Tag: kids

Snoop Dogg complains about LGBTQ+ families in kids’ films: threw me for a loop

Post author By celebrityabout
Post date August 26, 2025

Journey with me for a moment to the not-so-distant past, June 2022 (I know, if only). Pixar released Lightyear, a Toy Story prequel that told the tale of the “real life” Buzz Lightyear. This was a movie primarily made for children, but it was a small-minded subset of adults who threw a hissy fit. What was the problem, Houston? Well, one of the main characters was a woman married to another woman — GASP! — and in a montage sequence there was a brief kiss between the spouses. Pixar’s parent company Disney tried to cut the scene, but Pixar’s staff and the film’s stars stood tall against the Mouse and the scene was kept intact. And Snoop Dogg has been “scared to go to the movies” ever since!! At least that’s what he just said on the It’s Giving podcast. Snoop took his grandson to see the movie when it came out (wink!) and was entirely flummoxed on how to discuss a same-sex relationship with the kid.

Snoop Dogg says he’s “scared to go to the movies” due to what he perceives to be an increase in LGBTQ representation in children’s films.

“What you see is what you see, and they’re putting it everywhere,” he said on a recent episode of the It’s Giving podcast.

The rapper and pop culture personality described taking his grandson to see 2022’s Lightyear, and being shocked to discover that one of the animated film’s protagonists has two mothers.

“They’re like, ‘She had a baby — with another woman.’ Well, my grandson, in the middle of the movie is like, ‘Papa Snoop? How she have a baby with a woman? She’s a woman!’”

Snoop recalled thinking, “‘Oh sh–, I didn’t come in for this sh–. I just came to watch the goddamn movie.’”

But his grandson pressed on, asking, “‘They just said, she and she had a baby — they’re both women. How does she have a baby?’”

The rapper reflected that the experience “f—ed me up. I’m like, scared to go to the movies. Y’all throwing me in the middle of sh– that I don’t have an answer for.”

“It threw me for a loop. I’m like, ‘What part of the movie was this?” Snoop continued.

The “Gin and Juice” rapper and The Voice coach elaborated on his reluctance toward LGBTQ representation in films like Lightyear, saying, “These are kids. We have to show that at this age? They’re going to ask questions. I don’t have the answer.”

Entertainment Weekly has reached out to a representative for Snoop for comment.

…The comments by the 53-year-old rapper, born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., have led to calls for him to be replaced as the headline entertainer at the upcoming Australian Football League’s Grand Final. The rapper has previously been criticized for homophobic and transphobic remarks, such as calling Caitlyn Jenner a “science project,” and using an anti-gay epithet in a 2014 Instagram caption.

[From EW]

Sigh. Taking it sentence by sentence: “These are kids.” Yes, the little sponges who aren’t born hating people but have to be taught that kind of behavior. “We have to show that at this age?” I went to school with the same core group of kids from age two to 14. One girl in this group had two moms. I can’t remember any instance, not one, of there being confusion over the situation. We were like, “Jessica has two moms. OK!” Again, see earlier comment on kids having to be taught certain behaviors. “They’re going to ask questions.” Isn’t that pretty much all kids do? Until they become teenagers and then don’t speak for five years straight? “I don’t have the answer.” That’s on nobody but you, Calvin. I did a little snooping (I will never surrender my right to pun!) and found that Snoop is likely referring to his oldest grandchild, who would have been seven at the time. I already knew a lot of gay people at that age, but obviously people are raised in different backgrounds. This kid did exactly what he was supposed to do — he asked a question. It was the adult who didn’t meet the moment.

As of this writing, the Australian Football League hasn’t made any announcements/changes re Snoop Dogg, BUT they’ve already suspended one athlete this week for using a homophobic slur. Also, the It’s Giving podcast has cut Snoop’s Lightyear comments from their YouTube post of the episode. Guys, it’s so much easier NOT being a bigot, I promise!

