The internet is a weird place. One day you’re watching a family vlog their trip to Target, and the next, you’re scrolling through legal documents trying to figure out if their marriage even exists anymore. If you’ve spent any time on YouTube over the last decade, you know the ACE Family. Austin McBroom and Catherine Paiz (now Catherine McBroom) weren't just influencers; they were the blueprint for the modern digital dynasty. But then, the foundation cracked. People keep asking, when did Austin and Catherine divorce, and honestly, the timeline is a bit of a rollercoaster.
They didn't just drift apart.
It was loud. It was public. It was messy. On January 11, 2024, the world got the confirmation everyone had been speculating about for months. Catherine took to Instagram to announce that she and Austin had made the "difficult decision" to part ways. It wasn't some sudden blowout, at least not according to her. She described it as a mutual path toward personal growth. But if you've followed the drama, you know that "mutual" is a heavy word in the land of social media stardom.
The Official Date and the Breaking Point
When you look at the legalities, the divorce filing happened right at the start of 2024. This followed years of rumors, cheating allegations, and financial scandals that would have sunk a less resilient brand much earlier. They were married in a private ceremony back in 2017—though they didn't tell fans that until much later—and for a long time, they seemed untouchable.
Then came the lawsuits.
The Social Gloves boxing event drama. The foreclosures on their massive $10 million mansion. The constant whispering about Austin’s infidelity. It’s a lot for any couple to handle, let alone one that lives under a microscope. By the time the announcement hit in early 2024, the general vibe on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) wasn't "Oh no!" but rather "Finally."
Austin's reaction was... different. While Catherine leaned into the "healing journey" aesthetic, Austin started posting content that many fans found concerning or, at the very least, incredibly cringey. He moved into a motorhome parked near Catherine’s new place. He started Snapchatting his every move, from mundane grocery trips to weirdly emotional monologues. It felt like watching a man try to process a divorce in real-time while also trying to keep his view count from plummeting.
Why the ACE Family Empire Actually Crumbled
It wasn't just one thing.
You can’t point to a single video or one specific argument. The question of when did Austin and Catherine divorce is technically answered by a 2024 date, but the emotional divorce likely happened years prior. You could see it in the body language. In the later videos, Catherine often looked exhausted. Not just "parenting three kids" exhausted, but "carrying the weight of a failing brand" exhausted.
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Austin, on the other hand, seemed to be chasing the next big high. Whether it was boxing, crypto, or some new business venture, he was always pivoting. That kind of instability is poison for a marriage. When your house is literally being foreclosed on and your husband is out here trying to pick fights with other YouTubers for pay-per-view buys, the "happily ever after" starts to feel like a script you're forced to read.
The Financial Pressure Cooker
Money changes everything. Especially when it disappears. The ACE Family made millions. Like, "private jet and custom-built mansions" millions. But the overhead on that lifestyle is astronomical. When the lawsuits started piling up—specifically regarding the Social Gloves event where fighters claimed they weren't paid—the cracks became chasms.
- Subscriptions dropped.
- Ad revenue softened.
- The "cancel culture" sharks were circling.
Catherine eventually pivoted toward her own brand, Omi Gold, and focused more on her individual identity. She started shedding the "ACE Family" skin long before the legal papers were signed. If you look back at her social media presence in 2023, the absence of Austin was glaring. She was rebranding. She was preparing for a life where she wasn't just "Austin's wife."
The Impact on the Kids and the "New Normal"
They have three children: Elle, Alaïa, and Steel. For years, these kids were the stars of the show. That’s the ethically murky part of family vlogging, right? When the parents split, the "content" changes, but the kids are still there. To their credit, both Austin and Catherine have insisted that co-parenting is their top priority.
But Austin’s behavior post-split made people wonder. He stayed in a temporary living situation, frequently posting about how much he missed his "soulmate." He even suggested at one point that the divorce might be a test or a temporary separation. Catherine, however, seemed much more definitive. She hasn't looked back.
It’s a classic case of one person moving on while the other is still stuck in the "what if" phase. We've all seen it in our own lives, but usually, it doesn't involve a guy with millions of followers filming himself crying in a van.
Misconceptions About the Split
People love a conspiracy theory. Some fans initially thought the divorce was a giant prank—a "social experiment" to get views. Given their history of clickbait, you can't really blame people for being skeptical. But as the months rolled on and the separate living arrangements became permanent, the reality set in. This wasn't a skit for the vlog.
Another big misconception is that there was one specific "smoking gun" cheating scandal that ended it. While there were countless rumors over the years, Catherine never cited a specific affair as the reason. Instead, she spoke about a soul-searching journey. Sometimes, the truth is just boring: they grew into two people who no longer fit together.
The Legal Aftermath in 2025 and 2026
By 2025, the dust had mostly settled, though the legal proceedings regarding their shared assets and the remnants of their business ventures took a while to untangle. Divorcing when you have a shared YouTube channel, multiple LLCs, and high-value real estate is a nightmare for lawyers.
Austin eventually stopped the "living in a van" bit and tried to reinvent himself as a solo creator. It’s been a struggle. The magic of the ACE Family was the chemistry (or the illusion of it). Without Catherine to ground the videos, Austin's solo content often feels manic. Catherine has found a steadier rhythm, focusing on wellness, her beauty brand, and a more curated, less chaotic lifestyle.
What This Means for the Future of Family Vlogging
The ACE Family divorce marks the end of an era. It’s a cautionary tale. You can have the world, the fans, and the money, but if it’s built on a foundation of public performance and financial instability, it’s going to fall.
When you ask when did Austin and Catherine divorce, you’re really asking when the fantasy died. It died long before January 2024. That date was just the funeral.
Moving Forward: Lessons from the ACE Family
If you’re following this story, there are some pretty clear takeaways about the reality of digital fame:
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- Brand vs. Reality: Never mistake a curated 20-minute video for a 24-hour marriage. What looks perfect on camera is often falling apart behind the scenes.
- Financial Diversification: Catherine’s move to build Omi Gold independently of the ACE Family brand was a genius move. It gave her an exit ramp.
- Privacy is Luxury: The pressure of having to perform your relationship for views likely accelerated their downfall. Keeping some things sacred isn't just a moral choice; it's a survival strategy for a marriage.
If you're looking for the most recent updates, you'll find them on Catherine's personal Instagram or through Austin's frequent Snapchat stories. They are living two completely different lives now. The ACE Family channel sits like a ghost town, a digital monument to a time when they were the king and queen of the platform. It’s over. And honestly, for both of them, that might be the best thing that ever happened.
To stay updated on the legal finalities or co-parenting updates, watch for official court filings in Los Angeles County, as those provide the only non-filtered version of the story. Otherwise, take everything you see on social media with a massive grain of salt. Influencers are, above all else, storytellers. And they’re currently writing very different chapters.