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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Don't click if you don't like the Radford posts

176 replies

Poppiedelight · 25/07/2020 07:37

I have unfollowed them this morning. I know why would they care!?! Why do I need to tell Mumsnet? Why?? But I just want to grumble about some things!

They have seemingly made a good life financially from their YouTube blogs. I presume it's from them. I used to like the odd picture. Watch the odd video. In recent weeks they have done some bits and bobs to the garden. Absolutely fine. They put artificial grass down. Got the kids a new play park. Then fast forward a couple of months they have got a mini bar and a hot tub. Started rolling my eyes at them. Especially because they had someone trying to break in not long ago. But they still continue to tell the world what they own.
Last week the kids got a large rabbit hutch and some new pets. I saw it but scrolled past and didn't watch the video. Then the next day I was watching my Instagram stories and sue had wrote on a video that she wanted to thank everyone for their kind words and "Ellie" was feeling much better.

I read some comments (being nosey) as to what had happened to her daughter. It turned out the public had written some unkind things about the rabbits and their diet. This had led to one of her younger teens being upset. But it's ok!! Because sue sat with her and read the nice comments out and she felt happier!

what was going through my head whilst reading these comments was.....maybe it's time you stopped exposing your children to the public! Why is she allowing the public to make her kids sad? For the sake of freebies, attention and the feeling of being important? Because yes she's had 22 children and it was an interesting watch. But somehow she's completely lost her senses. She's turned her children into a TV show! She films all their birthdays. She shows everyone every single item they own. Toys/clothes etc. She's constantly accepting gifts from strangers!

I know I've followed them and for a long time I had no issue with it. But these kids are not celebrities. They have had their whole lives given to the world to judge. They are not going to live an adult life of luxury. The money will die off eventually. Then all these kids will be left with is the embarrassing reminders that everyone was watching their every move from the day they were born. They are now having to deal with abuse from the public and sue still can't stop because she loves that she can now get her hands on expensive items. I really hope they stop soon for those kids.

As a mum myself I just don't understand how she can do it! Why can't those poor children have anything without her telling the world Sad

I await a hundred posts saying you are too invested in this. But it really was unnecessary stress for her kids. I also don't think sue considers the risks of showing people what you own. Let's hope people don't start attempting to break in more often! That would have been enough for me to stop.

OP posts:
sociallydistained · 25/07/2020 09:59

The thought of that noise level and that amount of kids has me stressed the f out. My idea of hell even if I was getting paid a fortune from YouTube etc because of it... no thank you!

Sailingblue · 25/07/2020 10:03

The whole thing is just mega exploitative. I don’t. Believe those children are getting anywhere near the attention they deserve and she now has financial incentives to have more. The whole thing is basically completely messed up.

DesdemonaDryEyes · 25/07/2020 10:10

They don’t ‘tell’ me anything as I don’t watch stuff about them.

Didkdt · 25/07/2020 10:36

I had to really think hard as to who they were.
The parents being adopted suggests attachment issues rather than a failing of their parents or the care system and it's unfortunate that they aren't having help for those issues.

Justanotherwrinkle · 25/07/2020 10:43

None of the older kids have ever criticised their parents or family life in the press and still seem to be in close contact so the assumption that family life is awful doesn’t seem to be based on any first hand observations.

Leave them be. It’s not for everyone but social services don’t seem concerned so not sure why random watchers have a better take on it

Bigkingdom · 25/07/2020 10:45

I have a large family, not as large as theirs but still large by todays standards.

I have had the press contacting me on fb and insta more than once (found me on a large family group which i have now left), asking if my family want to appear on a documentary/papers/magazines etc. I give a flat out no.
I don’t want the general public who mean nothing to us passing rude comments on my family, i don’t want my children splashed all over the TV and newspapers and their private life totally blown open to the World. Neither do i want a camera crew following and recording my every move. Couldn’t think of anything worse! I quite like living the quiet life and believe it or not even with a hoard of children my house is nice and peaceful most of the time.

CrocsandDocs · 25/07/2020 10:55

Why would a grown adult want to follow someone?
Weird.

MaryHeck · 25/07/2020 10:58

The people who watch/follow this shit need to get a life.

