YouTuber Austin McBroom speaks out after ex Catherine Paiz says he cheated with 20 women
In January 2024, social media was abuzz with news of a huge breakup in the vlogger world. Catherine Paiz and Austin McBroom, a married couple who were among YouTube's first family vloggers (to the tune of more than 18 million followers), announced their split at the start of the new year.
At the time, they didn't specify why they chose to go their separate ways, but now, fans are finally hearing the reason behind their dramatic and very public divorce.
During an appearance on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast on May 28, Paiz revealed McBroom's cheating contributed to their split.
Paiz told host Alex Cooper that she found out about his infidelity after discovering a text from another woman on his phone while she was pregnant with their third child.
"I grabbed the phone, this long text comes through, 'If you really love your wife,'" she said. "I was yelling, screaming, 'Tell me, please, please, just tell me who that was. I feel so stupid. Just tell me, I'm having a baby.'"
She continued: "I never heard him say the words, 'I cheated' until about a week ago," which may be in reference to McBroom publicly admitting to cheating on May 12.
Paiz found out about "20 or something" women McBroom had cheated with, saying her ex claimed she had given him a pass and told him "as long as ... you don't embarrass me."
"I never, ever, ever said that," she said. "I would never say that. I would never want my kids to think that that is OK to cheat on your husband or your wife, and I will make sure that I raise them and that they know that they never, ever do that because that is so wrong. And you never cheat on the person you love.
Paiz appeared on the podcast ahead of the July release of her book, "DOLORES: My Journey Home: (Finding Myself Beyond The ACE Family)."
Austin McBroom takes 'full accountability' after Catherine Paiz's 'Call Her Daddy' appearance
Just hours after Paiz's bombshell interview on "Call Her Daddy," McBroom shared a series of videos on his May 28 Snapchat story in response to his ex's now-viral remarks.
"I know a lot of you guys have been waiting for my response to the podcast, and if I'm being honest, I was very close at giving you guys exactly what you wanted," said McBroom, later flipping his phone screen toward the camera to show a collection of clips he reportedly recorded for his response.
"I was getting ready to drop an atomic bomb. ... I even went as far as getting dressed up and even buying the pink chair," McBroom said, seemingly referring to the pink chairs used in Paiz's interview. "But I realized that there is nothing in this world that is worth something affecting my kids."
"I realize in order for this ... to stop, the best thing for me to do is not respond," he concluded. "I just want to say that I take full accountability on how we got here today."
Who is Catherine Paiz? Who is Austin McBroom?
Catherine Paiz, 34, born Dolores Catherine Johnston Paiz in Montreal, Canada, moved to Los Angeles at 16. Her ex-husband, Austin McBroom, 33, is a content creator and former basketball player from Palmdale, California.
The pair met at a dinner party in 2015, and after McBroom kept pursuing her, they eventually began dating. Paiz and McBroom got married privately in 2017 and didn't reveal their nuptials until January 2020, shortly after the couple announced their third pregnancy.
The couple share three children: daughters Elle and Alaïa and a son named Steel.
When did the Ace Family start on YouTube?
The ACE Family started their YouTube channel a couple of months after their first daughter, Elle, was born in 2016. The couple's first video was posted on July 27, 2016.
The name is derived from the first initial of each of their names – Austin, Catherine and Elle.
The channel gave millions of viewers an inside look into their lives, from the births of all three of their children to the rise of their social media empire. The ACE Family's YouTube account still has over 18 million subscribers, despite not posting since June 2023.
When did the ACE Family break up? Why did the ACE Family quit YouTube?
Paiz and McBroom announced their divorce in January 2024, posting separate statements to their Instagram accounts. As of May 13, 2025, both posts have been removed.
"Our paths as a couple have shifted and has created differences that are irreconcilable. This decision comes with a very heavy heart," Paiz wrote in her post on Jan. 11, 2024. "As heartbreaking as it is, I feel liberated.
"I have spent the past few years prioritizing my children and honoring my commitment to my family; all the while I seemed to be losing myself and my own personal happiness."
As for McBroom, he said, "We created one of the greatest stories, almost a decade together, so many memories, so many accomplishments but every book comes to an end. And now we will be writing a new book as separate authors."
McBroom ended his post: "With that being said, 2024 will be life-changing for me. I will be dedicated to myself, my kids, my health, my body, my mind, my spirit, and God."
The couple had never shared a reason behind the separation before now, simply stating they had "mutually agreed" to a divorce.
Has Austin McBroom addressed the cheating allegations?
Leaked pages from Paiz's book made waves on social media in early May, leading McBroom to post a nearly 30-minute story to his Snapchat on the night of May 12. He said he felt "blindsided" by the book's content and never wanted to discuss this in public.
While he admitted to cheating, he told his followers that he was not portrayed fairly. He claimed Paiz was aware of his actions and that they had continued their relationship for several years afterward.
Once the news of their divorce became public, he claimed he wanted to make a video admitting to the cheating, but Paiz told him not to do it. He added that he feels she's now monetizing their past for attention.
When does Catherine Paiz's book come out?
"DOLORES: My Journey Home: (Finding Myself Beyond The ACE Family)" is set to release on July 1. The book is co-written and published by Paste BN bestselling author Riley J. Ford.
"When her path led her to Los Angeles, she built a life that seemed like a fairytale: love, children, and a pioneering YouTube career that influenced millions. As part of The ACE Family, she became a familiar face around the globe. But behind the scenes, Catherine was carrying heartbreak, facing betrayal, navigating intense public scrutiny, and slowly losing herself," the book's description reads.
It continued: "When everything she built began to unravel, she set out on the most important journey of all—alchemizing her pain into strength, transforming her life, and finding her way back to the woman she was always destined to be. This is the true story of a life that looked perfect, and the brave heart who stepped beyond the picture to find something real."
Contributing: Edward Segarra, Paste BN