Netflix’s Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing featured shocking revelations with many — but not all — former and current members of Piper Rockelle‘s YouTube squad.
The three-part docuseries, which premiered on Wednesday, April 9, pulled back the curtain on Rockelle’s online presence. Sophie Fergi, Corinne Joy and Sawyer Sharbino are just some of the content creators who spoke out against Piper’s momager Tiffany Smith.
While certain notable YouTubers — including Gavin Magnus and Jentzen Ramirez — were mentioned in the doc, they decided to decline to participate. Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing set the scene for what led to Smith being sued by 11 teen content creators in 2022.
The paperwork claimed that the group was “frequently subjected to an emotionally, physically and sometimes sexually abusive environment perpetrated by Ms. Smith on and off set during filming sessions for Piper’s YouTube channel.” Elsewhere in the complaint, there were allegations that the plaintiffs “spent significant time, energy and expense collaborating” on the YouTube channel “without any compensation.”
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According to the lawsuit, the teenagers were subjected to “inappropriate, offensive and abusive treatment” including “wildly offensive and sexually explicit comments” from Smith. The lawsuit ended in October 2024 with a $1.85 million settlement and Smith denying any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
“Obviously we didn’t do anything that was alleged, but sadly, money is a big motivator for certain personalities in this world. We made the decision to put this behind us because honestly, prolonged litigation would be even more harmful and painful to everyone involved – which includes kids,” Smith said in a statement before the docuseries. “Piper is a minor, and has already been through a great deal of unnecessary and harmful scrutiny. So we prioritized mental health, and made the decision to put this behind us and focus on the next phase of her career.”
Rockelle spoke out at the time as well while addressing the “whole experience” as “extremely painful and, honestly, hard to understand.”
“Not just because of the people making ridiculous claims about me and my family,” she noted. “It’s been incredibly hard because the media and social media have been relentless and so hurtful, without understanding or even trying to understand the truth. It’s become impossible to even look at my phone or do normal, day-to-day things. It’s been so incredibly painful. Thank goodness for my family. And thank goodness this is finally behind us.”
Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing is currently streaming on Netflix. Keep scrolling for a breakdown of which YouTubers took part in Netflix’s docuseries — and which didn’t:
Piper Rockelle
Despite being at the center of the doc, Rockelle “declined to be interviewed or provide a comment” for the series via her attorney. Smith and her boyfriend (known as Rockelle’s onscreen brother) Hunter Hill were also heavily mentioned but didn’t participate.
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Sophie Fergi
Fergi — and her mother Heather — took part in Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing where they recalled living with Rockelle and Smith. They have since had a falling out with Rockelle due to their negative experiences with Smith.
“Tiffany would sexually assault me a lot,” Fergi claimed. “There is so much more that went on that I don’t really want to talk about on camera because it is too much.”
The doc stated that Smith has “publicly denied the accounts” of the former squad members and their parents.
Corinne Joy
After befriending Rockelle, Joy was featured in many of her videos until encounters with Smith made them step away. Both Joy and her mother were prominently featured in the doc, where the YouTuber recalled awkward and uncomfortable alleged conversations and situations involving Rockelle’s mother.
Gavin Magnus
According to multiple doc participants, Smith had a concerning interest in Magnus. The rapper “declined to be interviewed” but footage from a 2019 Instagram Story featured Magnus’ explanation for leaving the YouTube friend group.
“No, I did not break up with Piper,” he revealed at the time. “No one broke up with anyone. It was my parents who pulled me out of a toxic environment, which I am super glad he did.”
Walker Bryant
After Magnus’ exit, Bryant took his place but he didn’t appear in the doc. His mother, however, was interviewed about her alleged negative interactions with Smith, which led to them leaving the self-proclaimed squad.
Raegan Beast
Beast accused Smith of forcing herself on him during a livestream, which was shown in the doc. He claimed the incident was ultimately wiped from the internet after his followers expressed concern about his well being. (Smith denied all the allegations made against her in the doc.)
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Hunter Hill
Hill started as Rockelle’s onscreen brother when he was 19. He subsequently became Smith’s “very much younger boyfriend” and has remained in a relationship with her. Hill declined to speak out in the doc and a message at the end noted that he has denied the allegations “laid out in the 2022 lawsuit.”
Footage of Hill defending Smith during the lawsuit deposition was featured in the doc.
Hayden Haas
While Haas didn’t appear in Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing, he was one of the plaintiffs in the 2022 lawsuit. He has since stepped away from YouTube.
Sawyer Sharbino
Sharbino — and his mother — were candid about the challenges they faced after starting to collaborate with Rockelle and Smith. He has remained a content creator after leaving the squad.
Jentzen Ramirez
Ramirez is one of the few squad members who remained with Rockelle and Smith amid the fallout. His mother, who was interviewed for Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing, revealed she is still not in contact with Ramirez.
“I couldn’t protect Jentzen from what was going on and I couldn’t get him out. So I ended up filing for divorce so I can get legal custody and protect him,” Ramirez’s mother said about what led him to file for emancipation. “By the end of 2022, Jentzen wouldn’t really speak to me. At one point, he told me Tiffany was a better mom than me.”
Claire RockSmith
After her departure from the YouTube group, RockSmith lost contact with Rockelle and Smith. The YouTube star accused her aunt of sexual assault in the doc.
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Reese Rockstar Smith
The youngest former member of the squad — and Smith’s niece — also recalled inappropriate encounters with Rockelle’s mother.
Connor Cain
Cain, who is no longer part of the squad, didn’t appear on screen but his mother did.
“My kid hates social media. My kid doesn’t ever want to do anything like that again,” Cain’s mom revealed. “He has recently said he wants to stop acting.”
Elliana Walmsley
While discussing Claire’s falling out with her aunt and cousin, Walmsley was mentioned in reference to an incident where she was allegedly “getting screamed at” by Smith. Walmsley, who is dating Ramirez, wasn’t featured in the doc.
