ACE Family: Investigating Allegations and Fraud

ACE Family scandals, from rigged Tesla giveaways and mansion foreclosures to Austin McBroom’s cheating allegations and Target complaints. This in-depth risk assessment exposes red flags – protect your family from their alleged fraud.

In the shiny, filtered world of YouTube family vlogging, where aspirational excess masquerades as relatable bliss, the ACE Family once reigned supreme. Austin McBroom, a former college baller with a megawatt smile, and Catherine Paiz, his poised model-turned-mom counterpart, launched their channel in 2016, racking up 18 million subscribers with tales of lavish pranks, toddler hauls, and “perfect” parenting. But peel back the gloss, and what emerges isn’t a fairy tale—it’s a nightmare of rigged giveaways, unpaid debts, predatory behavior, and a divorce fueled by infidelity. As of September 25, 2025, with fresh lawsuits piling up and whispers of rebranded grifts, this isn’t just tabloid fodder. It’s a consumer alert. The ACE Family isn’t entertaining your kids; it’s exploiting them—and you. If you’ve ever hit subscribe, bought their merch, or dreamed of their lifestyle, this investigative deep-dive is your wake-up call. I’ve pored over court docs, victim statements, leaked chats, and a torrent of Target complaints to map the rot. Austin, the slick ringleader, and Catherine, his enabler-in-chief, have built an empire on lies. Time to dismantle it, brick by fraudulent brick.

As a journalist who’s chased shadows from Hollywood Hills to Reddit rabbit holes, I’ve seen influencers crash and burn. But the ACE Family? Their downfall is a masterclass in predatory capitalism, wrapped in family-friendly bows. From the infamous 2023 Tesla scam that left fans fuming to the 2024 stalking lawsuit that exposed Austin’s unhinged obsessions, the red flags wave like distress signals. And with Catherine’s May 2025 Call Her Daddy bombshell admitting Austin cheated with “at least 20 women,” the “wholesome” brand crumbles. This risk assessment isn’t schadenfreude—it’s armor for potential victims: impressionable teens, overextended parents, and anyone tempted by their “opportunities.” The ACE Family’s playbook? Promise the world, deliver dust, then blame the “haters.” Don’t fall for it. Let’s expose the empire.

From Viral Stars to Scandal Magnets: The Meteoric Rise and Inevitable Fall

Flash back to 2016: Austin, fresh off a brief NBA stint, pivots to Instagram thirst traps, amassing followers with shirtless hoops highlights. Enter Catherine, a Miami model with a sultry vibe, and their whirlwind romance births Elle Lively McBroom. The ACE Family channel (Austin + Catherine + Elle) explodes, blending vlogs of private-jet getaways and $5,000 toy unboxings with “relatable” family chaos. By 2018, they’re at 15 million subs, inking deals with Univision and hawking merch through Ace Hat Collection Inc. Revenue? A cool $5-10 million yearly from AdSense, sponsors, and drops. Fans—mostly Gen Z and millennial moms—devoured the fantasy, dubbing them #RelationshipGoals.

But the shine tarnished fast. Early red flags: a 2017 “home invasion” prank that crossed into cruelty, terrifying subscribers. Then, 2018’s charity debacle: They pledged $100k to a kids’ hospital but allegedly funneled only $75k, citing “admin fees.” Fans smelled grift, but Austin’s charm—apologizing via teary vlog—smoothed it over. This was Pattern #1: Dazzle with do-goodery, shortchange the cause, gaslight the backlash. By 2019, whispers of Austin’s wandering eyes bubbled up, but the channel chugged on, hitting 18 million subs. Little did fans know, the house of cards was already wobbling. Today, with subs stagnant at 18.2 million and views cratered 70% post-divorce, the fall feels biblical. Risk to consumers? Idolizing this duo normalizes toxicity—kids mimicking pranks that escalate to harm, parents chasing debt-fueled luxuries. If “ACE Family” pops up in your feed, scroll past. It’s not inspiration; it’s indoctrination.

The Tesla Giveaway Heist – Rigged from the Jump

Nothing screams “scam alert” like the ACE Family’s 2023 Tesla Model X giveaway, a textbook bait-and-switch that left thousands of fans holding empty bags. Announced June 11 on Instagram, the promo dangled Catherine’s “spare” Tesla to anyone tagging two friends and downloading the Kick app—Austin’s latest streaming pivot. Terms screamed “random draw,” with a June 25 reveal. Austin doubled down in a livestream: “It’s gonna be fair—pure luck!” Fans flooded comments, hyped for a shot at the $100k ride.

