Some of California’s family vloggers and influencers are packing up their lives and heading for the hills — or more specifically, Tennessee. But what’s driving this sudden exodus? Is it really just a coincidence, or are these content creators running from new laws designed to protect child performers in the digital age?
At the centre of this controversy is Brittany Xavier, a fashion blogger turned family content creator with 1.5 million YouTube subscribers and 5.1 million followers on TikTok. Xavier recently announced her family’s move from California to Tennessee, citing a mould issue in their rental home as the reason for their hasty relocation.
However, many internet users are sceptical of Xavier’s explanation. One TikTok user commented, “Smart! Far cheaper to move and buy a whole new house rather than pay your kids for work they don’t consent to,” while another questioned, “Was California too blue, or was it that you’d have to put 65 per cent of what you make off your kids into a trust and actually pay them both?”
Many have also pointed out other families who have made similar moves, namely the Labrant family who moved in 2023 from California to Tennessee. Cole and Savannah Labrant posted a video on the family’s YouTube account citing wanting to be “closer to family”, having a “slower pace of life” and “values”, as reasons for their move.
California’s new child protection laws
The speculation stems from recent changes in California law. In September 2024, California passed Assembly Bill 1880 and Senate Bill 764, both aimed at protecting minors involved in digital content creation. They came into practice on January 1, 2025.
The Assembly bill expands the definition of “entertainment workers” to include “content creators”, bringing vloggers, influencers, and streamers under the same protections as child actors. This requires a portion of underage content creators’ earnings to be set aside in a Coogan account (a blocked trust account for minor children), per Cyber News.
The Child Content Creator Rights Act, goes further, mandating that online influencers featuring children in at least 30 per cent of their content must set aside 65 per cent of the minor’s gross earnings in a trust for the child to access as an adult.
Brittany responds to the claims
Brittany Xavier addressed the controversy in a video, stating, “We started planning our move last summer, and I talk about it more in a podcast episode. The original plan was to move in June 2025 once Jadyn graduates high school in May. But they found mould in our rental house that we were in at the January and so we had to move sooner.”
She further explained, “My income doesn’t depend on if my kids are in my videos or not. But we’ve always made sure to set them up financially regardless. I even have a YouTube video on my channel from 2021 where I talk about how Jadyn gets paid anytime she’s in my content.”
Xavier’s 18-year-old daughter, Jadyn, also weighed in on the situation, commenting on a TikTok video: “Why does everyone think they left me, I personally chose to stay on my own and I’m 18 years old, a legal adult lmao.”
While claims that some influencers may be trying to circumvent these new laws continue to drive speculation about the possible motives behind such moves, it’s important to consider other factors at play. As OG influencer and mum Aspyn Ovard points out, “I personally don’t think that anyone would be uprooting their entire lives and moving to a different state because of this law… Like maybe I’m just being naive but like I know the people that are being talked about and I’m like the other kids are in their stuff but not like they’re not like the stars of the whole entire thing.”
Ovard also notes, “I’m pretty sure like almost everyone that I know that like features their kids in anything, If we’ve ever talked about it. It’s a thing that people like set aside money for their kids and they have their kids set up as employees of their companies and whatever for like taxes all of that type of stuff.”
Could it be political reasons?
Another theory gaining traction is that influencers are leaving California due to its political leanings. As a predominantly “blue” state, California’s policies may not align with some content creators’ personal views.
Xavier herself hinted at political motivations when responding to a comment suggesting she “wanted a red state”.
She replied, “CA leadership is a mess at the moment, they need help. Hoping here has competent leadership, we shall see.”
Another user also commented that “Brittany follows Charlie Kirk and Candace Owen’s Instagram. She’s obviously a trump”.
Brittany replied in a now deleted comment shared by Spill Sesh, “If JD Vance runs in 2028, I’ll be at his rallies. Loved his Munich speech to the UK – I highly regret voting for Biden in 2020.”
The Munich speech she is referring to largely criticised Europe’s approach to freedom of speech and migration.
While we may never know the full story behind each relocation, one thing’s for sure: the landscape of family vlogging is undoubtedly shifting. What’s next for these families? Only time, and probably a whole lot of TikTok videos, will tell.
Lead image: Brittany Xavier via TikTok and Instagram
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