Former child star Brandon 'Bug' Hall recently started a GoFundMe while he is expecting his sixth child with his wife, Jill Marie DeGroff.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleBrandon "Bug" Hall has opened up about the painful experience that made him take a vow of poverty. In turn, he also left his former Hollywood lifestyle behind. The Little Rascals star revealed that he had a relapse, and the shame associated with the arrests pushed him to rethink his life. However, his decision to live with minimal expenses came into the spotlight after he began a GoFundMe campaign to raise USD 2,000 for his growing family.
Bug Hall recently sat down for an interview with Page Six and recalled his first arrest in June 2020 after he was accused of huffing air duster cans. He shared that the incident took place on Father's Day, when his wife and children were out of town. In fact, the weak moment came after he had been sober for 12 years, apart from an earlier relapse. The 41-year-old admitted that he was still struggling with self-pity and resentment during that time.
The former child actor explained that he had just completed an executive producer assignment for a Netflix show he had sold. So, when the work responsibility was done, and his family was away, Bug relapsed. In his words:
"So, I relapsed, and it was a horror to my wife. Thanks be to God, my children don't have any clue. I mean, they were out of town. I was a horror to my parents. It was a horror to everybody. What a disgrace."
Bug mentioned that the incident left his parents and family devastated. But he was still grateful that his children were away, as they didn't see what happened to him. The 41-year-old also said that he did not make any major changes to his lifestyle after his first relapse. Later, the spotlight on his next arrest was more difficult to handle. Bug described that seeing his mugshot go viral on different news outlets was "soul-crushing" and the shame was difficult to bear.
After he spent around six months feeling unable to get out of bed, he started to look for a different way to live. During that time, the former child star was inspired by the lives of Catholic saints and began to think about how he could apply their approach to faith and sacrifice in his married life.
Eventually, the thought led him to take a vow of poverty. He explained that the decision also helped him find a purpose and something to keep him in line. The vow means that Bug and his family use as little money as possible. In fact, they try to keep their monthly expenses close to zero. Bug also explained that their bills are around USD 300, including a phone bill and a small electricity bill.
For those who don't know, Bug Hall's vow of poverty and exit from Hollywood have led him and his family to live a more self-sufficient lifestyle. He and his wife, Jill, moved with their five children to a rural area near Mountain Home in Arkansas. Bug and Jill are now working on building a permanent home on their property, but it has not been easy.
Meanwhile, the family is now living in a camper while trying to make a new home and manage their daily expenses. However, the mounting bills and difficulty managing their basic needs made Bug start a GoFundMe campaign for help.
His wife is also expecting their sixth child within less than a month. The 41-year-old had initially set up a fundraising goal of USD 2,000. But the donations quickly went far beyond that amount and reached more than USD 27,000. Gerelyn Gilbert-Soto, the girlfriend of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, has made one of the biggest contributions of USD 2,000 to it.
In the GoFundMe description, Bug explained that he had avoided seeking financial help for six years. Rather, he felt that the decision to leave Hollywood and lead a self-sufficient lifestyle was his own. However, his family's situation forced him to seek some support.
Some social media users criticized him for asking for donations rather than getting a regular job. One critic specifically asked him to stop having more kids if he couldn't afford them. In turn, Bug wrote:
"I'm going to keep impregnating my wife."
Bug Hall's fundraiser has now become the new subject of controversy after he revealed that he was unable to access the money. The former child actor shared an X update on November 9, 2026, and stated that GoFundMe had temporarily placed his account under automatic lockdown. The decision came after some people reported his fundraiser. Meanwhile, the platform hasn't publicly confirmed the exact reason for the payment pause.
However, Bug mentioned that he intended to keep the donations despite the initial suggestions that he should take it down after he got his demand of USD 2,000. He wrote to a supporter that he had argued with his friends who wanted him to leave the campaign open and added that "a man always does what he says." He also blamed the reported complaints on "petty leftists."
What do you think about Bug Hall's revelations about "vow of poverty"?
Next Read: Chinese 'Spy' Alice Huang Bragged About Access To Nvidia CEO In WeChat Posts Featuring Loved-Up Pics