Engaging Over 127 Million Social Fans
Family Relationships Self-Care Living Assessments
Good Morning America / X

Kevin Franke, estranged husband of disgraced parenting blogger and convicted child abuser Ruby Franke, has broken his silence, expressing both deep regret and lingering love for the mother of his six children. Speaking in an interview with "Good Morning America" on Tuesday, Franke admitted to mistakes in trusting his wife and her associate, Jodi Hildebrandt, but made it clear he would not allow Ruby back into his or their children's lives.

Ruby Franke, once a celebrated mommy blogger with over 2.5 million subscribers, built a lucrative career through her YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, sharing what appeared to be an idyllic family life. However, beneath the polished veneer, allegations of extreme and abusive parenting practices began to surface. In 2023, Ruby and Hildebrandt—her business partner in the ConneXions Classrooms brand—were arrested and later convicted of second-degree aggravated child abuse after authorities discovered the horrifying treatment of Franke's two youngest children.

The abuse came to light when Franke's 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrandt's home in Ivins, Utah, and sought help from a neighbor. Emaciated and bound with duct tape, the child's condition prompted an immediate 911 call, leading to the unraveling of a years-long pattern of maltreatment. Ruby and Hildebrandt were sentenced to between 30 and 60 years in prison.

Kevin Franke, who was not charged in the case, now acknowledges his own responsibility for failing to recognize the signs of abuse. "The bottom line is: I was choosing to trust a licensed professional mental health counselor and my wife, and they gave some terrible counsel. And I have regrets. And I wish I hadn't done those things," he said in the interview.

Despite the pain and betrayal, Kevin admitted, "I don't think I'll ever stop loving her. Does that mean that I want to let her back into my life? Let her back into my kids' lives? Absolutely not."

Kevin also warned of the dangers of exposing family life on social media. "There is a real danger when you place yourself, or your family, your children, out onto public social media," he said. He reflected on how their growing platform and financial success altered the dynamics of their home, particularly as companies began offering large sponsorship deals for scripted content. His son, Chad Franke, echoed this sentiment, describing their home environment as "chaotic," filled with "lots of yelling, lots of snapping, lots of time-outs in the corner."

Initially celebrated for her parenting advice, Ruby's reputation began to unravel when concerning practices emerged in her videos. The shift became undeniable after her eldest son casually admitted in a video that he had been forced to sleep on a beanbag for seven months as punishment. As criticism mounted, Ruby abandoned 8 Passengers and joined forces with Hildebrandt to launch ConneXions Classrooms, a platform that offered strict, punitive parenting guidance disguised as spiritual and psychological counseling.

One of the most disturbing clips from ConneXions resurfaced in the wake of her conviction, where Ruby told parents, "If your child comes to you on fire, you don't pat them on the head and say, 'It's OK, I'll help you.' No, you beat them, and you kick them, and you hit them with a rod." Statements like these, coupled with the suffering of her own children, painted a harrowing picture of the reality behind her online persona.

Kevin and his eldest son, Chad, are speaking out not only to share their pain but also to caution others against the potential harms of social media. Their story is the subject of a new documentary, Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, which includes unseen footage of Ruby berating and controlling her children, often forcing them to put on a false front for her audience.

As the Franke family attempts to heal, the case has sparked widespread conversations about the ethics of family vlogging, the rights of children who are featured on social media, and the unchecked influence of self-proclaimed parenting experts. It is a stark reminder that, too often, the polished world of online influencers conceals painful truths behind the camera lens.

While Kevin Franke maintains he will always love Ruby, his priority now is protecting their children and moving forward without her influence. "I can't change the past," he said, "but I can fight for my kids' future."
nextarticle
Close Ad