A YouTube star who was part of a tween 'Squad' of content creators has lashed out at his own mother in response to the new shocking Netflixdocumentary 'Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing.'
The documentary chronicles the allegations against Tiffany Smith, a mother and manager who oversaw the youngsters' online careers. She is accused of masterminding the group to boost her daughter Piper Rockelle's profile.
She is accused of sexually and physically abusing the kids - claims she denies.
Among those interviewed in Netflix's documentary is Johna Ramirez, whose son Jentzen, now 18, is among kids who formed part of the group.
But in a blistering response, Jentzen took to his own YouTube channel on Sunday to defendTiffany - also known as the 'Madame of YouTube' and bash his ow mother.
'Alright guys, it's time I share my side of the story. I never wanted any of this to be online, but with everything going on, and the hate that my family was receiving, I can't say nothing anymore,' Jentzen said.
He said his mother 'was the one who first took things public' with his family after she said her son's involvement in the group 'pitted her against Smith as well as her own family,' according to the Atavist Magazine.
After stating that he never gave Netflix permission to use his name or anything about his involvement in the group in the series, Jentzen said 'Tiffany did not manipulate me.'
Jentzen Ramirez was a member ofPiper Rockelle's tween 'Squad' of content creators. In a recent YouTube video, he lashed out at his mother while defendingTiffany Smith - Piper's mother who's been accused of abuse against children
Jentzen said his mother Johna Rameriez, who is featured in the documentary, lied when she said that Tiffany 'manipulated' him into thinking she was stealing money from her own son
'I haven't talked to Tiffany in a very long time and she certainly didn't push me to make the decisions that I made in the past either.'
Despite his clear stance on the matter, Jentzen said he is 'not trying to discredit anyone who is a victim of sexual assault in any way, shape or form.'
'I feel for all of those people,' he added before moving on to address the claims his mother made in the series about Tiffany 'manipulating' him into thinking she was stealing money from him.
'In the documentary, my mom and Jennifer said that Tiffany manipulated me into thinking that my mom was stealing my money,' he said of Johna and Jennifer Bryant - the mother of another squad member Walker Bryant.
'Tiffany never did that. I didn't need anyone to manipulate me because it was the truth,' he added.
Jentzen explained that early in his career his mother would help him film and edit his videos, but once his channel and online presence really took off,Johna started to take his money without his consent.
'She signed legal documents without my knowledge or my consent to where she owned 50 percent of my company,' he said as he showed the paperwork related to his claim.
He also displayed a series of bank statements that showed his mother allegedly transferring up to $15,000 from his account to hers.
The documentary has sparked a lot of controversy as Tiffany was seen kissing a 17-year-old transgender boy in never before seen footage
The newNetflix documentary 'Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing,' peels back the curtain onPiper's friend group who later accused her mother Tiffany Smith (pictured), now 44, of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse
Tiffany was sued by 11 members in January 2022 for encouraging them to be 'sexy' and subjecting them to 'harassment, molestation, and abuse,' according to the complaint
'These are the bank statements of my mom taking my money. I was hurt by it, I worked hard for my money, and it would just get taken away,' he continued.
Jentzen said his mother continued to take his money from him even after his parents got divorced.
'And after all that, since my mom still had control over all my assets, she went behind my back again and created another bank account where she would transfer my money from YouTube and brand deals into it,' he said, adding that she amassed more than $100,000.
'I saw it with my own eyes on her laptop and I never saw it again.'
Jentzen said his mother would even go as far as turning down brand deals for him because 'she was afraid' she wouldn't be able to get her hands on the money he earned.
'So, when you hear people in the documentary say they were exploited, this is where I was financially exploited by my own mother - not by anyone else,' Jentzen said.
Toward the end of his revealing video, Jentzen made it clear he wanted no part in the documentary.
'They never had my permission to use my likeness or image and they did not pay me,' he stated, adding that he never signed a release form, but he never signed it.
Tiffany is the mother of YouTuber and influencerPiper Rockelle (pictured)
'And they did it anyway, and they did not have my permission.'
Jentzen said he specifically did not agree with how the streaming platform 'portrayed the events, especially relating to my mom.'
In the end, he said he 'majorly disagrees with Tiffany's actions,' but they have not been in contact since he left the squad.
'Tiffany is not the reason I don't have a relationship with my mother. My mother is the reason why I don't have a relationship with my mother, because of her actions,' he said.
The documentary has sparked a lot of controversy as Tiffany was seen kissing a 17-year-old transgender boy in never before seen footage.
The series included an interview with Raegan Beast (real name Raegan Fingles), who was 17 when Tiffany kissed him during a livestream.
The Maryland native, now 25, said he was first introduced to her and Piper by his manager Matt Dugan, who suggested they make content together.
'There was multiple things dealing with my transition that [Tiffany] was very curious of,' Raegan said. 'Just multiple questions about my transitioning and my body that were very hinted at being sexual, a little inappropriate.'
In October 2024, Smith settled the $22 million lawsuit for $1.85 million. She has publicly denied all allegations against her and has not been criminally charged. (Pictured: Her daughter Piper)
In 2017, Raegan was at Tiffany's house in Los Angeles' Hollywood Boulevard to 'do content together' and she allegedly gave him alcohol from 'her cabinet' while he and Piper started livestreaming on the app YouNow.
'We were on my livestream, just sipping, reading comments, having a good time,' Raegan recalled. 'I definitely get drunk, Tiffany's drunk.'
At one point, Tiffany joined the livestream and began 'touching' Raegan and 'pulling on my shirt, pulling on my collar, and saying that I was sexy, saying that I was hot', he revealed. 'Then the kiss happened.'
Tiffany was sued by 11 members in January 2022 for encouraging them to be 'sexy' and subjecting them to 'harassment, molestation, and abuse,' according to the complaint.
In October 2024, Smith settled the $22 million lawsuit for $1.85 million. She has publicly denied all allegations against her and has not been criminally charged.
