TW Ruby Franke - down the rabbit hole

[TaFox]

I've never followed any mum/influencers online. But a clip on tiktok caught my attention.

This influencer posts YT videos about her parenting style. She is a strict christian mum and has 2M followers. All great.

Then it turns out she abuses her children. Not like being strict and saying no to pudding but proper abuse. Her children are tied and denied food. I saw a heart breaking clip about her little girl being rescued. And I ask myself... Why??

What leads to this level of abuse? They are a nice middle class educated family. Why would they do that?

>what leads to this level of abuse?

Having 10 kids. Having more than 6 kids should be considered abusive.

Nice middle class educated families abuse their children just as much as the grotty poor ones do.

That said, in the case of Ruby Franke (she's now gone to prison for I think 30 years is it?), she came from a conservative religious background where obedience of children and financial success are seen as signs of good spiritual living. She made millions by promoting this type of harsh (abusive) parenting, and we've seen what idiotic stuff people will do for likes and money. No different than all the other youtuber idiots abusing their children for likes and money.

And if you want my personal opinion, I think she was in an abusive (pseudo-romantic) relationship with her 'business partner' (another woman) and got very wrapped up in their little world. We've seen the horrors that women will do to their children at the behest of an abusive partner.

Did you have a look at any other videos reporting the case op? There are quite a few in depth ones on YouTube and also a podcast. I ended up doing a deep dive, it's all very complex. Very strict religious upbringing where physical punishment was normal within that community, I'm not excusing RF in any way shape or form, but it was abusive in it's own way, the punishments were seen as cleansing, that they'd give children a pure and humble soul, that it was God's will etc.The abused then so often become abusers themselves. So she already came from that background, and then she became involved with Jodi Hilderbrandt...

There was a whole network of very cult like leaders and a hierarchy within their religious community, the Connexions counselling business run by JH had a sketchy history already. Leaders were sending so called sinners or troubled community members to see JH and she wrecked the lives of several. Including her own niece who's spoken out.

JH then became RF's best friend and business partner, also suspected romantic partner. It all got even darker and seemed to spiral at that point. Have a read or look at YouTube for statements from her past so called clients, and spouses who were cast out from the community. It really was all very cult like and disturbing.

Just to reiterate there is no excusing anything RF did to those poor children though, with or without JH, or her husband who was also involved before they separated.

I've just fallen down this rabbit hole - listened the BBC Sounds podcast and absolutely horrified.

I think her older children's words on the monetising of children features in vlogs need to be listened to more seriously.