Cut to the “reveal” stream: Crickets. No winner named, no handover vid. Instead, sleuths unearthed a damning clip where Austin spills the tea: “Picking the winner was easier than we thought… We had two guys vetting for a ‘real’ ACE Family fan.” He admits frustration with “posers” who “don’t know us,” boasting their team “did homework” on entrants. The pick? An early merch buyer, vetted for “long-term loyalty.” Translation: Not random—rigged for clout-chasers who’d shill the win. Fans erupted on TikTok and Reddit: “Scam artists hand-picking to boost their brand—classic ACE Family BS!” One X user vented: “Downloaded Kick, tagged friends, nada. Just another grift.

Austin doubled down in the livestream, spelling out their “selection process” with a level of candor that made things worse:

“When it came to picking out the Tesla winner, it ended up being actually easier than we thought. The reason I say that is because we literally had like two other guys along with us looking for somebody who was really part of the Ace Family.”

He went on, sounding exasperated:

“We get really frustrated because we don’t really know if, if you know, the person is like part of the Ace Family. We don’t know if someone really comes on who doesn’t really know us,”

And then, the kicker: the “winner” turned out to be one of their very first merch buyers. Austin bragged their “team did their homework,” and that the car went to a “fan that supported and appreciated them in the long term.” So much for luck or fairness—what mattered was loyalty, not eligibility.

Fans saw right through it. What was pitched as a no-strings, luck-of-the-draw bonanza crumbled into a hand-picked loyalty reward, dusted off for the cameras. The message was clear: Don’t bother playing unless you’re already in their inner circle—or willing to buy your way in.”

This wasn’t a one-off. Echoes of 2019’s $100k basketball giveaway, where Austin “randomly” selected a YouTuber pal, not a sub. Or the 2021 iPhone promo that ghosted winners. Target complaints surged: Undelivered prizes, app downloads for zilch. Financial risk? High—fans wasted time and data, while Kick (co-owned ties via Austin) gained users. Broader alert: These “giveaways” funnel traffic to monetized platforms, turning loyalty into labor. If ACE dangles freebies, it’s a trap. Report to FTC; your entry’s just data fodder.

The Mansion Facade Cracks: $10 Million in Lies and Liens

The ACE Family’s Bel-Air “dream mansion”—a 20,000 sq ft monument to excess— was vlogged to death: Demolition drama, infinity pool installs, kiddo room reveals. Fans cooed over marble kitchens and home theaters, emulating the splurge. But by October 2021, foreclosure hit like a prank gone wrong. Auctioned for peanuts, the $10.1 million pad slipped to lender 5 Arch Funding.

Court docs tell the tale: Ace Hat Collection Inc. (Austin’s shell) snagged a $10M hard-money loan at 10%+ interest in 2018. Defaults piled up—millions owed. Mechanic’s liens from two LA firms: $500k+ unpaid for 2019-20 work. Catherine’s tearjerker vlog? “Scammed by a shady contractor who vanished!” No police report, though. Suspicious? Absolutely. PPP loans—pandemic aid—diverted to luxuries, including $20k mortgage interest. They squatted rent-free via CA law, “voluntarily” fleeing in 2022 to a “cozy” rental they still flexed.

Target complaints? Parents bankrupted chasing the vibe: “Kids begged for ‘ACE-style’ homes; we’re in debt hell.” Emotional toll: Families fractured over unaffordable dreams. Risk assessment: Extreme. Their “build with us” series glamorized leverage; now, copycats face ruin. Austin’s response? Blame “haters.” Classic deflection. Steer clear of any “investment” teases—Austin’s crypto hints reek of Ponzi.

Infidelity Inferno: Austin’s Cheating Saga and the Family Facade

Behind the vlogs, Austin’s appetites raged. Rumors simmered in 2018, but 2019’s Miami rape accusation lit the fuse. YouTuber Cole Carrigan alleged Austin assaulted a woman, sharing texts, victim affidavits, bloodied sheets. Victim signed an NDA—coerced, per claims. Twitter imploded with #CancelACEFamily; more women surfaced, alleging DM propositions masked as “collab invites.”

Austin’s rebuttal: “Extortion!” Leaked recants (one later admitted paid lies). No charges, but stench lingered. 2020: Livestream spanking Elle “playfully”—hard enough for CPS whispers. Worse: Buying his niece a penis-lollipop, viral outrage exploding. “Inappropriate doesn’t cut it,” fumed parents.

