The popular LaBrant family, known for their engaging social media presence, has taken to addressing speculation surrounding their recent decision to sell their Nashville home. The property was officially listed on the market on April 13, a move that has raised eyebrows in light of the Tennessee State Legislature’s recent enactment of a child labour law that governs how content creators can feature children in their online productions.
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Cole and Savannah LaBrant, who share five children aged between one and 13, have often showcased their family life in videos that have resonated widely with audiences on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The timing of their home’s sale led to widespread speculation among social media users and various media outlets. This coincided with the state introducing stringent regulations pertaining to child labour and the compensation of minors depicted in online content.
On April 15, Cole LaBrant took to TikTok to address questions regarding their move, explicitly denying that it was motivated by an intent to evade the implications of the new child labour legislation. In his video, Cole expressed discomfort in having to respond to such speculation but felt compelled to clarify the situation for the sake of his family’s reputation. “Whenever lies are being said about you and your family, I feel like one of the best things that you can do is tell the truth, state the facts and set the story straight,” he stated.
Foremost among the allegations he refuted was the suggestion that the couple aimed to sidestep the legal requirement to compensate their children for participating in their content. Cole stated emphatically, “I personally feel like our kids and their bank accounts are none of your guys’ business, but if you must know, all of our kids have bank accounts. We have been paying them since day one of making videos, and I can promise you that our kids and their bank accounts are doing just fine.”
The newly instituted legislation in Tennessee requires content creators to allocate a portion of their earnings into a trust account for the minors featured in their videos. Furthermore, it grants children aged between 14 and 18 the right to receive a share of the profits from their own content. The law also stipulates conditions concerning the removal of material upon the request of the featured minors.
The LaBrant family has often included their children—sons Beckham Blue, aged one, and Zealand Cole, aged five, alongside daughters Sunday Savannah, aged three, Posie Rayne, aged seven, and Everleigh Rose, aged 13, who was born to Savannah’s late ex-partner—in their content. Notably, Everleigh has cultivated her own substantial following on Instagram, boasting 4.9 million followers. Cole and Savannah have also amassed impressive audiences, with Savannah having over 37 million followers across social media platforms, and Cole with more than 27 million. Their shared YouTube channel, which dates back to 2015, has around 12.7 million subscribers.
Addressing the broader implications of their move, Cole clarified that the family is not leaving Tennessee but rather relocating within the area in search of a property with more land. “We love Tennessee. We love our city, we love our friends, we love our community. We are moving, actually, right down the street, just to get more land, to be on more acres,” he explained.
The LaBrants made their move from California to Tennessee in early 2023, citing a desire for a lifestyle more conducive to family ties and a slower pace of life. The couple had previously described their transition in a YouTube video, where they reflected on the appeal of being closer to family and the attributes of their new home state.
Despite the mounting speculation about their intentions, the LaBrant family remains focused on their evolving journey and the responsibilities that come with showcasing their family life in the digital arena. With their children’s interests at the forefront, they appear to be navigating the complexities of social media stardom while remaining committed to legal compliance and ethical considerations in their content creation practices.