At a Glance
- Piper Rockelle launched an OnlyFans account in January 2026, months after turning 18
- Former “Piper Squad” members sued her mom Tiffany Smith in 2022, alleging abuse and unpaid labor; the case settled for $1.85 million in 2024
- A Netflix docuseries “Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing” examined the scandal in April 2025
- Why it matters: The story highlights the long-term fallout of child influencer culture and how former kid stars pivot to adult platforms
Piper Rockelle, once the face of tween YouTube, rang in 2026 by unveiling an OnlyFans account just months after her 18th birthday. The move caps a turbulent period that saw her mother sued by former friends, a multimillion-dollar settlement, and a Netflix docuseries dissecting the family’s empire.
From Pageants to YouTube
Piper was born in Georgia in 2007. She began competing in pageants at age 3 and later found an audience on Musical.ly. Casting calls followed: reality show Dance Twins at age 9, then the role of Skye on the series Mani at 10. When Tiffany felt another actress was getting more lines, she pulled Piper from the project, according to the Netflix docuseries.
The pivot to YouTube came next. Tiffany, Hunter Hill (Tiffany’s then-boyfriend), and Piper moved to Los Angeles and built the channel around “The Piper Squad”-a rotating cast of tweens who filmed pranks, challenges, and crush-centric skits. At peak traffic the channel generated $300,000 to $500,000 a month, the docuseries claims, through ads and brand deals.
The Lawsuit That Changed Everything
In January 2022, 11 former Squad members and their guardians filed suit against Tiffany, alleging:
- No pay for video appearances
- Offensive, sexually explicit comments on set
- Attempts to engineer “ships” (fake teen romances) for views
- Specific accusations of Tiffany trying to kiss one minor and sexually assaulting three others
Tiffany and Hunter denied every allegation. Tiffany countersued for $30 million in summer 2023, claiming extortion, then dropped the suit weeks later. The case settled in October 2024 for $1.85 million, with all parties disclaiming liability.
Netflix Puts the Spotlight on “Kidfluencing”
Netflix’s three-part April 2025 release Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing re-examined the lawsuit and the economics behind under-age content houses. None of the Smith family agreed to on-camera interviews. Viewers learned:
| Key Stat | Figure |
|---|---|
| Piper’s estimated annual earnings pre-lawsuit | $4.2M-$7.5M |
| Monthly drop after YouTube demonetization | $300k-$500k |
| Settlement amount | $1.85M |
Piper Speaks Out
In a May 2025 Rolling Stone interview-her first since the documentary-Piper defended her mother:
> “I witnessed every day … I think they believe what they are saying, but I was there.”
She added that fear of losing Tiffany to authorities “is something I have to worry about.”
Where the Squad Stands Today
Several ex-members still voice concern. Cousin Claire Rock Smith said leaving Piper behind felt like “abandoning her,” while Corinne Joy called Piper “a super sweet girl” who “deserves so much better.” Both indicated they would help Piper if asked.
Life After 18
Piper diversified platforms after YouTube pulled monetization. She posts on:
- TikTok
- Snapchat (bio: “managed by parent”)
- BrandArmy
- Bop House collaborations (February 2025)
The Bop House visit drew criticism because residents are mainly OnlyFans creators. Piper told News Of Losangeles she was “grateful for the opportunity to collab,” later telling Rolling Stone, “I had the best time of my life.”
OnlyFans Launch
On January 1, 2026, Piper tweeted a link to her new OnlyFans account. She claims to have earned “close to $3 million in less than 24 hours.” Amid online backlash she told News Of Losangeles she “couldn’t be more happy” with her decision and now spends her days “chatting” with subscribers and sending custom voice notes.
> “Honestly, I think hate has kept me around for a long, long, long time,” she said. “Without it, I would have become a little bit irrelevant.”
Key Takeaways
- A child-star empire built on YouTube crumbled under abuse and wage allegations, ending in a multimillion-dollar settlement
- Piper Rockelle’s pivot to adult-only platforms marks a stark shift from her tween brand
- Former friends continue to voice worry about her well-being, underscoring the lasting emotional toll of early internet fame