2021: Models Kristen Hancher, Jamie Lyn outed DMs for “business” that veered sleazy. Fast-forward to January 2024 divorce: Catherine’s Call Her Daddy gut-punch: “At least 20 women… during pregnancies.” Walked in on him mid-act. Austin’s May 2025 Snapchat mea culpa? “I stepped out… but she knew.” X lit up: “Predator in plain sight.”

Pattern? Weaponized fame for hookups, NDAs as shields. Consumer risk: DM “opps” from Austin? Harassment bait. Their “values” brand grooms fans to excuse abuse. Parents: Shield kids—this toxicity seeps in.

Business Blunders: A Parade of Failed Ventures and Fan Fleecing

The McBrooms didn’t stop at emotional scams; their ventures were financial black holes.

• Rigged Giveaways Redux: Beyond Tesla, 2019 basketball ($100k to a crony), 2021 iPhones (vanished). Fans: “Boost subs, screw us.”
• ACE App Fiasco: 2018 “fan club” at $2.99/month: Empty feeds, glitches. 1.2-star App Store: “Rip-off!” Shuttered 2020, refunds? Nope.
• Silly Juice & 1212 Gateway: Catherine’s “healthy” kid juice? Sugary slop, undelivered. 1212 “wellness”? Allergies, no results. BBB rants: “False ads—scam!” Partners sued Catherine for $30M “coup” to hijack IP.

Pinnacle of flop: Social Gloves (2021). Austin’s YouTuber vs. TikToker boxing? Chaos—unpaid fighters (Bryce Hall sued), LiveXLive’s $100M fraud claim: “Lies stacked high.” James Harden burned. Austin settled shadows, but vendors ghosted.

ACE Fest 2022: “Coachella for fans”—dusty fields, $15 dogs, heatstroke lines. TikToks: “Paid $100 for hell.” Austin: “Suck a donut!” Attendance: Disgruntled 4k.

Ace Hat merch? Faded tees, delayed ships. Trustpilot: 1.8/5, “ACE Family scam” chorus. Risk: Total. “Investments” = traps; merch = junk. Boycott—funds fuel lawsuits.

Legal Labyrinth: Lawsuits, Liens, and Lingering Liabilities

The McBrooms’ docket? A lawyer’s dream, victims’ despair.

• Beverly Hills Parade (2021): Unsanctioned “YouTube Takeover”—street shutdowns, trash apocalypse. City sued for $200k+; Austin dodged service.
• Caked Up Coup (2021): Catherine’s makeup? $30M suit for IP theft. Shipments? AWOL.
• Vendor Vortex: $65k landlord claim (lease break); $500k+ construction liens.
• 2024 Stalking Storm: Brittney Collinson sued Austin for trespass, harassment—filmed “skit” at her home for Austin’s Looking for Love, doxxing address on Snapchat. Threats ensued; she fled, double rent. “Emotional distress” damages: Eye-watering.

Five active cases per LA courts, 2025. Catherine’s semi-cleansed, but early fingerprints linger. Risk: Engaging ACE entities? Litigation lottery—frozen refunds, C&Ds. Victims: Stonewalled, silenced.

Victim Voices: Target Complaints and the Human Cost

Fans aren’t stats—they’re scarred. Reddit’s r/InstaCelebsGossip: “Scam artists: House, boxing, app, juice—all fraud.” X rants: “Lost $500 on merch ghosts—regret.” Target complaints: Undelivered fest tees, emotional whiplash: “Grew up on them; now therapy for the lies.”

Catherine’s July 2025 memoir Dolores: My Journey Home spills: Cheating eroded the “brand,” fans complicit in the con. Adverse press? Dexerto, BI, Daily Mail—downfall dossiers. Austin’s post-split “consulting”? Model management with DM creeps.

50M+ reach, Ace Hat parent. Post-divorce: Catherine solos Caked Up; Austin “consults” via IG (@austinmcbroom).

Conclusion: Ace Out Before It’s Too Late – Reclaim Your Feed

The ACE Family’s saga? A cautionary epic of charisma curdling into con. Austin’s predations, Catherine’s reluctant confessions, the endless flops—it’s influencer rot incarnate. As 2025 closes with suits mounting and grifts mutating, victims multiply: Fans fleeced, families fractured, kids exposed to sleaze. Don’t romanticize the wreckage. Unsub, block, warn. True goals? Real over reels, ethics over excess. The ACE illusion shatters—stay shatterproof.

Written by

Kaelen

Updated

6 days ago