Piper Rockelle is pushing back hard against critics after her reported OnlyFans debut set off one of the biggest influencer firestorms of the year. The newly 18-year-old creator is defending both her decision and her right to move on from the child star image that made her famous, even as claims swirl that she earned as much as $2.9 million in a single day.
Rockelle, who rose to internet fame on YouTube before she was even a teenager, launched her OnlyFans account on New Year’s Day. Almost immediately, screenshots began circulating online claiming she raked in more than $2.9 million, roughly 3.87 billion KRW, within 24 hours. The staggering figure reignited debate over age limits, platform responsibility, and whether former child influencers are ever truly allowed to grow up in the public eye.
Her early career was built around family-friendly videos managed by her mother, Tiffany Smith, and later expanded into the influencer collective known as the Piper Squad. That era eventually became mired in controversy, lawsuits, and allegations of exploitation, making Rockelle’s pivot to adult content especially polarizing for longtime observers.
Critics argue that her move risks blurring boundaries for a fan base that once skewed very young. Others question whether it’s possible to fully shed a child-star persona that was so aggressively marketed for years. Rockelle, however, says that framing misses the point entirely.
In a recent interview, she made it clear she’s done living according to expectations formed when she was a preteen. She said people seem more attached to her childhood image than she is, emphasizing that she was never going to stay a kid forever. For her, the backlash reflects discomfort with her autonomy rather than genuine concern.
The money only poured gasoline on the controversy. Rockelle has since confirmed that she made over $1 million in her first hour on the platform, a number she says eclipses everything she earned during her YouTube career combined. She dismissed claims that the screenshots were exaggerated but added that she has no interest in flaunting her earnings.
She also firmly rejected accusations that she’s funneling young fans toward adult platforms. According to Rockelle, she doesn’t control anyone’s choices and refuses to accept responsibility for how others react to her decisions.
Rockelle has framed the OnlyFans launch as part of a broader effort to reclaim control after years of public narratives shaped by adults around her. The release of the documentary Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing only intensified scrutiny of her upbringing, something she says continues to follow her into adulthood whether she addresses it or not.
She has pointed out what she sees as a double standard: critics who once accused others of exploiting her are now trying to restrict her independence. In her view, former child stars are trapped in a no-win situation, judged whether they stay the same or try to reinvent themselves.
Despite the criticism, Rockelle isn’t retreating. She revealed that one of her first major purchases was a car for her grandmother, signaling that her priorities extend beyond shock value or personal indulgence. She also admitted she still mourns the loss of her YouTube channel after monetization stalled when she turned 18, calling it something she still cries over.
While she acknowledges that regret is always possible, Rockelle says she’s choosing to live without constant fear of public judgment. As debates over influencer ethics and digital fame continue, her reported $2.9 million debut has become a flashpoint in a much larger conversation about who gets to decide when a former child star is finally allowed to be an adult.