Photos credit: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon, Jeffrey Mayer/Avalon, Dave Starbuck/Future Image/Cover Images

Tags Homophobic, kids, lgbtq, snoop-dogg

Freddie Prinze Jr Kids Parenthood sarah michelle gellar

Freddie Prinze Jr. & Sarah Michelle Gellar ‘feel like chauffeurs’ over the summer

Post author By celebrityabout
Post date July 10, 2025

Sarah Michelle Geller and Freddie Prinze Jr. have been together for 27 years and married for 22 years. They have two children, Charlotte, 15, and Rocky, 12. Sarah and Freddie are a low-key couple and hands-on parents. As we talked about the other day, summertime’s here, and that introduces a whole new set of challenges for parents. Sarah and Freddie are no different! Both of their kids have a lot going on this summer. Thanks to all of Charlotte and Rocky’s many activities and social engagements, the Prinze parents are currently feeling like they are in their Chauffeur Era.

Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar know exactly what their two kids are doing this summer, and it’s a “tough battle.” The couple, who married in 2002, share a daughter, Charlotte, 15, and a son, Rocky, 12. Both kids have hectic social schedules, particularly in the summer when school isn’t there to take up a portion of the day.

“You get a little unbalanced because a lot of kids’ friends are on vacation, or they go to camp at someplace else, or they’re busy with camp locally, so you are more present,” he tells PEOPLE of summer parenting. “They’re not running away from you as much. Like, ‘Dad, can you take me here? Can you take me there? Can I see this guy? Can I see that girl?’ We try to keep our kids pretty active. You’re definitely more necessary, and you might feel like a chauffeur, and that’s a normal feeling for a parent to go through, but you’re definitely more necessary in the summer.”

The key to it all, Prinze, 49, says, is patience, which he says is his wife’s parenting superpower.

“The practicing of patience in the face of teenage power is a tough battle. It’s like All Might versus whatever horrible villain he was facing in My Hero Academia, that level of difficulty,” Prinze says, referring to the popular anime series. “Patience, I think, is the ultimate power, and if you don’t have it, it’s a muscle you have to work out. So, definitely put the time in because it will help you win all the arguments.”

While Gellar, 48, is a natural at patience, it wasn’t something the I Know What You Did Last Summer actor mastered early on.

“I had to learn it more than I was born with it. Sarah was better with it initially,” he acknowledges. “Patience was something I learned and got better at over time, like anything else.”

One thing the Scooby-Doo star has always been good at, though, is cooking. As the chef of the house (who even has his own cookbook), he finds himself often cooking painstaking high-end meals for his kids.

“They have a lot of different requests, man. French onion soup is a big one. We make that from scratch,” he tells PEOPLE. “I got a creamless tomato soup that my mom taught me how to make back in the day that they really like, but these are all things that take a long ass time to cook. So, all their favorite stuff takes hours to make properly. They like when I make New Mexico green chili chicken enchiladas. I’m like, ‘Yo, that’s six hours over the stove. Are you kidding me right now?’ But that’s what they like, so that’s what they get.”

He admits that the children do enjoy a simple grilled cheese sandwich, but adds that they prefer to pair it “with the soup that takes me an hour.”

[From People]

Charlotte is 15 years old, which means she is almost old enough to get her driver’s license. It’s totally a rite of passage for parents to start to feel the toll of driving their kids everywhere in the year or so before their eldest can drive, right? I bet Sarah and Freddie are starting to feel that itch. My parents were very overprotective, and even they got to a point where they couldn’t wait for me to be able to drive myself to my various activities. My kids are still close enough in age that they are doing camps and meeting up with friends in the same locations. That will all change next summer, but I am enjoying how uncomplicated their activities schedules are this year.

Also, I somehow missed that Freddie is a master chef with his own cookbook! It’s pretty endearing that he’s so into cooking that he’s willing to spend that much time cooking for his family. I don’t love cooking, but I also don’t mind doing it. (Anything is tolerable if you can do it while listening to a good podcast!) My food love language is bread and cheese, so I would totally give his French onion soup and grilled cheese recipes a shot.

