This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Jason Tsoi. Find him on Instagram at @jason.tsoi. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
When an online influencer is cancelled, it’s typical for them to fall off the face of the internet. Despite posting apology videos or rebranding their content, cancelled influencers are unable to attain their audience. However, there’s one influencer who managed to stay afloat, obtaining the title of “uncancellable” by social media users: Trisha Paytas. So how did Trisha Paytas get famous?
Trisha Paytas’ Rise To Fame
Paytas’ rise to social media fame is strongly connected to her YouTube channel, “blndsundoll4mj,” which has garnered over five million subscribers. Created in 2007, the influencer’s earliest videos ranged from poetry about Quentin Tarantino to lifestyle. But, it was not until years later when the YouTuber soared in popularity on the social media platform. From filming videos of herself crying on the kitchen floor to doing mukbangs next to her sofa, Paytas built a following based on her raw personality. While speaking to the camera, Paytas talks to her audience in a conversational manner. She often strikes up conversations about her personal life, which makes her appear relatable to viewers.
Outside of making mukbangs, Paytas has a history of making music. Some of the influencer’s most popular works include “I Love You Jesus,” and “Daddy Issues.” Paytas is also recognized for her remakes of popular songs from films, like “Bet On It” from High School Musical 2 and “What Dreams Are Made Of” from The Lizzie McGuire Movie.
Another aspect that boosted Paytas’ popularity was her collaborations with other content creators. As a former member of the “Vlog Squad,” led by content creator David Dobrik, Paytas made a couple of appearances in his videos. At the time, Paytas was in a relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Jason Nash, who was also a member of the group and a content creator. The influencer also had a close relationship with social media influencer, Shane Dawson. Paytas took part in many of Dawson’s videos, including a popular video where Dawson was Paytas for a day. These collaborations allowed Paytas to grow her social media presence and influence on the platform.
The Fall of Trisha Paytas
Even though Paytas formed connections with highly prominent content creators, these relationships have led to controversies that impacted Paytas’ public image. Following allegations against members of the “Vlog Squad,” Paytas spoke out against the group multiple times for their extreme pranks and toxic environment. In one case, Paytas claimed that Dobrik hid in a hotel room and filmed her without her consent while she was naked during an intimate moment with Nash. Despite her disapproval, Dobrik used the content for his vlog anyway, which is now deleted.
Even though Paytas and Dawson had a strong friendship, their relationship quickly fell apart following a conflict between Paytas and Jeffree Star, a make-up influencer. In 2021, Paytas accused Star of making inappropriate remarks about her appearance during a Las Vegas trip. As a friend of both influencers, Dawson did not come to Paytas’ defense, which she viewed as an act of betrayal. Since then, both influencers are no longer on speaking terms. In response to these controversies, social media users defended and sympathized with Paytas, but the influencer also received criticism, accusing her of creating drama.
Besides being involved in controversies with other influencers, Paytas has a history of creating problematic content herself. For years, the influencer has been criticized for her racist, homophobic, transphobic and anti-semitic content. On YouTube, one user posted a compilation titled, “Trisha Paytas Saying The N Word And Being Racist For A Minute Straight,” garnering millions of views. This led some viewers to believe that Paytas is putting on a persona to attract views and engagements. While being held accountable for her actions, Paytas issued multiple apologies and expressed regret for her behavior. Despite this, some social media users believe that Paytas’ apologies are not enough, calling for the deplatforming of the influencer.
Trisha Paytas’ Life Outside Of YouTube
In recent years, however, Paytas has taken a step back from the internet to focus on her personal life. In December 2020, Paytas got engaged to artist and photographer Moses Hacmon. A year later, the two officially tied the knot in a wedding ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village, California, as well as a second wedding on the beach in Maui, Hawaii. In September 2022, Paytas and Hacmon welcomed their first child, Malibu Barbie Paytas-Hacmon. Two years later, the couple embraced their second baby girl, Elvis Paytas-Hacmon.
During her pregnancies, Paytas documented her journey through maternity and postpartum in a shared separate channel, Paytas-Hacmon Family Channel. While comparing Payta’s previous videos to her current ones, fans noticed that the influencer looks happier. This led viewers to believe that Paytas’ family has left a positive impact on her career and made her a better person.
Reclaimed Fame And New Opportunities
As of today, Paytas continues to produce videos on her main channel, as well as hosting her own podcasts with celebrities and influencers on her channel, “Just Trish.” Not only does Paytas have a big presence on YouTube, but she also recently made an appearance on national television. Earlier this month, Paytas made a surprise appearance on an episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL) with host and actor Paul Mescal, and musical guest Shaboozey. On the popular late night show, the influencer, playing as herself, participated in a sketch about Spotify Wrapped alongside actor and comedian Bowen Yang and Mescal.
Following her appearance on SNL, Paytas announced her Broadway debut in a one-night-only show, “Trisha Paytas’ Big Broadway Dream.” The show, directed by Skylar Fox and choreographed by Sarah Meahl, is set to premiere on Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. in St. James Theatre. Although it remains unclear what the show will be about, there will be musical numbers and special guests.
What are your thoughts on Trisha Paytas? Let us know in the comments.
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