RantCrush Top 5: May 3, 2017

A couple in Maryland made dozens of Youtube videos “pranking” their children. Critics accused them of child abuse and now the children’s biological mother has obtained a court order for temporary custody. Authorities took two of the five children from Michael and Heather Martin on Friday and sent them to live with their mother in North Carolina. The next step is a hearing to determine who gets the permanent custody.

What an amazing thing to wake up to. 😊 https://t.co/XGfLNPreVo

— Jonna Mae (@themissesmae) May 2, 2017

The videos, which resulted in millions of views, consisted of “pranks” like destroying the kids’ video games and accusing them of doing it. The parents also verbally berated the children to the point of tears by screaming and cursing at them. The biological mother of the children, Rose Hall, used to be in a relationship with Michael Martin, the father, but he ended up getting full custody of the kids when they split up. It was “very heartbreaking and disturbing to see my kids being abused,” Hall said. According to a crisis communications firm that is working with the couple, “they were caught up in their own characters and popularity–they were blinded by YouTube fame.”

@shoe0nhead Looks like DaddyOFive is now DaddyOThree. Can’t wait until he’s DaddyInJail.

— Matthew Villani III (@AltoonaYerPiano) May 1, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.