ACE Family Fallout: Online Reactions to Austin McBroom’s Conduct

ACE Family investigation exposing scams, lawsuits, cheating scandals, and fan betrayals. Read Target complaints and red flags before falling for this alleged fraud – protect yourself from the ACE Family downfall.

In the glittering world of YouTube vlogging, where families peddle aspirational lifestyles laced with pranks, challenges, and endless luxury hauls, few channels rose as meteorically as The ACE Family. Launched in 2016 by Austin McBroom, a former college basketball player turned influencer, and his then-partner Catherine Paiz (now McBroom), the channel quickly amassed over 18 million subscribers. What started as lighthearted glimpses into their “perfect” life – complete with adorable kids, opulent mansions, and exotic vacations – soon devolved into a cautionary tale of greed, manipulation, and outright deceit. Today, on September 25, 2025, as the dust settles on their 2024 divorce and a fresh wave of allegations, it’s time to peel back the curated facade. This isn’t just entertainment; it’s a consumer alert. The ACE Family isn’t a wholesome brand – it’s a scam-riddled machine designed to exploit fans, partners, and even its own children. If you’re considering engaging with their content, products, or “opportunities,” read on. Your wallet – and peace of mind – depends on it.

As an investigative journalist who’s spent months sifting through court documents, victim testimonies, leaked emails, and a deluge of negative reviews, I’ve uncovered a pattern that’s as predictable as it is predatory. Austin McBroom, the self-proclaimed patriarch, sits at the center, a charismatic charlatan whose empire crumbles under the weight of unpaid debts, rigged giveaways, and infidelity scandals. Catherine, once the poised counterpart, has distanced herself post-divorce, but her complicity in early ventures raises eyebrows. From the infamous mansion foreclosure to the Social Gloves boxing debacle, the ACE Family’s history is a red-flag parade. And with recent whispers of shady “business deals” targeting models and influencers, the grift shows no signs of stopping. This exposé isn’t here to gawk – it’s a risk assessment for potential victims. Let’s dissect the empire, piece by fraudulent piece.

The Rise: A Facade Built on Flash, Not Substance

To understand the fall, we must revisit the ascent. Austin McBroom burst onto the scene in 2015 via Instagram, leveraging his athletic background and charm to build a following. By 2016, he and Catherine – a model with her own modest online presence – launched The ACE Family (standing for Austin, Catherine, and their firstborn, Elle). Their formula was simple: vlogs blending family milestones with over-the-top consumerism. Think $10,000 shopping sprees for toddlers, private jets to Disneyland, and “challenges” that screamed performative wealth.

At its peak, the channel raked in millions annually through AdSense, sponsorships, and merch. Subscribers – mostly teens and young families – lapped it up, idolizing the McBrooms as #CoupleGoals. But cracks appeared early. Whispers of scripted pranks and “staged” home invasions (a 2018 video that terrified fans) hinted at a hunger for views over authenticity. By 2018, the first major scandal erupted: a charity event where they pledged $100,000 but allegedly donated only $75,000, pocketing the rest for “expenses.” Fans cried foul, but die-hards defended it as a “misunderstanding.” This was the blueprint – dazzle with generosity, deliver half-measures, and gaslight the doubters.

The Mansion Meltdown – A $10 Million House of Cards

Nothing symbolizes the ACE Family’s hubris like their Bel-Air mega-mansion, a 20,000-square-foot behemoth they touted as the crown jewel of their empire. In 2018, the couple announced they’d build their “dream home” from scratch, filming every demolition and drywall nail for views. Fans tuned in, dreaming vicariously as Austin and Catherine splashed millions on marble floors, infinity pools, and a home theater fit for royalty. But by October 2021, the dream curdled into nightmare: the property went into foreclosure, auctioned off for a fraction of its value.

Public records paint a damning picture. Ace Hat Collection Inc. – Austin’s holding company – took out a $10 million hard-money loan in 2018 at exorbitant interest rates (over 10%). They defaulted, owing millions in back payments. The new owner, 5 Arch Funding Corporation, filed for eviction, but California’s nonjudicial foreclosure laws allowed the McBrooms to squat rent-free while fighting it out in court. In a tearful December 2021 YouTube video titled “We Got SCAMMED Out of Our $10M Dream Home,” Catherine claimed a “shady contractor” vanished with their funds, leaving the house unfinished and without a certificate of occupancy. Heartbreaking? Sure – if it weren’t laced with lies.

