Mom of YouTube star Piper Rockelle accused of abusing young content creators

The mother of a teen YouTube sensation was accused of sexually, physically and emotionally abusing nearly a dozen of her daughter’s young co-creators and is set to face her alleged victims in court later this year.

Tiffany Smith, whose daughter is 15-year-old YouTuber Piper Rockelle, was sued last year by the 11 young content creators over the alleged abuse as well as an apparent lack of compensation for their work.

Smith is accused of “harassment, molestation and abuse,” according to the complaint filed in January 2022. The civil trial had been scheduled to start in Los Angeles on Monday, but was pushed off to November 6 several months ago, plaintiff attorney Matt Sarelson told The Post.

The momager earned a reputation as a “mean-spirited control freak” whose interactions with the content creators “were not only sexually inappropriate and confrontational, but often reprehensible and even illegal,” the suit alleges.

In total, the plaintiffs — who are all former members of the “Piper Squad” and starred on her daughter’s YouTube channel — are seeking at least $22 million in damages from Smith and her boyfriend, Hunter Hill, who is also involved in the production of Piper’s channel.

The complaint accuses Smith of making shocking remarks about the teens’ genitalia, including reportedly asking one content maker how long his penis was. She also allegedly told another creator she was flat-chested.


Piper Rockelle with her mother Tiffany Smith.
Piper Rockelle with her mother, Tiffany Smith.
YouTube/Piper Rockelle

Tiffany Smith was sued last year by the 11 young content creators over the alleged abuse and lack of compensation.
Tiffany Smith was sued last year by the 11 young content creators over the alleged abuse and lack of compensation.
Instagram

The complaint accuses Smith of making shocking remarks about the teens’ genitalia
The complaint accuses Smith of making shocking remarks about the teens’ genitalia.
YouTube / Piper Rockelle

Smith's boyfriend Hunter Hill pictured with Piper.
Smith’s boyfriend Hunter Hill, pictured here with Piper, is also being sued.
Instagram/@itshunterhill

Hunter Hill.
Hunter Hill is the cinematographer behind Piper’s YouTube channel.
Instagram/@itshunterhill

In another disturbing instance, the complaint claims Smith mailed an unknown man her daughter’s underwear because “old men like to smell this stuff,” she allegedly told one of the plaintiffs.

She also was accused of touching the legs, thighs and buttocks of the children inappropriately, and encouraging the teens to be sexually aggressive during video shoots to make the staged romantic connection look more real, the lawsuit states.

The pretend romantic crushes that the young creators were supposed to have on each other allegedly caused online bullying, NBC News reported.


In total, the plaintiffs are seeking at least $22 million in damages from Smith and her boyfriend, Hunter Hill.
In total, the plaintiffs are seeking at least $22 million in damages from Smith and her boyfriend, Hunter Hill.
YouTube / Piper Rockelle

Gavin Magnus, Piper Rockelle, Sawyer Sharbino, Sophie Fergi, Hayden Haas and Corrine Joy arrive for Gavin Magnus Video Release For "Crushin" And Celebration Of 1 Million YouTube Followers For Piper Rockelle on February 11, 2019.
Gavin Magnus, Piper Rockelle, Sawyer Sharbino, Sophie Fergi, Hayden Haas and Corrine Joy arrive for the celebration of 1 million YouTube followers for Piper Rockelle on February 11, 2019.
Getty Images

Elliana Walmsley,  Claire Rock Smith, Emily Dobson, Piper Rockelle, Symonne Harrison,  Lev Cameron, Hayden Haas, Sawyer Sharbino, Ayden Mekus,Jentzen Ramirez and Connor Cain participate in the 2nd Annual Toys For Tots Toy Drive held at The Industry Loft Space on November 21, 2020.
Elliana Walmsley, Claire Rock Smith, Emily Dobson, Piper Rockelle, Symonne Harrison, Lev Cameron, Hayden Haas, Sawyer Sharbino, Ayden Mekus, Jentzen Ramirez and Connor Cain participate in the 2nd Annual Toys For Tots Toy Drive held at The Industry Loft Space on November 21, 2020.
Getty Images

“I just want peace back with my kids,” Ashley Anne-Rock Smith told the outlet. Her two daughters are cousins of Rockelle and appeared in nearly 100 of her videos.

