Tiffany Smith Lawsuit Settled, $1.85M Paid to 11 Kids Who Sued YouTuber Piper Rockelle’s Mom
Tiffany Smith settled the $22 million lawsuit in October 2024 for $1.85 million. Eleven former members of “The Squad”—kids who appeared on daughter Piper Rockelle’s YouTube channel—accused Smith of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse between 2017-2021. Smith denied all wrongdoing as part of settlement terms. She is not in jail and faces no criminal charges. Netflix’s Bad Influence docuseries (April 2025) reignited public interest in the case.
What the 11 Kids Alleged
The lawsuit filed January 2022 in Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles claimed Smith and her boyfriend Hunter Hill:
- Created an emotionally, physically, and sexually abusive environment
- Failed to provide meals, breaks, or schooling during filming
- Never compensated minors despite appearing in hundreds of videos generating millions in revenue
- Used their names, images, and likenesses without permission or payment
- Retaliated against kids who left The Squad
- Conspired to interfere with their individual YouTube channels after they left
- Subjected them to inappropriate sexual content and situations
The Squad worked together creating content from 2017 to 2021, when several members began leaving citing toxic conditions.
Settlement Details: $1.85 Million
Original amount sought: $22 million Settlement amount: $1.85 million Settlement date: October 2024 Terms: Confidential; Smith denied wrongdoing
A spokesperson for the plaintiffs’ law firm told NBC News that Smith denied all allegations as part of the settlement agreement. No party admitted liability.
Former Squad member Sophie Fergi stated in the Netflix doc: “The lawsuit was never about the money.”
Who Is Tiffany Smith?
Tiffany Rockelle Smith is the mother and former manager of YouTube star Piper Rockelle. She launched Piper’s YouTube channel in 2016 when Piper was 9 years old.
Smith managed a rotating cast of child creators known as “The Squad” who appeared regularly in Piper’s videos. The content generated billions of views and millions of dollars.
Squad members included Sophie Fergi, Gavin Magnus, Sawyer Sharbino, Hayden Haas, Corinne Joy, Jentzen Ramirez, Claire RockSmith, and Symonne Harrison, among others.
The Allegations: What the Kids Say Happened
According to the lawsuit and Netflix docuseries Bad Influence, former Squad members describe:
No Compensation Kids appeared in hundreds of videos but were never paid despite generating significant revenue for Smith and Piper Rockelle Inc.
Abusive Environment The lawsuit alleges emotional, physical, and sometimes sexual abuse. Specific claims include inappropriate touching, sexual comments, and exposure to adult content.
No Basic Necessities Smith allegedly failed to provide meals, breaks, or ensure the children attended school during long filming days.
Fear and Manipulation Former members describe a cult-like atmosphere where leaving The Squad meant retaliation. “War was waged on you if you left The Squad,” documentary co-director Kief Davidson said. “These kids started to become fearful. They started to get hate texts.”
Channel Interference After leaving, plaintiffs claim Smith conspired to diminish their individual YouTube channel revenue through coordinated attacks.
What Smith Says
Smith has consistently denied all allegations. She:
- Refused to comment during the lawsuit
- Declined to participate in the Netflix documentary
- Has gone private on social media since the settlement
- Maintains she did nothing wrong
Smith even filed a countersuit against the plaintiffs but later dropped it.
Hunter Hill’s Involvement
Hunter Hill, 28, was Smith’s boyfriend and Piper’s on-camera “older brother figure.” He was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Hill helped create videos and was allegedly present during much of the alleged abuse. Like Smith, he denied all allegations. He was included in the October 2024 settlement.
Impact on Piper Rockelle’s Channel
Demonetization (2022) After the lawsuit was filed, YouTube demonetized Piper’s channel in 2022.
Revenue Loss Court records show Piper’s channel generated $300,000-$500,000 per month before demonetization.
Brand Exodus Major brands pulled out after the allegations became public.
Current Status Despite controversies, Piper maintains a massive following:
- 12.1 million YouTube subscribers
- 6.2 million Instagram followers
- 14.8 million TikTok followers
She continues creating content, though the channel’s profitability has been significantly impacted.
The Netflix Documentary: Bad Influence
Premiere: April 9, 2025 Platform: Netflix Format: Three-part docuseries Directors: Jenna Rosher and Kief Davidson
The documentary features interviews with:
- Former Squad members
- Their parents
- Child safety advocates
- Legal experts
It explores the allegations in detail and raises broader questions about child influencer protections and the “kidfluencing” industry.
Is Tiffany Smith in Jail?
