Tiffany Smith, the mother of popular YouTuber Piper Rockelle, has settled a long-running legal battle for $1.85 million with 11 teen content creators who accused her of abuse and exploitation. The teens, who appeared regularly on Rockelle’s channel, sued Smith in January 2022, claiming she inflicted emotional distress and subjected them to physical and emotional harm during their time working under her direction. Some also alleged they were never paid for their contributions or likenesses used in the channel’s videos, despite appearing in monetized content that earned substantial revenue.

The plaintiffs were part of a cast known as the “Piper Squad,” participating in videos featuring pranks and challenges. Many of these videos staged romantic crushes between the minors, a point of contention in the lawsuit. The settlement, finalized this week, concluded a lawsuit in which the plaintiffs had originally sought around $22 million in damages. Smith’s boyfriend, Hunter Hill, who directed and edited Rockelle’s YouTube content, was also included in the settlement.

Smith has maintained her innocence, denying any wrongdoing. In 2022, she told the Los Angeles Times that she didn’t consider herself an employer and eventually obtained a permit to work with minors. Smith also countersued for $30 million, accusing the plaintiffs’ mothers of attempting to extort her through false allegations, though she dropped the lawsuit voluntarily.

This case has brought attention to the unregulated world of child YouTube stardom, where young creators often work without the protections typically granted to minors in traditional entertainment. While the plaintiffs’ attorney praised the teens for their courage, others have pointed to the case as evidence that stronger regulations are needed. Laws like the Fair Labor Standards Act, which governs child labor, have not been updated to include child influencers.

Recent legislative efforts, such as bills signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom and supported by former child star Demi Lovato, aim to protect the earnings and rights of child content creators. Several other states, including Illinois, have followed suit by introducing similar legislation to protect young influencers. However, Angela Sharbino, mother of one of the plaintiffs, emphasized that the lawsuit was never about changing the industry but about holding Smith accountable and helping the teens heal from their experiences.