The plaintiffs were never compensated by Smith for their likeness, which was used to promote Piper’s content, the lawsuit alleges. However, they acknowledged that compensation wasn’t promised beforehand.

When nine of the content creators left “Piper’s Squad,” their own YouTube channels got fewer clicks and subscribers, according to the suit. The plaintiffs claimed Smith and her boyfriend falsely flagged their videos as inappropriate or embedded their content on porn sites so it was restricted on YouTube.


Tiffany Smith.
The plaintiffs were allegedly never compensated by Smith for using their likeness to promote Piper’s channel.
YouTube/Piper Rockelle

As a result, they all missed out on collecting more revenue, the suit says.

Smith countersued for $30 million in July, claiming the plaintiffs’ mothers were working together to extort money by making up lies about alleged sexual abuse, but she dropped it shortly after, NBC News reported.

One of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs reportedly called Smith’s claims “baseless.”


Corinne Joy at the premiere of "Prom Pact" held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on March 24.
Corinne Joy at the premiere of “Prom Pact” held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on March 24.
Variety via Getty Images

Hayden Haas attends the Starry Nights Themed PROM: In Celebration Of Kennedy Garcia's 18th Birthday held at First Neighborhood Community Center on May 13, 2022.
Hayden Haas attends the Starry Nights Themed PROM: In Celebration Of Kennedy Garcia’s 18th Birthday held at First Neighborhood Community Center on May 13, 2022.
Getty Images

Reese Rocksmith.
Reese Rocksmith, a member of “Piper’s Squad.”
Instagram/@reeserockstarsmith

Claire Rocksmith attends the premiere party For "Sister Rules" held at Talaria Private Theater on March 10.
Claire Rocksmith attends the premiere party For “Sister Rules” held at Talaria Private Theater on March 10.
Getty Images

Symonne Harrison at the premiere of "Prom Pact" held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on March 24.
Symonne Harrison at the premiere of “Prom Pact” held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on March 24.
Variety via Getty Images

Sawyer Sharbino attends the Zigazoo launch party on March 25.
Sawyer Sharbino attends the Zigazoo launch party on March 25.
Getty Images for The Collab Experience Orlando

Donald Dougher attends Wish.com's Pink Prom at Wish House on July 09, 2021.
Donald Dougher attends Wish.com’s Pink Prom at Wish House on July 09, 2021.
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Connor Cain attends Brooklyn Queen's Sweet 16 held at Avalon Hollywood & Bardot on June 24, 2021.
Connor Cain attends Brooklyn Queen’s Sweet 16 held at Avalon Hollywood & Bardot on June 24, 2021.
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Social Media Personality Walker Bryant attends the sweet 16th Birthday Party for Sawyer Sharbino at Brilliant Screen Studios on March 05, 2022.
Walker Bryant attends the sweet 16th Birthday Party for Sawyer Sharbino at Brilliant Screen Studios on March 5, 2022.
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Sophie Fergi attends YouTube Shorts Creator Day at Spruce Goose Hanger on March 21.
Sophie Fergi attends YouTube Shorts Creator Day at Spruce Goose Hanger on March 21.
Getty Images for YouTube Shorts

Ayden Mekus attends the Alexis Marrero "Wake Me Up" Music Release Party held at The Industry Loft Space on April 15.
Ayden Mekus attends the Alexis Marrero “Wake Me Up” Music Release Party held at The Industry Loft Space on April 15.
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Piper was only 9 years old when she became an online sensation.

Her channel, which has more than 10 million subscribers, was demonetized in February 2022 after Business Insider reached out to YouTube about the numerous allegations against Smith and Hill.

Additional reporting by Priscilla DeGregory