Pam Stepnick, mother of internet sensations Jake and Logan Paul, is launching a new book that mixes memoir with a cautionary tale about fame. The release on Jan. 27 comes amid revelations of family abuse, a messy divorce, and a new partnership that has reshaped her life. Readers get an inside look at the highs and lows of being the original “mom of influencers.”
**At a Glance
- Pam Stepnick’s book drops Jan. 27, detailing her sons’ rise to internet stardom.
- The narrative includes abuse allegations against their father and a turbulent divorce.
- Stepnick shares her journey to a new partnership and a fresh start.
Book Release
Pam Stepnick’s forthcoming title, F* the Pauls: Written by Their Mother, is a part memoir and part cautionary tale. She explains that before Jake and Logan entered boxing, WWE, and viral stunts, they were just two kids from Ohio with a camcorder. The book chronicles what happens when children become overnight sensations and the internet turns against a family.
‘I’ve never personally said the words “F— the Pauls”, but plenty of people have,’ said Pam Stepnick, explaining the title. The official synopsis says the story covers the challenges of sudden fame, the internet’s backlash, and the family’s struggle to keep their lives together while building empires. Stepnick says her experience as the “original mom of influencers” offers lessons that are “deeply universal.”
Preorders are available now wherever books are sold, and the book promises an unfiltered look at the rise of the Paul family and the hidden costs of fame.
Family Turmoil Revealed
The book also delves into the collapse of Stepnick’s marriage to Greg Pauls. In August 2023, Jake publicly accused their father of physical abuse in Netflix’s Untold series. Greg denied the claims, saying he never laid a hand on the boys but admitted to a “tough-love approach.”
‘My dad would slap the s— out of me,’ said Jake in the first installment of Untold. Greg responded, “I said, “Jake I did pick you up and throw you on a couch a couple of times,”” explaining that his actions were meant to be a lesson.
Stepnick recounts a specific incident that foreshadowed the divorce: a wallpaper dispute that escalated into a violent confrontation. Greg locked the boys in the bathroom, demanded confessions, and physically punished Jake. Stepnick describes the scene: “I’m not letting you out until one of you confesses,” he roared, and later dragged Jake to the couch and spanked him.
‘Stop! Stop it!’ Pam cried as Greg pushed her away. He later locked Jake in a bedroom and blocked the stairs. Stepnick recalls feeling trapped and fearful of further violence.
After Stepnick left with Logan for a friend’s house, Greg shouted, ‘F- you! F- you! F- you!’ and threatened to punch her if she had been a man. The emotional abuse extended into the divorce process, where Greg tried to alienate the children and portray Stepnick as a gold digger.
Abuse Allegations and Legal Fallout
In the same August 2023 episode, Jake detailed the abuse, saying his father “would slap the s— out of me.” Greg’s denial was coupled with an admission of a “tough-love approach,” which many interpreted as a cover for physical discipline.
Stepnick’s narrative explains how she sought marriage counseling after the wallpaper incident, but Greg refused, insisting, “I’m Greg Paul, and I can fix anything. We don’t need marriage counseling.” Eventually, a therapist concluded that Greg was a psycho and that Stepnick needed to leave the marriage. The therapist told her, “Your husband is a psycho, and you need to get out of this marriage. He is not going to change.”
The legal battle saw Stepnick and Greg legally separate, with Stepnick eventually gaining shared custody. She moved into a rental in Rocky River while the divorce finalized. Greg’s attempts to control the children continued, but Stepnick stood her ground.
Divorce, New Life, and Future Plans
After the divorce, Stepnick entered a new relationship with David, a doctor and deacon. She began dating him in October 2002, and after a year of courtship, he proposed during a vacation in Prague. Stepnick credits David with giving her the strength to move forward and to break generational trauma.
Stepnick says she wanted her sons to grow up as good husbands who cherish their wives, rather than repeat the cycle of violence she witnessed. She says, “I didn’t introduce my sons to David until the following October, 2002, and we dated for an additional year before he proposed to me on a vacation in Prague.” She believes that her new partnership has provided a calm, steady foundation for her family.
The book, which goes on sale Jan. 27, offers readers an unfiltered look at the rise of the Paul family, the hidden costs of fame, and the resilience required to rebuild after abuse. It is available for preorder now wherever books are sold.
Stepnick’s story is a reminder that behind the viral videos and celebrity headlines, families can face intense turmoil. Her book gives a voice to those who have been silenced by fame and abuse.
