Raegan Beast; Promotional photo for Netflix’s ‘Bad Influence.’. Photo:

Raegan Beast/TikTok; Netflix

• Netflix’s Bad Influence spotlights stories of content creators who worked with Tiffany Smith, the mother of teen social media star Piper Rockelle.
• In an interview for the docuseries, influencer Raegan Beast claimed Smith “forced herself” on him during a livestream when he was 17. The next day, evidence of the illegal incident was wiped from social media.
• Off camera, Beast alleges Smith would make “sexual” and “inappropriate” comments toward him, including asking about his transition and whether or not he planned to have gender-affirming surgery, which she denies.

Young influencers are speaking out about Tiffany Smith‘s alleged wrongdoings in Netflix’s new docuseries Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing.

The three-part exposé features influencer Raegan Beast, whose manager introduced him to Smith, her boyfriend Hunter Hill and her daughter, social media star Piper Rockelle. They started collaborating with Beast — who is transgender — when Rockelle was just 9 years old.

“When I first met Tiffany, she was a very laid-back, fun, chill mom,” said Beast in the docuseries, which premiered on Wednesday, April 9. He added that Smith was “very curious” about his transition at the time. She asked multiple questions about his body and whether or not he would undergo gender-affirming surgery. Some of the questions, Beast claimed, “hinted at being … sexual, a little inappropriate.”

Beast, now 25, also recalled how things could go awry when Smith was drinking. During those occasions, he alleged she had “no filter” and would say questionable things to him in front of Rockelle. In an interview for the documentary, he claimed Smith would say he was going to be “so sexy when you’re a bit older.”

Piper Rockelle’s squad, as seen in Netflix’s ‘Bad Influence.’. Netflix

In a statement to PEOPLE, Smith denies ever making sexual comments toward Beast. “To be clear, Raegan Beast was never even part of Piper’s Squad or the YouTube channel,” Smith adds. “Raegan was just an influencer in our circle at the time because he worked with the same manager as Piper.”

Smith’s response continues, “His character and persona were always—and still are—a bit of a provocateur, so I’m guessing that’s why his name got thrown into the mix. But in reality, he had nothing to do with the show, and very little to do with us.”

In 2017, Smith and Rockelle appeared on Beast’s livestream, and the single mom — who had been drinking — “forced herself” on the 17-year-old, as he explained in the Netflix series. As he recounted the events of that night on the show, footage played of Smith leaning in and kissing the teen. Rockelle, now 17 herself, pulled her mom’s face away from Beast’s, but after he turned the camera away, she went in and kissed him again.

Beast said the incident happened on a night when they gathered at Smith’s home to film content together. He claims she provided the alcohol that they drank, and they “were just sipping, reading comments, having a good time” at the beginning of the livestream. Beast admitted he was drunk, and so was Smith.

Again, she denies giving alcohol to the then-teen in her statement to PEOPLE. “I did not purchase or provide alcohol to minors,” says Smith. “And I certainly regret that stupid, silly kiss.”

Ex-squad member Sophie Fergi and Piper Rockelle, as seen in Netflix’s ‘Bad influence.’. Netflix

“I remember it starting with just [Smith’s] hand on the shoulder, you know, then both hands massaging my back … rubbing my arm,” he described. Smith was pulling on his shirt collar, and telling him provocative things: “Saying that I was sexy, saying that I was hot,” he claimed.

He noted that Rockelle then started to get uncomfortable, telling her mother that she was “being weird” and urging her to stop. “Then the kiss happened. And I was 17 years old when this happened,” said Beast.

“I remember laughing and then being like, ‘I think we should end the stream,’ and just ending it very quickly after the second kiss,” he continued. At that point, Beast was well aware that what happened was wrong. The video quickly spread all over various social media platforms, with commenters pointing out that Smith had kissed a minor.

He worried that the moment had ruined his career, but when he woke up the next morning, evidence of the video was entirely gone. There were no available recordings of the kiss from the livestream. Ultimately, Beast decided not to tell any authorities, but he said he stopped talking to her after that.

Piper Rockelle, as seen in Netflix’s ‘Bad Influence.’. Netflix

“I didn’t go to the police because I think that I was just very scared of the status of us being in the industry,” he said. “Either I was going to have this above my head in my career, or I was going to ruin Piper’s career.”

He also paused at the realization that Smith had the power to completely wipe their kiss from the digital space.

“I also remember thinking, ‘If someone could erase this from the internet, then what else could they get away with?’ ” he concluded in the second episode.

In her statement, Smith tells PEOPLE she did not wipe the video offline. “Obviously I don’t have control over the internet,” she notes in her response.

In 2022, 11 teen content creators — all of whom were formerly part of Rockelle’s viral group of friends known as the “squad” — filed a complaint against Smith. They alleged that they were “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.”

Piper Rockelle (top, second from right) and her squad in November 2020. Albert L. Ortega/Getty

Their initial complaint turned into a child abuse lawsuit that was settled in October 2024, with the 11 teens receiving $1.85 million. (All parties specifically disclaimed any liability.)

On Tuesday, April 8, Smith issued a statement to PEOPLE responding to some of the bombshell claims made in Bad Influence.

“This whole experience — from the claims and power plays from the stage moms to, now, the Netflix reality show — has been the most upsetting and difficult experience of my life,” she says. “And it’s been even harder for my daughter, Piper, who’s become collateral damage in a mess of adults behaving badly.”

Smith continues to reference the lawsuit settled last fall. “The reason the investigation cleared us — and declared the allegations unfounded — is because it was crazy people making even crazier accusations. I guess that makes for a good Netflix reality show,” Smith replies in her statement, referring to the docuseries. She adds that it’s “unfair to Piper, who didn’t do anything wrong and now struggles with her mental health because of all the unfair scrutiny and negative attention.”

Her recent statement to PEOPLE concludes, “I do believe Piper will want justice one day—and see that the truth is finally shared. But in the meantime, shame on Netflix for perpetuating a knowingly false narrative that puts kids in danger. I truly can’t wait for this to all be behind us.”

When PEOPLE exclusively announced the docuseries and trailer in March, Smith once again denied the allegations in a statement issued to PEOPLE.

Promotional photo for Netflix’s ‘Bad Influence.’. Netflix

“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,” said Smith in her statement at the time. “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 described the “whole experience” as “extremely painful and, honestly, hard to understand,” she said in a statement issued to PEOPLE in March. She added, “Not just because of the people making ridiculous claims about me and my family — but also how the media has been.”

The 17-year-old influencer continued, “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.”