Why Influencer Ruby Franke Charged with Felony Child Abuse
Ruby Franke, the popular YouTube star and mother of eight, has been arrested and charged with felony child abuse after a video surfaced online showing her hitting and berating her youngest son. The video, which was allegedly filmed by one of her older children and leaked to the internet, has sparked outrage and condemnation from fans and critics alike.
In the video, Franke can be seen slapping her four-year-old son several times on the face and head, while yelling at him to stop crying and behave. She also calls him names such as "stupid", "brat" and "worthless". The boy is visibly terrified and sobbing throughout the ordeal.
Franke, who runs the family vlog channel 8 Passengers with her husband Kevin, has not commented on the allegations or the video. However, sources close to the family have confirmed that she was taken into custody by the police and is facing a possible prison sentence if convicted.
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The 8 Passengers channel, which has over 2.5 million subscribers, features the daily lives of the Franke family and their eight children, ranging from age 4 to 18. The channel has been criticized in the past for exploiting the children for views and money, as well as exposing them to inappropriate and dangerous situations.
Some of the controversial videos include forcing the children to sleep on bean bags as a punishment, leaving them alone in a hot car, making them walk barefoot on snow, and shaving their heads without their consent. Many viewers have expressed concern for the well-being and safety of the children, especially the younger ones who seem to bear the brunt of Franke's wrath.
The video of Franke abusing her son has been reported to YouTube and removed from the platform. However, it has been widely circulated on other social media sites such as Twitter and Reddit, where users have called for Franke to be held accountable and for her channel to be terminated.
Child abuse is a serious crime that can have lasting physical and psychological effects on the victims. If you or someone you know is suffering from child abuse, please contact the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) or visit https://www.childhelp.org/ for help and support.