JamesArthursEyelashes · 25/07/2020 10:59

It’s wrong to single out just this family. YouTube is full of parents making money from their children. I don’t think it should be allowed. but then I don’t put photos of my kids on the social media at all. I think some of these kids will have massive issues in the future due to having no privacy. It’s weird that people get so invested in these families.

Smallsteps88 · 25/07/2020 10:59

Why is she allowing the public to make her kids sad?

Because that’s literally the only thing she has to sell and she can’t afford to keep her family without it.

Poppiedelight · 25/07/2020 11:02

I don't think the kids are unhappy no. The oldest and youngest are going to be loving the holidays, the toys and the lovely new garden. But when they are older and they realise what really was going on. They are just children. They may feel embarrassed. They may get bullied. They may get harassed. They may get weirdos sending them messages.

No way would I want my children dealing with public opinions on everything they do. Ofcourse most people follow them because they think it's lovely to see. They are fascinated by one women getting a baby ,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 year old ready for school and having loads of teenagers in the house too. But I think in the nicest way possible, sue has lost herself in this social media world and doesn't realise she's giving too much away. She's oversharing her children's lives. She's making them perform to entertain the public. She's got children asking her questions whilst she's filming. So they have to just wait until mummy's finished filming.

Ifs lovely that she films their birthdays. But is it necessary for her "fans" to watch them open all their presents and hold them up? Can't she just share a picture if she must? Would you want to be filmed christmas morning for strangers to watch you open your presents because you have lots of siblings? I think sue needs to start protecting them abit now otherwise she will end up in a situation she can't manage. It's not like she has security guards to protect her home and bodyguards for her kids. What happens when a freak turns up at their house. It's so scary. I really feel sad for them.

OP posts:
Poppiedelight · 25/07/2020 11:07

@JamesArthursEyelashes

Yes I agree. Susie verril is another that uses her kids for her brand. Father of daughter's. Mother of daughter's. Even people like Jordan banjo's girlfriend have jumped on the selling, ads, sharing her kids every Five minutes. It's all over the top. All children are wonderful and beautiful in their own right. But equally none of them are any more interesting. 22 siblings are no more interesting as individuals then 4 siblings.

I really wonder how all these kids will feel as grown ups. It's alot of attention considering they don't have any talents or skills to justify the attention

OP posts:
mrsBtheparker · 25/07/2020 11:09

What's the Radfords? Genuine question!

Lowprofilename · 25/07/2020 11:13

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for privacy reasons.

JamesArthursEyelashes · 25/07/2020 11:14

What happens when a freak turns up at their house. It's so scary. I really feel sad for them.

They just justify it all in very odd ways. Did you see the documentary about the YouTube vloggers, the Saccone Jolys? Very odd and awkward.

Mothermorph · 25/07/2020 11:29

They just justify it all in very odd ways. Did you see the documentary about the YouTube vloggers, the Saccone Jolys? Very odd and awkward.

I saw one with Stacey Dooley. The dad seemed to spend the whole time interrupting the kids at the zoo/farm etc to pose for an insta pic or do a short video. There didnt seem any spontaneity. He literally wanted to document everything however mundane and was very blase when she asked about the idea of people following their kids for more sinister reasons.
I have put pics of my DC on SM but have the privacy settings so that only my friends or family can see. If they dont want to have a pic on fb I dont put it on. My BIL makes loads of home videos and although everyone hates them at the time its nice to look back on esp to see relatives who have since passed away. They are only shared within the family though.

Poppiedelight · 25/07/2020 11:30

@JamesArthursEyelashes

No I haven't. Is that a similar thing?

@Lowprofilename

I know what you mean. I don't get a kick out of tearing them to shreds. I don't think are evil. I don't think they are horrible parents. They definitely provide fun for the children and they are fed well, dressed well and are polite children. But they are putting them at risk of harm. They are forcing their children to cope with the outside world and the public. Why should a child have to deal with thousands of eyes on them when they are playing outside or just enjoying their birthdays.

I think sue should be focused on keeping some things private and learn from the reactions from the public. If her children are getting upset then she needs to have a word with herself. Her little girls don't need to be worrying about the public's opinions on their new rabbits. Obviously advice is never intended to be horrible when it's about animals and their diets..but really sue needs to just stop putting them in these situations.