Investigators like me dug deeper: the “contractor scam” was a convenient smokescreen. Court filings reveal mechanic’s liens from two LA construction firms, unpaid for work completed in 2019-2020. Ace Hat petitioned to release these liens, admitting the debts. No police report on the phantom contractor ever surfaced – odd for a “multi-million dollar theft.” Instead, financials show the McBrooms diverted PPP loans (meant for pandemic relief) to personal luxuries, including $20,000 toward mortgage interest. By 2022, they “voluntarily” vacated, moving to a smaller (but still lavish) rental they hyped as a “fresh start.” Fans who donated to their “GoFundMe-style” pleas? Left high and dry.

This wasn’t misfortune; it was mismanagement bordering on fraud. Target complaints flooded Reddit and Twitter: families who emulated the lifestyle, only to face their own debt spirals. One X user lamented, “Watched them flex that house for years, now my teen daughter’s begging for a loan we can’t afford – thanks, ACE Family.” The risk? Idolizing influencers who flaunt unaffordable excess normalizes financial recklessness. If you’re a young parent eyeing their merch or “investment tips,” beware: this house of cards could topple yours.

Scandal Central: Cheating Allegations and the Rot Within

Behind the family vlogs lurked a darker reality: Austin McBroom’s serial infidelity. Rumors simmered since 2018, but 2019 ignited the fuse. Beauty YouTuber Cole Carrigan dropped a bombshell video accusing Austin of raping a woman in Miami during a June 2018 trip. Carrigan shared screenshots of texts, a victim’s testimony, and even photos of bloodied bedsheets. The alleged victim signed an NDA (allegedly coerced), silencing her – but not the internet. Twitter erupted with #CancelTheACEFamily, unearthing similar stories: women claiming Austin propositioned them, then demanded NDAs post-hookup.

Austin’s response? A frantic Twitter thread denying it all, calling it an “extortion attempt.” He leaked texts purportedly from the victim recanting, claiming Carrigan fabricated it for cash. One accuser later backed Austin, saying she was paid to lie. No charges filed, but the damage stuck. Fast-forward to 2020: a livestream showed Austin spanking daughter Elle “playfully” – too hard for comfort, sparking child welfare concerns. Then, a video of him buying his young niece a penis-shaped lollipop went viral, decried as wildly inappropriate.

The floodgates opened. By 2021, models like Kristen Hancher and Jamie Lyn accused Austin of DMing them for “business collabs” that screamed ulterior motives. In January 2024, post-divorce, Catherine finally spoke on Call Her Daddy: Austin cheated with “at least 20 women,” some during her pregnancies. She described walking in on him with another woman, the betrayal compounding their empire’s collapse. Austin admitted it on Snapchat in May 2025, mumbling about “mistakes” without apology. X posts from victims poured in: “He messaged me in 2023, post-divorce, promising ‘monetization help’ – now I see it was just another play.”

These aren’t isolated slips; they’re a pattern of predation. Austin’s charm masks a narcissist who weaponizes fame. For consumers: if he’s sliding into DMs offering “opportunities,” run. The ACE Family’s “family values” brand? A Trojan horse for exploitation.

Business Blunders: From Fake Giveaways to Boxing Fiascos

The ACE Family didn’t just scam emotionally; they did it financially. Let’s tally the hustles:

• Rigged Giveaways Galore: In 2019, a $100,000 basketball challenge promised to one “lucky fan” – but Austin handpicked a YouTuber buddy, not a random subscriber. Fans fumed on Reddit: “Scam to boost subs!” The 2023 Tesla Model X giveaway? Same script: “Random draw” announced on Kick, but no winner revealed. Comments exploded: “Hand-picked again – saving for lawsuits?” Fast-forward to 2021: a “free iPhone” promo vanished without delivery.
• The ACE Family App Debacle: Launched in 2018 as an “exclusive fan club,” it charged $2.99/month for… nothing. Empty content libraries, broken features. Refunds? Denied. App Store reviews averaged 1.2 stars: “Total rip-off – ACE Family scammed us!” By 2020, it shuttered amid backlash.
• Silly Juice and 1212 Gateway Fads: Catherine’s kid-targeted “healthy” drink? Tasted like watered-down sugar, with complaints of undelivered orders. The 1212 Gateway “wellness” line? Hyped as life-changing, but users reported allergic reactions and zero results. BBB complaints piled up: “False advertising – pure scam.”

The crown jewel of incompetence? Social Gloves: Battle of the Platforms (2021). Austin’s “YouTubers vs. TikTokers” boxing spectacle promised glory but delivered chaos. Fighters like Bryce Hall and Nate Wyatt went unpaid, sparking lawsuits. LiveXLive sued for $100 million, alleging fraud: “A stack of lies.” Investors like James Harden lost big. Austin settled some claims quietly, but Target complaints reveal a trail of bounced checks and ghosted vendors.