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photos credit: Faye’s Vision/Cover Images, Getty and via Instagram

Tags freddie prinze jr., kids, parenthood, sarah michelle gellar

Kids Pavel Durov

Pavel Durov, billionaire tech founder, will leave his fortune to his 106 children

Post author By celebrityabout
Post date June 24, 2025

Russian tech bro Pavel Durov founded Telegram with his brother in 2013, a messaging app that boasts end-to-end encryption, making communications secure. But because we live in #WorstTimeline, that key feature has also made Telegram the top choice for nefarious actors like terrorists and PDFiles. So Durov was arrested in France last August (where he’s a citizen) for his liability in enabling crimes to be plotted on his platform. Oh, and another fun fact about Durov: he’s fathered 106 children thanks to 15 years of sperm donations. So while sitting around at home out on bail waiting to see if he’s convicted of crimes, Durov gave an interview to the French publication Le Point. What news did he want to telegraph to le monde? That he plans on leaving his estimated $17.1 billion fortune to all 106 of his offspring, equally. According to my calculations, courtesy of Google, that’s roughly $161,320,754.72 per kid. Holy merde!

Pavel Durov is leaving a special message in his family group chat.

The Telegram founder recently revealed that he’s dividing his massive fortune—an estimated $17.1 billion, per Forbes—between all 106 of his children.

“I want to specify that I make no difference between my children: There are those who were conceived naturally and those who come from my sperm donations,” Durov, 40, told French outlet Le Point in an interview published June 19. “They are all my children and will all have the same rights. I don’t want them to tear each other apart after my death.”

Indeed, the Russian tech mogul explained that he’s the “official father” of six children from three different partners. Meanwhile, he decided to “help a friend” by becoming a sperm donor nearly 15 years ago, resulting in him fathering 100 kids across 12 countries.

And while he wants to spread his wealth equally, his children will have to wait a while for their share. In fact, Durov—who launched Telegram, a cloud-based messaging app, alongside his brother Nikolai Durov in 2013—noted his offspring will not have access to their inheritances until “30 years” after the day of his interview with the French publication.

“I want them to live like normal people,” he continued, “to build themselves up alone, to learn to trust themselves, to be able to create, not to be dependent on a bank account.”

This revelation comes months after the billionaire was arrested and charged in France with enabling illegal crimes, ranging from child sex abuse material and drug trafficking, to occur on his platform last August. While Durov is out on bail, he faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted, according to the New York Times.

[From E! News]

“He decided to ‘help a friend’ by becoming a sperm donor nearly 15 years ago, resulting in him fathering 100 kids across 12 countries.” I feel like we’re still missing some vital information, to put it mildly. How does “helping a friend” (WHY is that in quotes?) result in 100 kids in a dozen countries? It doesn’t! There are several very consequential, Durov-initiated decisions that had to have happened between helping out that friend 15 years ago, to him spawning over 100 kids today. And I bet they looked something like this notice Durov issued in November 2024 (so post-arrest), about him “offering to cover the cost of IVF treatment for interested, healthy women under the age of 38 who will use his sperm to have a baby using the Altra Vita IVF clinic, which claims it has the exclusive right to store and use his biomaterial.” Hmmm, I wonder why someone facing charges is looking to broadcast how benevolent he intends to be — 30 years down the line — to the 100 kids he’s biologically fathered but legally has no familial relationship to… And speaking of, what’s with the 30 years stipulation? That puts him at 70, which he has a fair shot of outliving, not to mention the fact that a lot can happen in 30 years. I’m just imagining a Knives Out-on-steroids situation where he ends up cutting everyone off. We can meet back here in three decades to see if I’m right.