OP posts:
D4rwin · 25/07/2020 11:34

As she was raped and groomed at an unsuitable age to start a family is it any surprise she lacks adequate boundaries with her families privacy? I am staggered that an intervention never took place and it's horrifying that the media are glorifying the sad situation.

bluebadgehelp101 · 25/07/2020 11:36

I think when they had limited SM exposure and just appeared on channel 4 every year many people were intrigued by this hard working, non-benefit-accepting, very large family who seemed happy albeit a bit mad a and chaotic. Since they started vlogging the tide has dramatically turned. They are buying luxury items left, right and centre (they never declare any gifts or ads) and anyone with a bit of sense would realize that the bakery cannot sustain this lifestyle at all.

The pregnant daughter seems to be getting lots of high end stuff sent to her (which instantly puts me off those brands) They have become a brand now, they need to keep their children in the limelight or else the gravy train will firmly halt and they'll have to go back to their old ways of hand me downs and Primark.

bluebadgehelp101 · 25/07/2020 11:41

FWIW I don't think the most harm will come to the youngest ones, who are predominantly in the media. The biggest harm is for the child-parents, ie the oldest girls who have been foisted into a sister-mum type role. Chloe has had it the worst, not only practically (she does the cooking, shopping, supervision of little dc) but emotionally she has had to bear the burden of Sue's high risk pregnancies. She came back from uni because she was worried her mum's pregancy would end up disastrously and wanted to be on hand. She hasn't had much of a childhood at all, she needs a #gifted holiday by herself.

Thesearmsofmine · 25/07/2020 11:50

They do it because it’s easy money and they get nice freebies. There are so many parents using their children like this and it is horrible, some children have so much of their lives documented online for all to see in order for their parents to make a living and I think many will resent it when they get older. I can’t imagine putting my dc in the position where their peers could search their name and find out all sorts of personal information about them.

Some of the bigger accounts have been mentioned already but there are plenty of others, Charlotte Louise Taylor is one who uses her dc for ads all the time and I wonder where the earnings go because with child models I believe the money has to be put aside for the child whereas it seems influencers can keep it for themselves despite their dc being in the ad.

Poppiedelight · 25/07/2020 11:55

@bluebadgehelp101

Very good point again. The older teenagers seem to naturally be lifting and helping small children. It's nice but really they should be out with mates and being immature like teens are. They seem very mature.

At least the last 5 children will be spared all that.

I always thought Tillie needed abit more privacy too when she was in hospital. Poor thing was upset and really didn't need filming. She gets alot of gifts sent to her. I always wonder how the others feel when they babies and tillie get gifts and they didn't get anything. The whole thing bothers me the more I think about it.

OP posts:
JamesArthursEyelashes · 25/07/2020 11:58

I saw one with Stacey Dooley. The dad seemed to spend the whole time interrupting the kids at the zoo/farm etc to pose for an insta pic or do a short video. There didnt seem any spontaneity. He literally wanted to document everything however mundane and was very blase when she asked about the idea of people following their kids for more sinister reasons.

Yes, that’s the one. I just found parts of it really uncomfortable. The bit when they were asked about paedophiles especially, the dads answer just didn’t seem normal. A lot of these vloggers do seem like lovely parents, they just don’t seem to see the potential harm in putting their child’s life online and I do think they get very good at justifying themselves because of the money they make.

JamesArthursEyelashes · 25/07/2020 12:08

No I haven't. Is that a similar thing?

Yes. They only have 4 children and lots of dogs. They have apparently filmed their children in the bath in the past and film their kids every day. They seem to have a nice life but obviously it’s all funded by filming their children. I try not to be judgemental but I really do feel children need some protection against this.
I’ve only seen a couple of the Radford videos, again they seem nice enough parents but I just question anyone that’s ok with making a living from filming their children. It’s so intrusive.

RigaBalsam · 25/07/2020 12:09

@Tink2007

There’s a family called the Inghams who are equally as bad 🙄 Both grind my gears.
Was thinking the same thing. They all have their children on camera which isn't right in my opinion. Any of these family vloggers are the same.
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