Piper Rockelle has no interest in preserving anyone else’s nostalgia.
The 18-year-old internet personality, who built a massive following as a child on YouTube, is pushing back against criticism following her decision to launch an OnlyFans account on January 1. The move drew immediate attention—and backlash—particularly from followers uneasy with seeing a former child star enter a platform best known for adult content.
Rockelle claims the response was lucrative. Screenshots she shared on X suggest she earned more than $2.9 million in her first 24 hours on the subscription platform, a figure that quickly fueled both fascination and outrage.
Speaking to Rolling Stone in an interview published January 6, Rockelle addressed critics directly. “If you don’t accept me, you don’t have to be here,” she said.
Rockelle first rose to prominence nearly a decade ago through a YouTube channel run by her mother, Tiffany Smith. She later expanded her reach by collaborating with other young creators in what became known as the “Piper Squad,” turning her into one of the most recognizable teen faces on the platform.
Much of the criticism surrounding her OnlyFans debut centers on that history. Rockelle dismissed the concern, saying audiences are more attached to her childhood image than she is.
“I’m not going to be a kid forever,” she said, adding that while she understands the discomfort, she’s found plenty of support from followers who accept her evolution.
She also rejected claims that her move encourages young fans to follow the same path. “I can’t influence anyone to do anything,” Rockelle said. “That’s their choice.”
Addressing accusations that she has been exploited or is now contradicting years of public scrutiny, Rockelle framed the backlash as hypocrisy. Those who criticized her, she argued, have built their identities around opposing self-exploitation—something they themselves could never turn around and profit from.
Despite admitting she wasn’t expecting the scale of her first-day earnings—calling it “actually quite insane”—Rockelle said she has no immediate regrets. Her first major purchase, she noted, was a car for her grandmother.
Whether she’ll feel differently in the future remains an open question, but Rockelle appears unbothered by the risk.
“I’ve never had a good reputation,” she said. “Why not add onto it?”
For now, she’s moving forward—on her terms.
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Last modified: January 8, 2026