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Photos credit: Dave Bedrosian/Future Image/Cover Images and Getty

Tags kids, Pavel Durov

Ben Affleck Kids

Ben Affleck’s kids roasted him for ‘Armageddon’: this is so stupid, it doesn’t make sense

Post author By celebrityabout
Post date April 25, 2025

The Accountant 2 is out in theaters today, April 25. Ben Affleck has been telling endearing stories in his promotional interviews about his children, Violet, 19, Fin, 16, and Samuel, 13. Ben appeared on his good friend Jimmy Kimmel’s show this week. Jimmy kicked off the interview with a story about how Ben invited Jimmy’s former nemesis, Jay Leno, to a Christmas dinner Ben was holding. Ben’s defense was that he had no idea that the two talk show hosts hated each other because he doesn’t follow gossip.

Jimmy teased Ben about how his other (fake) nemesis, Matt Damon, wasn’t at the Accountant 2 premiere (he was at the SXSW one, though). Ben was like, “But you know who was? My kids!” And, as it turns out, his kids are his biggest critics. While they liked their dad’s newest movie (Sam was very impressed/jealous that Ben knew JK Simmons), they have not always been favorable in the past. In fact, when he tried to have them watch 1998’s Armageddon, they roasted the sh-t out of it.

“My kids, they’re like very tough and they don’t censor their criticism,” he tells host Jimmy Kimmel. “They’ll sit right next to me watching a movie and just, while it’s happening, ‘This is terrible. I mean, this is terrible! Why did you do this?’ Like, you can wait till it ended, you know what I mean, before.”

As for his newest film, Affleck says he was genuinely surprised when his kids — Samuel, 13, Seraphina, 16, and Violet, 19, whom he shares with ex Jennifer Garner — told him they enjoyed the movie.

“They liked it! At first, it was one of those things where they looked at me like you thought I was looking at you, which was like, ‘What’s the catch?’ ” he remembers. “I was like, ‘What, you really liked it?’ And they were like, ‘Yeah, it was good.’ And they were shocked. You know what I mean? As if I got lucky. This magical accident happened, and something I did was okay.”

Although they’re fans of The Accountant 2, Affleck’s kids particularly disliked one film their dad made them watch during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“During COVID, all the kids were around the house, and I was like, ‘Hey, let’s watch a movie.’ And I thought, ‘Oh, maybe the kids will like Armageddon,’ ” Affleck shares. “Almost immediately, it was like, ‘What is this? This is so stupid. Are you kidding me?’”

“My son was like, ‘This doesn’t make sense.’ I said, ‘This is not a logic-based film. That is not one of the criteria we used making this, ” jokes the dad of three of the apocalypse movie.

[From People]

”This is not a logic-based film. That is not one of the criteria we used making this.” LMAO, that’s too funny. Assuming that Ben meant the 2020 days of Covid lockdowns, then Samuel would have been eight at the time. I’m surprised that he got nitpicky about the premise! They have to go into space to save the world! Is it a generational thing? Because I freaking love big blockbusters that are not logic based. I sat through all of Jake Gyllenhaal’s Ambulance and enjoyed every non-realistic minute of it, lol. Hell, I rewatched one of my favs, Speed, on a long flight last weekend and gleefully laughed when the bus made that ridiculous, impossible jump over the gap in the highway. I bet he was just trolling his dad.

Ben also talked about being a latchkey kid when he was “five, six, seven years old.” Despite being at home because he was unemployed, his father was an alcoholic who left Ben to fend for himself, so he literally wore a key around his neck. To entertain himself, he’d get on the subway as a little kid and go see movies. Seeing Back to the Future on one such occasion caused him to “stalk” Christopher Lloyd for like 10 blocks when he saw him on the street a few years later. He also talked about his early days trying to break into acting with Matt Damon and told a hilarious story about their time as extras on movies like Field of Dreams. It’s a fun interview and he had a good rapport with Jimmy.

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Photos credit: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon, Faye’s Vision/Cover Images, PGP/Backgrid, Getty

Tags ben affleck, kids

Dogs Good deeds Kids

Toddler saved by rancher’s dog is ‘fine like nothing ever happened’

Post author By celebrityabout
Post date April 23, 2025

Arizona parents Sarah and Corey Allen lived through every parent’s worst nightmare on April 14 when their two-year-old son Bodin went missing. The tot quietly left home around 5pm local time while his parents were distracted — Corey was working on the roof, and Sarah was changing diapers for Bodin’s one-year-old sibling. 16 harrowing hours and one 40-person search team later, Bodin was found at last… at a ranch seven miles away, with three mountain ranges and two mountain lion sightings in the path. That kid covered a lot of ground! And he made it through the trek safely thanks to one intrepid ranch worker: Buford, ranch owner Scotty Dunton’s faithful Anatolian Pyrenees. Buford regularly patrols his property, so when he spotted Bodin by a tree in the wee hours of the night, he basically shepherded the toddler to the main house, whereupon Dunton reached out to the police. And now? Bodin’s parents say “he’s fine like nothing ever happened.” Job well done, Buford.

A parent’s worst nightmare: Corey later told KPNX that he was working outside while Sarah was taking care of Bodin’s younger sibling at the time of the incident. Sarah recalled Bodin going outside to play. But when she called out his name after changing her younger child’s diaper, Bodin didn’t answer. “My instinct was maybe he got trafficked or something,” Corey said, per the Arizona Republic. “And he could be states away. Who knows what’s going on? And that feeling just kept intensifying by the minute.” … “I didn’t even know how to process it,” Sarah told KPNX. “I looked at his empty bed in the middle of the night, and I’m like, ‘This isn’t real, how is he not here? How is he out in the dark alone? How is that real?’” “It’s like the worst living nightmare any parent can feel,” Corey said.

Lost and found… 7 miles away: After 16 hours of searching for the child — who was wearing a blue tank top and pajama pants when he disappeared, according to a police missing person’s poster shared via Facebook — he was discovered on the property of a rancher approximately seven miles from home. “Upon arrival at the ranch, deputies confirmed that this indeed was the missing boy,” the police said in their statement. Scotty Dunton, who was identified as the rancher, per KPNX, said that his dog Buford had discovered the child while guarding his property.

Toddler’s best friend: Dunton said Buford “likely protected and directed the missing boy to safety,” in an on-camera police interview. The rancher told authorities that finding the child, who he said was “upset” but “in good shape,” was “a relief.” “I was ecstatic that he was ok and that my dog found him,” he added. Bodin also told the rancher that he had been discovered by the dog, and Anatolian Pyrenees, after “holing up” under a tree all night. “He loves kids, so he wouldn’t leave him when he found him,” Dunton further said of his dog. The rancher also said that Buford typically patrolled the property “all night” to ward off coyotes.

The kid is totally unfazed, thank dog: Corey later told KPNX that it felt like God sent that dog to rescue Bodin, who walked away with only some minor scratches. “It’s unreal, it’s unbelievable and it’s a miracle,” Sarah also said, according to the outlet. “[Bodin is] here, he’s healthy, he’s fine like nothing ever happened, it still feels like a dream.” The couple thanked Dunton in person on Thursday, April 17, KPNX further reported.

[From People]

I know I say this at a minimum of once a week now, but it’s true each and every time: we do not deserve these loving floofs! They are the best of us. Scotty Dunton told NBC News that he was able to trace Buford and Bodin’s paw prints to a mile out from the ranch that they walked together. I can just imagine Buford softly nudging Bodin with his snout to say “Come with me, kid. I gotcha.” Buford didn’t pose long for the cameras — he probably wants to keep a level head for simply doing what any very good boy or girl would do — but from the glimpses we got, he strikes me as a gentle giant. Ready to do battle against mountain lions and coyotes and bears, no doubt, but preferring to keep things quiet and orderly. And don’t worry, Dunton confirmed that Buford was served up a homemade steak dinner for his heroic deed.

