in to what quickly became a profitable enterprise. In a recent interview with this newspaper, the eldest daughter, Shari, raises key questions about consent and children's lives being broadcast online. The second episode explores how the shiny facade of 8 Passengers began to crumble, as hints about the hardline treatment and punishment of the children, such as removing 'bedroom privileges', were broadcast to the concern and condemnation of viewers. At around the halfway point, it takes another turn, into truly jaw-dropping territory. The grim brutality behind a lifestyle-channel empire would be enough material for most documentaries, but this veers off into wild and even more horrifying corners. Ruby and Kevin meet Hildebrandt, a counsellor and relationship coach with a distinctly cult leader-esque air. The arrival of Hildebrandt, along with a rise in apocalyptic religious beliefs and a sense of impending doomsday, makes for a darkening narrative. There are demonic possessions and suggestions of a clandestine sexual affair. All this is happening while Ruby and Hildebrandt continue to broadcast tough, anti-woke parenting 'advice' on YouTube and Instagram. The story has been widely reported, but a number of factors elevate this particular documentary above the true-crime pack. First, the film-makers have had access to thousands of hours of footage, which reveals the underbelly of the family vlogging in the first place. We see what happens before and after the edits have been made, exposing the flimsiness of the wholesome, money-making image. Second, it doesn't rehash old territory but reveals new details, including footage of Hildebrandt, in the Franke house, claiming to be possessed by the devil. Third, it has been made with the participation of Ruby's husband Kevin, and the two eldest children, Shari and Chad. Shari, who only ever refers to her mother as 'Ruby', is a mature and impressively steady presence. 'I've come to understand evil in a way that most people don't,' she says. Their reflections on, and interpretations of, the events leading up to their mother's incarceration vary from shellshocked to staggeringly circumspect. One issue with true crime documentaries is the ease with which they can become exploitative but, given the family's involvement and the fact that the identities of the younger children have been obscured, this feels like less of a concern here. Even in its most out-there moments, the film never loses sight of the fact that, ultimately, this is about child abuse and the collapse of a family unit under extreme religious beliefs. It is sober in its telling of the story, and leaves plenty of questions for viewers to consider. Why did Ruby and Hildebrandt do it? Neither has given much of an account of her role in the cruelty to the children, though both pleaded guilty to the charges. What is Kevin's culpability? He doesn't quite seem to know himself. More pressingly, how could this happen so publicly, in relatively plain sight, under the watchful eyes of the internet? To its credit, the documentary, while thorough, seems to admit that there are no easy answers. Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke is on Disney+
