In a startling revelation from Sherri Franke’s memoir The House of My Mother, the daughter of Ruby Franke, who gained fame through the controversial YouTube channel 8 Passengers, has claimed that her mother and Jodi Hildebrandt, her business partner, may have had a romantic relationship. This comes in light of Ruby Franke’s arrest in 2023 on charges of child abuse, which shocked the public when it was revealed that two of her younger children were subjected to horrific abuse under her and Hildebrandt’s care.

Sherri, who is now 21, describes in her book how she once entered her old bedroom to grab something and found the room “bathed in the soft glow of candles, the air heavy with the scent of lavender and vanilla.” She recalled how it felt like she had walked into a “honeymoon suite” rather than a place meant for children. These intimate details, coupled with other accusations of secrecy, have led Sherri to suggest that Ruby and Jodi’s relationship might have gone beyond business partnerships and into romantic territory, despite their public condemnation of queerness.

Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt, both prominent figures in the 8 Passengers family vlog, were arrested after Sherri’s younger brother managed to escape their home, revealing the abuse he and his younger sister endured. This included being starved, physically assaulted, and kept in isolation. Ruby and Jodi have since pleaded guilty to multiple charges of aggravated child abuse.

Sherri’s memoir is a deeply personal account of her own traumatic upbringing and the struggle to break free from her mother’s toxic control. In it, she not only reflects on the emotional and physical abuse she experienced but also raises awareness about the broader issues of family vlogging and the exploitation of children for online fame and profit.

In addition to her memoir, Sherri has publicly advocated for children’s rights and has testified before Utah’s legislature, pushing for greater regulation of family vlogging to protect vulnerable minors from being exploited for internet fame. As Sherri moves forward with her life, including her recent engagement, she continues to share her journey and calls for the privacy and respect of her family’s future.