I hope Buford and Bodin keep up a friendship. And if I could make one recommendation to Bodin’s parents, it would be to get a dog of their own! I know they have their hands full with two kids aged two and under. But the right family dog would bark his head off if he saw one of his people wandering away from home! Just sayin’…

Tags dogs, Good deeds, kids

Kids Movies

Movie theaters are warning audiences not to yell or clap during Minecraft showings

Post author By celebrityabout
Post date April 9, 2025

Late last year, ahead of Wicked’s theatrical release, movie theaters issued a reminder to fans to not sing along to the music in a regular screening. Instead, they’d have the opportunity to attend special “singalong” screenings where all the theatre kids could obnoxiously belt out “Defying Gravity” amongst friends. When A Minecraft Movie came out this past weekend, a lot of kids brought that same energy to their screenings. My husband and kids went to a showing and said that there was so much enthusiasm during their screening that people were cheering and calling out famous lines as they were said. They had a blast.

Apparently, thanks to social media, some of these trends are getting a bit out of hand, where some viewers have gone as far as to throw popcorn and other things in excitement. It’s actually prompted some movie theaters to warn audiences that things like excessive noise, disruptive behavior, and TikToking while viewing can get them thrown out of the theater.

Warner Bros. and Legendary’s “A Minecraft Movie” is causing such a sensation among young moviegoers that one Cineworld theater in Oxfordshire is warning its patrons not to get disruptive or they will be removed from the venue without a refund, BBC News reports. Videos of “Minecraft” moviegoers getting rowdy inside the theater have gone viral on social media, sparking a trend that encourages viewers to clap, shout, throw popcorn and more during pivotal moments of the movie (including Jack Black proclaiming “I am Steve” and yelling “chicken jockey!”).

The notice at the Cineworld reads: “Any form of anti-social behavior, especially anything that may disturb other guests such as loud screaming, clapping and shouting will not be tolerated. Anyone who is found to be acting in this manner will be removed from the screening and not entitled to a refund.”

Other movie theaters are issuing similar warnings. A spokesperson for England’s REEL cinema said in a statement (via People): “To ensure everyone has the best possible cinema experience, we’re increasing our monitoring of screens during performances. Disruptive behavior, including taking part in TikTok trends, before, during, or after a screening will not be tolerated. Anyone causing disruption will be asked to leave, and where necessary, the police will be called.”

The Glasgow Times noted that a local Cineworld put out the following notice: “We’ve been informed of reports of an online trend that includes making excessive noise during ‘A Minecraft Movie.’ We would like to remind everyone to please be respectful to those around them by not making noise nor being on their phones during any movie. Failure to do so may result in ejection from the cinema.”

Starring Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers and Sebastian Hansen, “A Minecraft Movie” is based on the popular video game of the same name from Mojang Studios. The film became an instant blockbuster for Warner Bros., grossing $162 million in its domestic debut and a massive $313 million worldwide to become the biggest video game movie opener in history.

As reported by Variety, embattled Warner Bros. film bosses Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy celebrated the success of “A Minecraft Movie” in a company-wide memo that read: “The largest domestic opening weekend of 2025, the biggest since July, and Warner Bros.’ largest opening weekend since 2023. This is truly a world-class achievement! This is what happens when we believe in the power of our creativity, each other, and the strength of great storytelling.”

[From Variety]

Obviously, throwing things, shouting in a disruptive manner, and making TikTok videos while watching a movie is not okay behavior. Do not do that. Do not let your kids do that. That said, and this may be controversial, but I feel like when you go to a movie that is primarily made for kids, you need to adjust your expectations a little bit. Kids do not get a lot of movies aimed at them in theaters, especially in a post-pandemic world. They’re also balls of energy and excitement. I think there can be a balance between teaching them how to behave in a movie theater and letting them enjoy themselves while watching a silly movie with fellow fans that are in on the jokes. It’s a movie about Minecraft; it’s not The Brutalist.

Oh, and the other day, I mentioned that I promised to take my kids to see the movie again on Tuesday evening and I’d let y’all know how it went. It didn’t! They’d spent the night at their grandparents (they’re off from school) and got home so exhausted that they asked to see it another night instead. We’re going on vacation next week, so I probably won’t get to take them for their second viewing until after Easter. I’m actually kinda bummed that I likely won’t get to experience that same level of passion by that point. One of my favorite movie-going experiences was seeing Snakes on a Plane on opening night. I love it when it’s a fun movie with a fun crowd.

