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The Dark Side of the Spotlight: Are Families Exploited for Entertainment?

  • peytonorrock
  • Mar 25
  • 4 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

In today's media, pop culture has taken a turn in how it portrays family struggles, and these are used for entertainment, particularly through documentaries, TV shows, and podcasts. True-crime podcasts, like CrimeJunkie and many others, have been steadily gaining popularity over recent years. Lately, there has been a surge of documentaries centered on traumatic events from real people’s lives.

A current example is The Downfall of Ruby Frankie, a new documentary on Hulu. Many, including myself, eagerly awaited the release, having previously watched the 8 Passenger vlogs on YouTube when I was growing up. I also assume others viewed the family as any other religious yet strict household and otherwise normal, living a dream childhood filled with adventures, trips, and strong sibling bonds that many of us longed for. We could never have imagined the hidden reality behind closed doors (Devil in the Family, 2024).

 While this story was compelling and captivating, it raised an important ethical question: Is it fair to make this family relive such painful events for the sake of entertainment and television profits? 

The line between telling an engaging story and exploiting someone’s personal trauma becomes blurred in these narratives, prompting us to consider whether the entertainment value justifies the emotional toll .


The Ethics of Exploiting Family Trauma for Entertainment

 The ethical dilemma surrounding family-based documentaries often centers on how they balance the need for entertainment along with respect for the individuals, and family involved. On one hand, these documentaries are able to provide only a glimpse into the lives of people who have experienced trauma, addiction, or personal hardships. On the other hand, exploiting such vulnerability may feel invasive and degrading to them. When families agree to participate, they may be motivated by financial compensation or the hope of restoring their reputation because the media may already be spreading false narratives. Or they just want to raise awareness about these situations so others do not have to experience theme. However, there’s frequently a significant gap between the stories they believe they’re telling and the narrative that is ultimately crafted for an audience(Kleeman, 2023).

Ruby Frankie’s documentary, for example, focused on her rise to fame as a “family influencer,” but it also revealed troubling aspects of her personal life and her family dynamics behind the camera. While this type of content draws viewers in and generates ratings, it forces families to confront painful pasts and present struggles in front of millions. The question remains: at what cost?


Are Families Really Benefiting?

 In many cases, the families featured in these documentaries do not receive the proper support or guidance before, during, or after filming. The emotional toll of revisiting traumatic experiences can be overwhelming, and often, the documentary is produced and edited to maximize shock value instead of providing an informative, thoughtful, and respectful portrayal of the story(Gross, 2020). This raises concerns about whether the individuals featured are genuinely benefiting from the exposure or are merely being used for their hardships to entertain and engage viewers.

 Furthermore, the financial benefits from these documentaries may be seen as beneficial and necessary after such life events but are often not distributed fairly. While streaming platforms, production companies, and even the filmmakers themselves profit from the content, the families involved frequently experience a loss of privacy, social stigma, and long-term psychological effects. For instance, Ruby's two older children, Shari and Chad, not only had to endure these traumatic events but also were forced to relive them over and over again to try and depict their story for the production. 


The Pressure to Share Personal Stories

  Beyond the ethical dilemmas of exploiting family trauma, families also contend with pressure from both the public and production companies to share their stories. Many feel obligated to reveal personal details, even if they aren’t ready or comfortable. Television production companies often persistently approach families, particularly when they identify a chance to leverage a compelling narrative. With public perceptions often shaped by sensationalized media or social media commentary, families may feel they have no option but to comply. For instance, Chad and Shari, featured in the "Downfall of Ruby Frankie" documentary, likely faced considerable pressure to join in. Their involvement may have stemmed from a desire to help their father display his true character and combat the negative view of him as a villain or to address why they didn't intervene more. Given that public sentiment is frequently against him, they might have felt it imperative to participate in order to shift the narrative. This external pressure complicates families' ability to thoughtfully decide on their participation in such projects. Rather than taking the necessary time to process their experiences, they may be rushed to act in line with audience or media expectations. This urgency can ultimately result in choices that favor public opinion or financial gain at the expense of the individual's well-being.

 Audiences need to recognize that the line between exploitation and education is thin, and the producers of these documentaries have a responsibility to approach their subjects with care. Documentaries should aim to do more than just entertain; they should inspire change, provoke reflection, and offer valuable lessons that go beyond simply telling a scandalous or tragic story(Kasperkevic, 2019).


Conclusion: Is It Worth It?

  As documentaries about family hardships continue to gain popularity, it’s crucial to question whether the entertainment value justifies the toll on the individuals involved. The ethical boundary between telling a compelling story and exploiting vulnerable people should never be crossed. While these documentaries have the power to illuminate important issues, they should be approached with the highest sensitivity and care. Ultimately, we must consider: Is it worthwhile to profit from someone else’s pain in the name of entertainment? Or can we discover ways to tell these stories that not only inform but also uplift and respect the families who share them?





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