Piper Rockelle shares cryptic posts and defends her mom Tiffany Smith following shocking allegations in Netflix’s Bad Influence documentary.
Piper Rockelle is speaking out—subtly but surely—following the release of Netflix’s explosive new documentary, Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kid Influencing. The 17-year-old social media star has taken to Instagram and TikTok to share her thoughts on the film, which features disturbing allegations against her mother and manager, Tiffany Smith. While Piper and her family declined to appear in the doc, she’s been using her platform to address the controversy, hinting at her pain, frustration, and plans to eventually tell her own side of the story.
Netflix’s Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kid Influencing shocked viewers with its behind-the-scenes look at child stardom on social media—and the alleged dark truth behind the content creator “Squad” that once surrounded Piper Rockelle. The documentary includes serious accusations of manipulation and abuse by Piper’s mother Tiffany Smith, including claims from former Squad members that she withheld pay, sabotaged careers, and even acted inappropriately toward underage girls.
Piper, now 17, has not remained completely silent. In fact, she’s shared multiple social media posts that fans believe are her subtle responses to the docuseries—and a sign that more is coming.
On April 9, Piper posted an Instagram video where she interacts with an app, asking if it’s worth clearing up rumors. Her caption: “Rumors are not fun, rumors hurt someone.” When the app asks if the rumors have impacted her life, Piper responds, “This rumor unfortunately has kind of hurt my lifestyle in a lot of ways but I’ve just kept going as much as I possibly can.” She then questions whether telling the truth is even worth it.
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She also alludes to karma and suggests that those who have spoken out against her and her mom might eventually face their own consequences. The cryptic tone and choice of words sparked major speculation from fans.
In a separate email to USA Today, Piper issued a direct statement, saying: “Honestly, I just want to move on from all of this because it’s really painful to deal with every day. And not surprisingly, my mental health has suffered more than anyone knows. [The rumors are] mean, untrue, and honestly all about money. My mom did not do any of those things that they said. And I’ll stand by my mom to the end.”
On April 12, Piper uploaded a TikTok where she lip-synced to “I Know, I Know, I Know” by ALINA, captioning it: “Can’t wait to tell my own story and not have other people tell it for me.” The lyrics she mouthed included: “Draw another line, say a quick goodbye… Know you think I’m all attached, but I’m not an idiot,” prompting more speculation that Piper feels misrepresented and manipulated by the media portrayal.
Her fans believe this was a clear nod to Bad Influence, and a signal that she plans to speak publicly about her experience—possibly after she turns 18 on August 21.
Just a day later, Piper posted a new “Get Ready With Me” video and made a surprising statement at the start: “Yeah, I don’t think you guys have heard that in years because I have not had friends in a long time.” She later added, “People suck, people are awful and people lie. And people are just annoying.”
She also replied “shhhhh” to a comment comparing her to Amanda Bynes, the former child star whose troubled rise and fall has become a cautionary tale.
Meanwhile, the co-director of Bad Influence, Jenna Kosher, has publicly expressed compassion for Piper. Speaking to Cosmopolitan UK, she said: “Piper is the ultimate victim here, and this documentary is not in any way [meant] to target Piper. We have tremendous compassion for Piper… and concern over her.”
As Piper navigates life in the spotlight and approaches adulthood, fans remain curious—and hopeful—to hear her full story. One thing is clear: she’s not ready to be silenced.
