YouTube mom’s child abuse scandal reaches $1.85 million settlement
A yearslong case involving the mother of a popular YouTube star and 11 teen content creators who accused her of abuse and exploitation came to an end Tuesday after the parties reached a $1.85 million settlement, according to attorneys for the plaintiffs.
Tiffany Smith was sued in January 2022 by the group of teenagers who were regularly featured on her daughter Piper Rockelle’s popular YouTube channel, which at the time had 8.85 million followers.
The creators alleged that Smith, 43, intentionally inflicted emotional distress while she held a position of “care and control” over them in the production of content for Rockelle’s YouTube channel. They said they endured physical and emotional injuries from “harassment, molestation, and abuse,” according to the complaint.
Some of the plaintiffs also said they weren’t compensated for the use of their likenesses to promote Rockelle’s content, and all of them alleged they weren’t paid for their work and appearances, though they say they weren’t promised payment.