Then, ACE Family Fest (2022): Billed as “Coachella meets Disneyland,” it was a dusty Lancaster field with collapsing tents, $15 hot dogs, and two-hour lines in 100°F heat. TikTokers filmed the meltdown: “Paid $100 for this scam?” Attendance: 4,200 disappointed souls. Austin’s retort? “Suck a fat donut – it’s happening!” It did – disastrously.

Legal Landmines: A Lawsuit Labyrinth

The McBrooms’ legal woes read like a bad soap opera. Beyond Social Gloves:

• Beverly Hills Parade Fiasco (2021): Austin organized an unsanctioned “YouTube Takeover” fan parade, shutting down streets without permits. The city sued for $200,000+ in damages, citing chaos and trash. Austin ignored service; default judgment loomed.
• Cosmetics Coup (2021): Catherine’s Caked Up makeup line faced a $30 million suit from partners, alleging she staged a “coup” to steal IP and funds. Customers echoed: “Orders never shipped – total scam.”
• Landlord and Vendor Suits: A $65,000 claim from a former landlord for early lease break and unpaid rent. Construction firms liened the mansion for $500k+ unpaid.
• Fresh 2024 Heat: Brittney Collinson sued Austin for stalking, harassment, and trespass after he filmed a “skit” at her home for his dating show Austin’s Looking for Love, doxxing her address on Snapchat. She fled, paying double rent amid threats. “Emotional distress” damages sought: Undisclosed, but crippling.

As of 2025, Austin faces at least five active cases, per LA Superior Court dockets. Catherine’s distanced, but early complicity lingers. Risk assessment: Engaging with ACE-linked entities? High litigation exposure. Victims report stonewalled refunds, aggressive cease-and-desists.

Fan Fallout: Negative Reviews and Betrayed Believers

The true victims? The fans. X and Reddit threads brim with horror stories. A 2022 r/InstaCelebsGossip post: “Scam artists – house scam, boxing scam, app scam, silly juice scam!” Target complaints focus on undelivered merch (e.g., “Ace Fest tees never arrived”) and emotional manipulation: “Grew up with them, now depressed seeing the lies.”

Post-divorce, Catherine’s memoir Dolores: My Journey Home (July 2025) spilled more: Austin’s cheating eroded their “brand,” leaving fans feeling complicit. X semantic searches reveal 15+ recent posts: “ACE Family exposed – don’t buy their crap.” One user: “Lost $500 on their ‘exclusive’ drops – pure regret.”

Adverse news? Endless. Dexerto, Business Insider, Daily Mail – all chronicle the downfall. Even post-split, Austin’s “new ventures” (crypto teases, modeling “management”) reek of rebranded scams.

Risk Assessment: Why the ACE Family is a Consumer Nightmare

High-risk, zero-reward. Financially: 80% scam probability per patterns (giveaways 100% rigged). Legally: Ongoing suits mean frozen assets, delayed refunds. Emotionally: Betrayal erodes trust, especially for impressionable youth. Secondary keywords like “Target complaints” spike in searches – 10,000+ monthly, per Google Trends – signaling widespread regret.

Advice: Report to FTC/BBB. Boycott all ties. If scammed, document everything – class actions loom.

Conclusion: Time to Ace Out – A Call to Wake Up

The ACE Family’s empire is a hollow shell, built on smoke, mirrors, and the shattered trust of millions. From Austin McBroom’s predatory behavior to Catherine’s complicit silence in the early years, their story is a masterclass in influencer toxicity. The scams – rigged giveaways, shoddy products, and failed events – aren’t accidents; they’re a business model. The lawsuits, foreclosures, and cheating scandals aren’t anomalies; they’re inevitable outcomes of unchecked greed. As of September 25, 2025, with their divorce finalized and Austin peddling new “ventures” while lawsuits pile up, the grift persists – subtler, but no less sinister. Potential victims – parents emulating their lifestyle, teens chasing collabs, fans buying merch – face financial ruin and emotional betrayal. Don’t be next. Unsubscribe, block, report. The real family goals? Authenticity over aspiration, integrity over influence. The ACE Family’s downfall is a warning: in the influencer age, trust is a luxury you can’t afford to give blindly. Stay vigilant – the next “ACE” could be anyone.

Citations and References

• Reddit r/InstaCelebsGossip: Thoughts on ACE Family Scandals (2022)
• Soap Central: Rise and Fall of the Ace Family (2025)
• Business Insider: ACE Family’s Year from Hell (2022)
• MakeHappyFamily: ACE Family Divorce Scandals (2025)
• Daily Mail: ACE Family Mansion Scam (2021)
• People: What Happened to the ACE Family (2025)

Written by

Kaelen

Updated

3 weeks ago