At a Glance
- Former child YouTuber Piper Rockelle earned $3 million on her first day of OnlyFans
- She launched the account on January 1 after months of teasing followers
- A 2022 lawsuit against her mother and 2025 Netflix docuseries reignited scrutiny
- Why it matters: The 18-year-old’s pivot from kid content to adult platforms highlights the blurred lines of child stardom and monetization
Piper Rockelle, who first found fame at age 8 when her mother began posting YouTube videos, now faces a new chapter after debuting on OnlyFans and earning nearly $3 million in 24 hours.
From Child Star to Adult Content Creator
Rockelle’s online presence began when her mother, Tiffany Smith, uploaded videos of the then-8-year-old. She quickly became the face of the “Piper Squad,” a collective of tween creators producing collaborative content. The channel amassed millions of views and turned the pre-teens into household names among young audiences.
In 2022, the empire fractured. Eleven teens involved in the channel filed suit against Smith, claiming they received no payment for appearances and endured “inappropriate, offensive and abusive treatment,” including “wildly offensive and sexually explicit comments.”
Smith denied every allegation. The case settled in October 2024 for just under $2 million, with paperwork explicitly stating no admission of liability. The matter resurfaced in April 2025 when Netflix released Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing, a docuseries revisiting the accusations against Smith during Rockelle’s early internet years.
OnlyFans Launch and Backlash
On January 1, Rockelle activated her OnlyFans account after weeks of hinting to followers. She acknowledged the audience she built as a minor contains “a lot of younger kids,” yet said the anticipated criticism did not sway her.
“I thrive off of the hate,” she told News Of Losangeles. “Honestly, I think hate has kept me around for a long, long, long time. I think, without it, I would have become a little bit irrelevant.”
Screenshots she posted on X show earnings approaching $3 million within the first day. Rockelle said her initial purchase with the proceeds was a new car for her grandmother.
Trust Issues and Isolation
Despite the financial windfall, Rockelle described a solitary reality behind the screen. Asked who supports her during online storms, she replied, “I don’t trust anybody.”
“Each time I do trust someone, it just proves another reason why I shouldn’t,” she continued. “Unfortunately, humans, they can’t help but lie, they can’t help but cheat. It’s human nature and there’s not much you can do about it.”
She added, “I’m cool with what I have. I don’t think anyone takes my relationships or my friendships seriously, so I just don’t take most of them seriously either.”
Life in the Spotlight
Rockelle conceded that constant scrutiny complicates personal connections. Conversations can end up as TikTok fodder, creating an environment where privacy feels unattainable. Still, she accepts the trade-off.
“This is all I’ve ever wanted, so I’m not gonna let anyone take it away from me,” she said.
She admitted fleeting thoughts of walking away: “There’s been moments where I’m like, ‘Yep, this is it. I’m done. I’m leaving forever. I’m not coming back on the internet.’ You know how you can’t quit an addiction unless you’re actually ready? This isn’t an addiction, but it is something that has literally made me who I am today. So, yeah, I’m not gonna just let go of it.”
Key Takeaways
- Piper Rockelle transitioned from child YouTuber to OnlyFans creator at 18, generating $3 million in one day
- A $2 million 2024 settlement and a 2025 Netflix series kept past allegations in headlines
- She embraces online criticism, claiming negativity sustains her relevance
- Trust remains elusive; she says she keeps few confidants and expects betrayal
- Despite pressures, Rockelle vows to maintain the digital presence that shaped her identity
