Ruby Franke’s Story Is Getting Turned Into A Lifetime Movie. Her Daughter Doesn’t Want People to Watch
It’s been seven months since former mommy vlogger Ruby Franke was sentenced to four consecutive one-to-15-year prison terms after pleading guilty to four counts of child abuse. But Lifetime, the television channel famous for tabloid-esque, low-budget retellings of gruesome news stories, is already making a dramatized version of her case, and Ruby’s daughter Shari Franke, 21, has said it’s harming her mother’s victims — Shari’s traumatized siblings — in the process.
Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story, starring Emilie Ullerup as Ruby and Heather Locklear as Jodi Hildebrandt (who is also serving four consecutive prison sentences for child abuse), Ruby’s marriage counselor and eventual business partner, is set to premiere on Oct. 26. The trailer for the film claims it’s “ripped from the headlines,” and depicts how Ruby claimed she was brainwashed by Hildebrandt, and eventually convinced to abuse her children. The trailer itself focuses on Hildebrandt and how her relationship with Ruby went from counselor to controller, but hints at some of the deeper trauma in the story. Shari — Ruby’s oldest daughter — did not respond to Rolling Stone’s request for comment. But she’s been extremely vocal on Instagram about her dislike that the film was ever made. (Lifetime did not immediately reply to Rolling Stone’s request for comment.)
More from Rolling Stone
“I saw the trailer suddenly in class and had an anxiety attack. None of us were contacted about the movie. None of the proceeds are going to the kids,” Shari wrote on her Instagram story several days ago. “This movie is trash and only hurts my siblings more. Please do not support this movie.” She has continued to voice her anger at the film, including commenting on the actors’ casting announcements on Instagram. “You are so wrong for this. Leave us alone!” Shari wrote on Ullerup’s Instagram page. “DON’T AIR THIS MOVIE.”
Ruby, 42, is best known for her popular family YouTube channel “8 Passengers,” where, from 2015 to 2022, she documented parenting her six children to over 2 million subscribers. The page often sparked controversy for Franke’s harsh discipline tactics, like withholding lunch, removing bedroom doors, and threatening to throw away her kids’ beloved items as means of punishment or behavior correction. But in August, Ruby and Hildebrandt made headlines after Ruby’s 12-year-old son escaped the house and ran to neighbors for help. They reported to police the boy had remnants of duct tape around his wrist and was wounded and emaciated. Ruby’s 10-year-old daughter was also found in the house emaciated, and the two women were arrested and held without bail.
In December, Ruby signed a plea deal admitting that she “knowingly inflicted” and allowed another adult to commit serious harm to two of her kids. The plea deal included written pages from Ruby’s diary, where she charted the children’s behaviors and subsequent punishments. Rolling Stone previously reported that Ruby kicked her son, forced him to do consistent labor, often bound his wrists and ankles, held his head underwater, and cut off his oxygen supply. The bindings damaged his skin and muscles, which were treated first with “homeopathic remedies,” and then covered in duct tape before he was once again locked back into handcuffs. Her daughter was also subjected to similar physical punishments, including running barefoot outside and working on hot days. Both of the children were told that they were evil and possessed, their punishments were necessary acts of love, and they needed to receive the treatment to repent.
Since pleading guilty, Ruby has remained remorseful in all court appearances. “My charges are just,” she said in February during her sentences. “They offer safety to my family, accountability to the public. I am humbled and willing to serve a prison sentence.”
None of Ruby’s other children — ranging between 10 to 21 years old— have been in the public eye since, but Shari has repeatedly asked for privacy for the family since Ruby’s arrest. “Kids are safe but there’s a long road ahead,” Shari posted in October 2023. “Please keep them in your prayers and also respect their privacy.”
Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story will premiere on Oct. 26 and promises in its promotional material to tackle the question “How could this idolized family-friendly mother of six and her spiritual guide transform into convicted child abusers?” as a way to raise awareness for the dangers of child abuse. But Shari continues to emphasize that if Lifetime actually wants to keep her siblings safe, they won’t release the film.
Best of Rolling Stone
Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Solve the daily Crossword
