The upcoming series ‘Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing’ examines unsettling narratives surrounding child influencers, focusing on Tiffany Smith and her daughter Piper Rockelle.
Netflix is preparing to release a provocative new documentary series titled “Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing,” slated to debut on April 9. The series aims to delve into unsettling narratives surrounding the world of child influencers, particularly focusing on the figure of Tiffany Smith, who refers to herself as the ‘Madame of YouTube.’
The three-part investigative series examines Tiffany’s daughter, Piper Rockelle, a successful YouTuber, and her collective known as The Squad, which consisted of several aspiring child stars who created viral content in Los Angeles. With millions in earnings from elaborate pranks and cheerful videos, they appeared to capture the essence of youthful fun. However, behind this façade, questions about the welfare of the children have come to light.
In a shocking segment from the trailer, 17-year-old influencer Corinne Areeco recounts a troubling incident involving Tiffany Smith. According to Corinne, while waiting to pick Piper up from a lesson, Tiffany revealed that she needed to go to the post office to mail some items. Corinne claims Tiffany took out what appeared to be Piper’s underwear and explained, “old men like to sniff them.” Corinne expressed her confusion over Tiffany’s statement, highlighting the unsettling nature of the encounter. This moment has left viewers on social media expressing feelings of unease regarding the implications of children being placed in such situations.
Corinne’s mother, Steevy Areeco, has also spoken about the incident, recalling her daughter’s bewilderment upon returning home. Steevy reports that she confronted Tiffany about the conversation but was dismissed as being overly dramatic.
The teaser’s unsettling content has garnered a range of reactions on social media, with users expressing concern over the exploitation of children in media. Comments have been critical of parents and guardians who allow kids to be in the spotlight, with some labelling the upcoming documentary as essential viewing for understanding the darker aspects of child fame.
In a related legal context, Tiffany Smith settled a lawsuit in October 2024 filed by 11 teenagers who accused her of sexual abuse. The allegations included inappropriate physical contact and explicit comments made towards the minors. Smith has publicly denied these allegations, and the settlement reached was confidential, complicating the details surrounding the case. The suit listed well-known ex-members of The Squad, including Sawyer Sharbino and Claire Rocksmith, as complainants.
The legal claims also included accounts of Tiffany reportedly mailing Piper’s ‘soiled training bras and panties’ to individuals she claimed were interested in such items. In the lawsuit, Tiffany’s alleged behavior was described as grotesque, prompting lead attorney Matt Sarelson of the Dhillon Law Group to commend the bravery of the teenage plaintiffs in coming forward with their experiences.
As the release date for the docuseries approaches, it promises to ignite further discussion surrounding child influencers and the complexities involved in their rise to fame.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://people.com/settlement-reached-in-child-abuse-lawsuit-against-youtube-piper-rockelle-mom-tiffany-smith-8725209 – This article provides extensive details about a lawsuit against Tiffany Smith, the mother of YouTuber Piper Rockelle, including allegations of abuse and exploitation of minors involved with The Squad. It also discusses the settlement reached in the case.
- https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2024-10-10/youtube-influencer-piper-rockelle-mother-lawsuit-settlement – This article gives insight into the settlement of the lawsuit against Tiffany Smith and its implications on the world of child influencers. It highlights the lack of regulation in such spheres.
- https://www.dhillonlaw.com/lawsuits/youtube-influencers-v-piper-rockelle-inc/ – This link from the Dhillon Law Group provides details about the lawsuit filed by several YouTube influencers against Tiffany Rockelle Smith and her business, alleging serious misconduct including sexual battery and exploitation.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This source provides an overview of the upcoming documentary series ‘Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing’ and its focus on the controversies surrounding Tiffany Smith and her daughter Piper Rockelle.
- https://www.instagram.com/pipperockelle/ – This is Piper Rockelle’s Instagram account, providing insight into her and her mother’s public presence and influence.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative discusses a forthcoming documentary series set to release on April 9, 2025. It references recent legal actions from October 2024, indicating that much of the information is current. However, without further context or confirmation of the release date being recent news, the score is slightly diminished.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
Direct quotes, such as Corinne Areeco’s account and her mother’s reaction, do not seem to be directly referenced in earlier sources. However, for a thorough verification, more specific origins of these quotes would be beneficial.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, which is known but can sometimes be sensational. While generally reliable, the sensational nature of the content may require further verification from other reputable sources.
Plausability check
Score:
6
Notes:
The claims are plausible given the context of recent legal actions, but specifics about Tiffany Smith’s alleged behavior are difficult to verify without access to legal documents. The nature of the allegations is serious and matches other narratives about the exploitation of child influencers.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative includes recent information and discusses plausible concerns about child influencers. However, it lacks detailed verification of quotes and source materials, particularly regarding the legal case. Further investigation is needed for a definitive verdict.
