Bhad Bhabie makes abuse claims against Utah Ranch where Dr Phil sends teenagers
Rapper has demanded apology from talk show star
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Bhad Bhabie has claimed she was subject to abuse at a teen residential facility.
The viral star turned rapper, whose real name is Danielle Bregoli, made the allegations in an eight-minute video posted to her YouTube channel on Friday (19 March) under the hashtag #BreakingCodeSilence.
In the video, Bregoli shared her support for Hannah Archuleta, a former teen resident of Turn-About Ranch in Escalante, Utah, who is now suing the facility for negligence after alleged sexual assault by a staff member in 2019. The ranch has denied the claims.
Archuleta and Bregoli were both sent to Turn-About Ranch after appearing on the American series Dr Phil, which sees Phil McGraw offer advice on a variety of issues, including weight loss, financial planning, unhappily married couples and rebellious teenagers.
Bregoli asked McGraw to apologise to “any child that you sent to Turn-About or any other programme like this”.
She also gave testimony about how she was sent to the ranch by transporters “who come in in the middle of the night”. She said: “They don’t tell them where they’re going. They just take them, they handcuff them, they put them in the car. It’s basically like kidnapping.”
Read more:
- Patsy Palmer ‘does a Piers Morgan’ and storms off Good Morning Britain live on air
- Piers Morgan tries to lecture Gayle King on ‘how to do your job as a journalist’ after call with Meghan and Harry
- ‘I’m crying too’: Fans react to David Tennant choking up over Proclaimers song in Comic Relief
- Netflix secret codes: How to access hidden films
Bregoli said people at the ranch “take away privileges” such as “sleeping on a bed, eating good food, not being cold”.
Bregoli claimed to witness children being forcefully restrained and said punishments included being deprived of warmth and subject to menial labour.
She said that upon entering the ranch, she was put in a teepee and forbidden from showering or sleeping.
“You have to sit there for three days,” Bregoli said. “They wouldn’t let me lay down for nothing. Like, I was falling asleep and they’re like, ‘Oh, get up, get up.’ So I’m just sitting here like, ‘This is gonna be really bad,’ when I see these people have no sympathy.”
The Independent has contacted Turn-About Ranch and McGraw for comment.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments