> At a Glance
> – Piper Rockelle, 18, defended joining OnlyFans in her first post-debut interview
> – She earned $2.9 million in her first 24 hours on the subscription platform
> – Critics say her child-star past makes the move inappropriate
> – Why it matters: The clash highlights how young influencers navigate growing up in public
Eighteen-year-old Piper Rockelle is brushing off backlash after launching an OnlyFans account on January 1, telling Rolling Stone that fans “are having a harder time letting my childhood go than me.”
From YouTube Kid to OnlyFans Star
Rockelle began posting a decade ago on a channel run by her mom, Tiffany Smith, and quickly amassed millions of followers as part of the “Piper Squad.”
Now legal adulthood has shifted both her platform and her income stream:
- January 1: OnlyFans account goes live
- First-day earnings top $2.9 million, per screenshots she shared on X
- First big purchase: a car for her grandmother
Facing the Critics
Some followers argue the pivot endorses adult content to her young fan base. Rockelle rejects that blame.
> “I can’t influence anyone to do anything. If they want to be like me, then be like me. That’s their choice.”
She adds that detractors “can’t turn around and become an OnlyFans model” after preaching against self-exploitation, calling her move “proving everybody wrong.”
Living Without Regrets
Rockelle admits she may one day regret the decision, but says she’s “trying to live with no regrets,” noting her reputation was never squeaky-clean to begin with.
> “Why not just f-ing add onto it?”
Key Takeaways
- Rockelle earned $2.9 million in 24 hours on OnlyFans
- She frames the backlash as resistance to her leaving child-star image behind
- The creator insists personal choice, not influence, drives fan behavior
The interview underscores the tightrope young influencers walk when their audience grows up alongside-and sometimes against-them.