No. Smith has never been criminally charged and faces no criminal prosecution.
The lawsuit was civil, not criminal. Civil lawsuits seek monetary damages; criminal cases result in jail time.
Could criminal charges be filed? Potentially, if authorities launch an official investigation. As of January 2026, no criminal investigation has been announced.
Where Is Tiffany Smith Now?
Smith remains largely out of the public eye. According to reports:
- She has gone private on social media
- She avoids public appearances
- She reportedly still works behind the scenes with Piper
- She may be managing other child influencers
Followers of Piper have speculated about recent posts suggesting Piper may “expose the truth” once she turns 18.
Legal Claims in the Lawsuit
The complaint included multiple causes of action:
- Unjust enrichment – Smith profited from kids’ work without paying them
- Violation of child labor laws – Failed to follow California’s Coogan Law requiring 15% of earnings be set aside for child performers
- Sexual harassment – Alleged inappropriate conduct and comments
- Intentional infliction of emotional distress – Deliberate creation of hostile environment
- Interference with prospective economic advantage – Sabotaging their individual channels after leaving
- Retaliation – Punishing kids who complained or left
California’s Coogan Law
California requires that 15% of a child performer’s gross earnings be set aside in a blocked trust account.
The law applies to children working in entertainment, including:
- Film and TV
- Theater
- Commercials
- Social media content creation
The lawsuit alleged Smith violated Coogan Law by not compensating the children or setting aside their required earnings.
What Happens When Kids Leave The Squad?
According to former members and their parents:
- Tiffany would start hate campaigns against them
- Other Squad members were instructed to stop talking to them
- Their individual YouTube channels faced coordinated negative campaigns
- They received threatening texts and messages
- They were “blacklisted” from the influencer community
“If you leave The Squad, you’re going to get blacklisted. She would start a hate campaign,” one former member stated in the documentary.
Piper Rockelle’s Response
Piper, now 17, has never publicly criticized her mother. She:
- Continues creating content
- Has taken jabs at the Netflix documentary on social media
- Appears to support her mother
Former Squad members and their families express concern for Piper, viewing her as another victim of her mother’s alleged abuse. However, Piper has not publicly expressed this view.
What Child Safety Advocates Say
Sarah Adams of Mom.Uncharted, who advocates for minor safety on social media, has raised concerns about:
- Piper’s increasingly sexual content despite being underage
- Smith allegedly orchestrating this content shift
- Piper’s presence on BrandArmy, a platform compared to OnlyFans but without nudity
- The lack of protections for child influencers
Adams stated Smith has had to “diversify Piper’s brand and look at other channels to monetize her child” after YouTube demonetization.
The Broader Kidfluencing Industry
The Tiffany Smith case highlights systemic issues in child influencer content:
Lack of Regulation Unlike traditional child performers, kidfluencers face minimal legal protections. Many states don’t require:
- Work permits
- Set education
- Limited work hours
- Earnings protections
Parental Control Parents manage their children’s channels with little oversight, creating potential for exploitation.
Revenue Generation Top child influencers generate millions annually, creating financial incentives that may not align with the child’s best interests.
Long-Term Impact Children growing up in front of cameras face privacy violations, lost childhood, and psychological effects.
Settlement Distribution
The $1.85 million settlement was divided among:
- 11 plaintiff minors
- Attorney’s fees and costs
- Potential service awards to named plaintiffs
After legal fees, each child likely received significantly less than the total divided by 11.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Tiffany Smith go to jail?
No. She was never criminally charged. The lawsuit was civil, seeking monetary damages.
How much did each kid get from the settlement?
Unknown. Settlement terms are confidential. After attorney’s fees, each of the 11 children received a portion of $1.85 million.
Is Piper Rockelle still making videos?
Yes. She remains active on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok with millions of followers.
Can Tiffany Smith still be charged criminally?
Potentially, if authorities investigate. As of January 2026, no criminal investigation has been announced.
What is The Squad?
A rotating group of child content creators who appeared regularly in Piper Rockelle’s YouTube videos from 2017-2021.
Why did YouTube demonetize Piper’s channel?
After the lawsuit allegations became public in 2022, YouTube removed monetization citing concerns about child safety.
Will Piper speak out against her mother?
Unclear. Followers speculate she may “expose the truth” when she turns 18, but she has not publicly criticized her mother.
What is Bad Influence about?
A Netflix docuseries exploring allegations against Tiffany Smith and the darker side of child influencer culture.
For more on this case, watch Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing on Netflix.
This article provides general information about the Tiffany Smith lawsuit and should not be considered legal advice.
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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