Netflix’s new docuseries Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing exams the dangers of child influencers through telling the story of Piper Rockelle and her “squad” of child influencer friends. Rockelle began making YouTube videos in 2016 at the age of 9 and amassed a following of 12 million subscribers. Former squad members/child influencers who worked with Piper came forward to tell a sickening story in the docuseries.
The scrutiny in Bad Influence revolves around Piper’s mother and momager, Tiffany Smith. Back in 2022, 11 of Piper’s former collaborators sued Tiffany for child abuse. The lawsuit was settled for $1.85 million. Bad Influence interviews some of the child influencers involved in the lawsuit.
Some of the child influencers interviewed in Bad Influence.
The major allegations in Bad Influence include:
Piper is still a minor. She and Tiffany declined to be interviewed for the Netflix doc. On April 8, Smith told People the lawsuit was “crazy people making even crazier accusations” and that the Netflix series “put kids in danger.”
Piper has vaguely alluded to the Netflix doc’s allegations on her social media without directly addressing Bad Influence. One video seems to suggest she won’t be friends with people who watch the doc, another sees her seeking advice about people who start “rumors”. In the latter video Piper said, “This rumor unfortunately has kind of hurt my lifestyle in a lot of ways, but I’ve just kept going as much as I possibly can.”
Tiffany gave a statement to People that said “This whole experience — from the claims and power plays from the stage moms to, now, the Netflix reality show — has been the most upsetting and difficult experience of my life.” She also vows that one day the truth will be shared.
Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing is currently streaming on Netflix.
The scrutiny in Bad Influence revolves around Piper’s mother and momager, Tiffany Smith. Back in 2022, 11 of Piper’s former collaborators sued Tiffany for child abuse. The lawsuit was settled for $1.85 million. Bad Influence interviews some of the child influencers involved in the lawsuit.
Some of the child influencers interviewed in Bad Influence.
The major allegations in Bad Influence include:
- Raegan Beast, one of kids Piper would collaborate with, says that Tiffany asked him inappropriate sexual questions and eventually kissed him on the mouth, which was caught on tape. He was 17 at the time and says Tiffany gave him alcohol beforehand. Tiffany says she regrets “that stupid, silly kiss.”
- One of the child influencers in Piper’s squad says Tiffany sexually abused her and at least two other children. She says she still sleeps with a knife because one of the incidents of sexual abuse involved waking up at Piper’s house with Tiffany straddling and caressing her. One of the children was just 9-years-old at this time.
- One mother who was working as the squad’s stylist claims Tiffany asked for Piper’s clothes to be “sluttier”.
- Tiffany allegedly encouraged her 10-year-old daughter and other children to make content catering to a pedophile. Despite referring to the anonymous fan as a “stalker” and a “pervert”, Tiffany encouraged the child influencers to make content for him and they were rewarded with Gucci bags. Tiffany told People that the other moms were just jealous of the gifts and she did not encourage the relationship.
- One of Piper’s child influencer friends says Tiffany was selling Piper’s underwear to pedophile fans.
- Piper allegedly asked fellow influencer Sophie Fergi’s mother to move into her home, saying “I need a stable parent. I don’t have that.” Sophie and her mom did move in with Piper and Tiffany, but Tiffany says it’s because they were “struggling”.
Piper is still a minor. She and Tiffany declined to be interviewed for the Netflix doc. On April 8, Smith told People the lawsuit was “crazy people making even crazier accusations” and that the Netflix series “put kids in danger.”
Piper has vaguely alluded to the Netflix doc’s allegations on her social media without directly addressing Bad Influence. One video seems to suggest she won’t be friends with people who watch the doc, another sees her seeking advice about people who start “rumors”. In the latter video Piper said, “This rumor unfortunately has kind of hurt my lifestyle in a lot of ways, but I’ve just kept going as much as I possibly can.”
Tiffany gave a statement to People that said “This whole experience — from the claims and power plays from the stage moms to, now, the Netflix reality show — has been the most upsetting and difficult experience of my life.” She also vows that one day the truth will be shared.
Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing is currently streaming on Netflix.