Ruby Franke‘s daughter is calling out the Lifetime movie version!
On Friday, 21-year-old Shari Franke blasted the upcoming Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story. The TV movie is set to premiere on October 26 and stars Emilie Ullerup as Ruby, with Heather Locklear as Jodi Hildebrandt. It’ll follow the abuse of two of Ruby’s six kids at the hands of the YouTube vlogger and her business partner.
The Mormon influencers’ fall from grace was complete when they were sentenced to 4 to 60 years behind bars earlier this year in Utah. Obviously the story has been going around a lot longer. Their actions were exposed in August 2023, when Ruby’s 12-year-old son Russell managed to escape from Jodi’s home where he had been held. He showed up to a neighbor’s looking “emaciated and malnourished” and begging for help. Police were called to the scene, where Ruby’s 9-year-old daughter Eve was found in “a similar condition,” according to the police via a press release by the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department.
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According to Franke’s estranged husband Kevin, things in the family went downhill when the content creator got involved with Hildebrandt. That’s when she was allegedly convinced her children were “evil” and needed to be punished in order to be saved from their so-called “sins.” What she called punishment, the state (and everyone else) called child abuse.
It’s obviously a horrific situation for the whole family — and that’s part of the reason Shari is not thrilled to see an allegedly unauthorized film about it! Taking to her Instagram Story on Friday, the young woman posted a “note about the Lifetime movie coming out about my family.” She dished:
“I saw the trailer suddenly in class and had an anxiety attack.”
Oof. Nobody would wish that on her or any of her siblings. Sad that this movie has reopened those wounds..
As for why she’s so upset about the movie, she added:
“None of us were contacted about the movie. None of the proceeds are going to the kids.”
It’s unclear if Shari has seen the film yet, but she certainly doesn’t want it to get many views. She urged her followers:
“This movie is trash, and only hurts my siblings more. Please do not support this movie.”
Hmm. Here’s the trailer. Watch and decide for yourselves if you agree:
By the way, Shari is NOT speaking out in her mother’s defense. Following Ruby’s arrest, the then-20-year-old, who didn’t live at home at the time, wrote on her social media per People:
“Today has been a big day. Me and my family are so glad justice is being served. We’ve been trying to tell the police and CPS for years about this, and so glad they finally decided to step up.”
A month later, she added that there were “not even words to describe how upside down my life has become,” adding:
“I’ve cried, had an infinite number of panic attacks, had way too much ice-cream, and yet life goes on. Therapy has literally saved me, but God has too. My life is somehow becoming more beautiful and fulfilling, despite all the terrible things going on. […] I’ve tried to live my life to the fullest the last few weeks, even though all I want to do is hide away in my apartment (I do have my days).”
This family has been through so much. It’s no surprise that just about one year after their mother’s arrest, the kids are struggling with the thought of their trauma playing out on screen. The good news, at least, is her supporters are standing by her side. Since her post, the movie’s trailer on YouTube (above) has been flooded with negative comments, such as:
“do not support this. the family was not aware of the making of this and no proceeds are going to the children. these kids are traumatized enough.”
“This is absolutely disgusting. Barely a year from these events occurring and a movie has been made. Without contacting the Franke family and children. Horrible. Just horrible. This movie should not be released!”
“Seriously Lifetime this is below the belt. Those kids went through enough and to put them through this again, is shameful. Smh”
It does not appear as though the channel has commented on the criticism yet.
Thoughts? Let us know (below).
[Image via Moms of Truth/Instagram & Lifetime/YouTube]
