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Ruby Franke's 11-Year-Old Daughter Speaks Out on ‘Trauma’ from Vlogging Past

Ruby Franke's 11-Year-Old Daughter Speaks Out on Family Vlogging Past: 'Stuck With the Trauma'
Ruby Franke and kids Courtesy of Ruby Franke/Instagram

Ruby Franke’s 11-year-old daughter is speaking out about the negative impact her mother’s vlogging had on her life.

Kevin Franke, Ruby’s ex-husband, appeared at a hearing for the House Business, Labor and Commerce Committee in Utah on Tuesday, February 18, where he read a statement on behalf of his 11-year-old daughter, per The Salt Lake Tribune. (Kevin and Ruby share kids Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell and Eve.)

“I thought nothing was wrong,” the 11-year-old’s statement read. “I felt ‘happy,’ but I really wasn’t. When I started getting older, I realized the YouTube channel had ruined my childhood. But at least I got some money, right? Oh, right, I actually didn’t, because my mom withdrew all of it in 2023. I worked hard for that money. I acted like someone I wasn’t in front of the camera, and I earned that money. But I feel like my mom used me for money.”

Her statement continued, “You all might be saying right now that my dad told me to say these things, and is using me, but that is not true. If anyone is using their kids, it’s the YouTubers filming them for money.”

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Kevin was at the committee meeting in support of a state bill that would financially protect child influencers and the earnings they make via their parents’ content. The bill would require online creators earning more than $150,000 annually from content featuring children to set aside a portion of the earnings into a trust the children can access when they turn 18.

Ruby Franke's 11-Year-Old Daughter Speaks Out on Family Vlogging Past: 'Stuck With the Trauma'
Ruby Franke Courtesy of Ruby Franke/Instagram

“I know I am stuck with the trauma of YouTube,” the child’s statement continued. “Even now, I can barely make friends, because my whole life I was the center of attention. But now, without even realizing it, I seek attention from others, or I feel like they don’t like me. Then those people think I’m mean.”

She added that she hoped the bill would keep “the children of Utah more safe,” adding that she knows “more than anything” about “the horrible situation that a lot of kids are in right now.”

Kevin also read a statement from his 16-year-old daughter, who noted that “as kids, you don’t realize what you’re subjected to” when discussing being front and center on her mother’s YouTube channel.

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Ruby was convicted of child abuse and sentenced to four consecutive prison terms in February 2024, which range from one to 15 years each.

“You’re selling your life, your privacy, your body and stories to the entire world,” the 16-year-old’s statement continued. “And as a child, you’re involuntarily giving up all of that. You’re selling your childhood. Though there is no amount of money that can make up for that loss, the least that can be done now is making sure the child is getting paid for her work and has the right to remove it and walk away if she wants to.”

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Kelsey Anderson Mourns Grandmother 7 Years and 1 Day After Her Mom’s Death

Bachelor Nation’s Kelsey Anderson Mourns Grandmother Exactly 7 Years and 1 Day After Her Mom’s Death
Kelsey Anderson Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images

Kelsey Anderson is paying tribute to her grandmother, who died exactly seven years and one day after her mom.

“Rest in peace, Gangsta Granny ❤ 2.12.25,” Anderson, 26, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, February 22. “Seven years and a day after my sweet mom passed, it brings me comfort knowing you’re together again.”

She continued, “Thank you for raising my mom the best you could, for the memories with Papa Jack, and for my curls — I’ll wear them with pride, thinking of you and your free spirit. Love you always. ❤.”

Alongside the message, Anderson shared several throwback pictures of her grandmother and a screenshot of a text message about the significance of the number seven.

“Kelsey that is so crazy!!! The number 7 I feel like is so significant and I can’t believe it was so close to your mom’s passing,” a text message read, alongside a screenshot of a google search explaining that the number is “often considered a symbol of ‘completeness’ or ‘perfection’ across many cultures.” Anderson replied, “Aweee omg that’s so special.”

Bachelor Nation met Anderson when she vied for the affections of Joey Graziadei on The Bachelor season 28 in 2024. While on a one-on-one date with Graziadei, 29, Anderson opened up about her late mom’s battle with breast cancer. While discussing her personal tragedy, Anderson said her dad had an encouraging message for her before leaving for the ABC reality show.

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“On the way to the airport, I was on the phone with dad, and I was like, ‘What do you think mom would think about all of this?’ He was like, ‘You’re your mother’s child. You’re so brave.’ He was like, ‘That’s something your mom would do.’ He just felt like I was exuding my mom’s energy, I guess,” she said, to which Graziadei replied: “With how you’re describing her energy, 100%.”

Anderson ultimately accepted a proposal from Graziadei in the season finale. Now, as she and the season 33 Dancing With the Stars winner prepare for their upcoming nuptials, Anderson is making sure to pay tribute to her mom during the ceremony.

Bachelor Nation’s Kelsey Anderson Mourns Grandmother Exactly 7 Years and 1 Day After Her Mom’s Death
Joey Graziadei and Kelsey Anderson Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

“I think that maybe I would take, like, a piece of some type of clothing of hers that meant a lot and somehow incorporate it into something in our wedding,” Anderson said on the Friday, February 21, episode of the “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast. “I definitely want a piece of my mom in our wedding and I think that I’m a very sentimental person, so there’s a lot of ideas that I have [to incorporate] the people that went with us presently.”

Anderson noted that she and Graziadei are also planning to honor his late grandmother. “She was very, very special to him,” Anderson said. “I’m trying to think of ways that we can still honor them because they were big people in our lives.”

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