Tags kids, movies

Kids Social Media YouTube

Ruby Franke’s daughter Shari: ‘family vlogging and family content is unethical’

Post author By celebrityabout
Post date April 1, 2025

Last week, Utah passed legislation that put some protections into place for child influencers, making it the fourth state to do so. Family influencing is a big thing in Utah. There are so many TikTokers, YouTubers, and even a reality TV series based on the industry. Utah’s bill was passed as a result of the Ruby Franke case, in which a popular ‘mom-fluencer’ was arrested for horrifically abusing her two younger children. The Franke family began as a YouTube channel called 8 Passengers, which starred Ruby, her now ex-husband, Kevin, and their six children.

Following Ruby’s arrest and conviction, her two older children, Shari Franke, 21, and Chad Franke, 20, began speaking out about the abuse they’d suffered during 8 Passenger’s heyday. Ruby wrote a book called The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom that came out earlier this year and both spoke out on the Hulu docuseries, Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke. In honor of Utah’s new legislation, Chad and Shari’s comments appeared on Good Morning America on Monday morning. (Their interviews were conducted in January and February.) They talked about the dark side of being child influencers and vowed to never subject their own children to anything as “unethical” as family vlogging.

Ruby Franke’s children are distancing themselves from her family vlogging — with no intention of following in her footsteps. On Monday, March 31, the disgraced former parenting YouTuber’s eldest son and daughter, Shari Franke and Chad Franke, spoke with Good Morning America about the nature of vlogging with children. Chad specifically said that he won’t subject his own family to cameras when the time comes.

“I mean, Ruby clearly would slap us, flick our lips, whatever. I think Jodi [Hildebrandt, the family’s therapist] brought out the worst in her, and that’s how it got to where it ended up,” Shari said, adding, “I do think that family vlogging and family content is unethical.”

Chad, 20, added that he sees a family in his future, but not vlogging. “I eventually want to have a family, and I’ve learned from my mom’s mistakes,” he said. “We’re shutting off social media, shutting off the cameras. I’m not going to be using any kid as an employee.”

GMA3’s Eva Pilgrim reported that the children are “focused on moving on without Ruby.”

As previously reported, Ruby and Hildebrandt, were arrested in 2023 after her 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrandt’s home in Ivins, Utah and asked a neighbor to call the police. Authorities soon discovered that both the boy and Ruby’s 10-year-old daughter had been abused; she and Hildebrandt pleaded guilty to multiple counts of aggravated child abuse. In February 2024, they each received four separate prison sentences for 1 to 15 years, which will run consecutively.

Last week, a Utah judge signed off on Ruby and Kevin Franke’s divorce, giving Kevin — who shares six children with his ex-wife — full custody of their four children who are still minors.

As for the couple’s eldest children, Shari released her book, The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom, via Gallery Books on Jan. 7. The release details her experiences in the Franke house growing up — where her family launched the 8Passengers YouTube channel in 2015. The account eventually earned 2.5 million subscribers. The family’s story was also detailed in the Hulu three-part docuseries, Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, which released in February.

[From People]

Power to Shari and Chad for speaking out. It’s so important that people like them, who have been through the worst of that world, warn parents just how exploitative family influencing can be. We’re way beyond “Charlie bit my finger” territory. Those kids are constantly paraded on camera and expected to perform so that their parents can make money. It really is so unethical. They have no agency, and currently, there are no rules in place to keep them safe. Child influencers are the new child actors, and there needs to be regulations beyond just promising them some money and the opportunity to have their content removed when they turn 18. I hope we see more, stronger legislation put into place moving forward. Those kids deserve their childhood.

photos are YouTube screenshots via GMA and Inside Edition

Tags kids, social-media, youtube