Tiffany Smith, known to many as the momager of YouTube star Piper Rockelle, has become the focus of major controversy following the release of Netflix’s documentary Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing. The documentary pulls back the curtain on the world of child influencers and gives viewers a closer look at the allegations against Tiffany — who has managed her daughter’s internet fame for years. Many people want to know if Tiffany Smith is in jail because she is being sued—facing serious accusations and being in the public eye.
The short answer is no, Tiffany Smith has not been criminally charged and she has not served jail time. Despite the serious nature of the claims made against her in a 2022 lawsuit, she remains free and continues to work behind the scenes on her daughter’s brand.
TIFFANY’S ROLE IN PIPER’S RISE TO INTERNET FAME
Tiffany Smith has always been deeply involved in Piper Rockelle’s career. Born and raised in Georgia, Tiffany had her daughter Piper on August 21, 2007. As a single mother and former dog groomer, she quickly noticed Piper’s interest in performing. According to her sister Patience Rock Smith, Tiffany was determined early on to help her daughter become a star, entering her into beauty pageants and shows.
In 2016, Piper started posting videos on YouTube. Her breakout came with the series Mani, and soon, her YouTube channel exploded in popularity. Tiffany, stepping into the “momager” role, handled everything from content ideas to scheduling collaborations. By 2019, the mother-daughter duo had moved to Los Angeles, where Tiffany assembled a group of kids to create content with Piper — known as “The Squad.” These videos featured pranks, skits, and tween-focused content, with Tiffany directing much of the action.
THE 2022 LAWSUIT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Behind the scenes, things were not always so nice. One hundred and eleven parents of children who had worked with Piper sued Tiffany Smith and her partner Hunter Hill in January 2022. They said Tiffany abused them emotionally and physically, sexually abused them, harassed them, and used their money without their permission. Some children had reportedly lived in Tiffany’s home while producing content, and parents said she operated like a boss without providing formal contracts or pay.
There were also allegations that Tiffany orchestrated hate campaigns against kids who left the group and sabotaged their YouTube channels. A now-deleted livestream clip allegedly showed her kissing a 17-year-old, adding to concerns. The case triggered a deeper conversation about how young influencers are treated especially by those closest to them.
TIFFANY’S RESPONSE AND LEGAL ACTION
Tiffany denied all allegations in a December 2022 interview, saying the kids were simply filming content with a phone and were not her employees. She also claimed any drop in other channels’ views came from the end of their collaborations with Piper — who was the most popular of the group.
In 2023, Tiffany filed a $30 million countersuit, claiming the accusations were false and an attempt to extort money. The first case ended in October 2024 with a settlement of $1.85 million—which was a lot less than the $22 million the plaintiffs had asked for. Tiffany did not say she did anything wrong as part of the settlement.
NOT IN JAIL — BUT STILL UNDER SCRUTINY
Despite the disturbing nature of the claims, no criminal charges have been filed against Tiffany Smith or Hunter Hill. As of now, there’s been no official investigation or legal action from law enforcement. According to Bad Influence, the plaintiffs said the lawsuit wasn’t about money — it was about stopping alleged mistreatment and protecting other children.
Text at the end of the documentary confirms that Tiffany, Piper, and Hunter all declined interviews for the series. It also states that both Tiffany and Hunter publicly denied the allegations.
While criminal charges remain a possibility, no public steps in that direction have been announced.
WHAT IS TIFFANY SMITH DOING NOW?
Tiffany has been pretty quiet since the settlement. She still seems to be very involved in her daughter’s career, though. She has been in front of the camera before and has even been credited in Piper’s music and videos. She worked on nine episodes of the “Piper Rockelle show” between 2020 and 2023 — writing and producing some of them.
And even though there has been a lot of trouble, Tiffany is still managing Piper and dating Hunter Hill.
If you want to read more about Piper Rockelle, Tiffany Smith and the world of kidfluencers, go to tvacute.com again soon.
