The long-standing public and familial divide between YouTube personalities Trisha Paytas and Ethan Klein has entered a volatile new chapter following allegations of a months-long affair and the subsequent collapse of the H3 Podcast empire. Paytas, who co-hosted the viral ‘Frenemies’ podcast with Klein until a high-profile feud in 2021, has officially broken a five-year silence to address the controversy currently surrounding her former colleague.
The development follows a social media announcement by Hila Klein, Ethan’s wife and the co-founder of the clothing brand Teddy Fresh, who revealed on Friday, October 23, that the couple is separating. Hila Klein alleged that Ethan had been involved in an affair for over six months, stating she is currently in “survival mode” as she navigates the separation and what she described as “unthinkable heartbreak.”
In the wake of the announcement, Paytas addressed the situation during an episode of her own program, the ‘Just Trish’ podcast. She described a sense of “relief” that the H3 Podcast has come to an end, claiming she had lived in fear for half a decade while being frequently ridiculed by the H3 platform. Paytas revealed that her previous “hard boundary” of not discussing Ethan Klein was rooted in a desire for peace that she claims was never reciprocated.
According to Paytas, she had previously reached out to both Ethan and Hila Klein to request a truce, citing her own mental health struggles. “I was not met with any grace or compassion,” Paytas said. “I sent private texts and I was like, ‘Please, please, I’m spiraling, I’m mentally unwell, can we just end this?’ I was met with zero grace or compassion from either of them.”
The conflict is complicated by familial ties; Paytas is married to Moses Hacmon, who is Hila Klein’s brother. The feud that ended ‘Frenemies’ in 2021 resulted in a total estrangement between the siblings. During the podcast episode, Hacmon confirmed he has been “no contact” with his sister for five years and stated that he no longer considers Ethan Klein part of the family.
Hacmon offered a sharp critique of his brother-in-law, alleging that Klein intentionally sought to damage his reputation. He claimed that a never-aired final episode of ‘Frenemies’ was suppressed because Klein feared a public backlash. Hacmon further alleged that Klein manufactured a negative “persona” of him, painting him as a “creep” who hated his own family. “I warned her in the past that he is a liar, and he lies,” Hacmon said of his sister.
The fallout from the affair allegations has also triggered a revolt within the H3 Podcast production team. The crew released a statement expressing they were “shocked, angry and heartbroken” by the revelations. The staff announced they would no longer work with Ethan Klein or allow him to profit from their future endeavors, choosing instead to stand in solidarity with Hila Klein.
In response to the internal and public pressure, Ethan Klein reportedly posted on his Instagram Story that he is working to “urgently remove” his financial stakes and ownership in all joint ventures. This includes the H3 Podcast, the clothing line Teddy Fresh, and the makeup brand Teddy Glow.
While the crew of the H3 Podcast has indicated an interest in continuing the show without Ethan Klein’s involvement, the future of the various business entities remains uncertain. Paytas, meanwhile, characterized the current situation as the end of a period of sustained pressure, noting that the H3 Podcast’s discontinuation marks the close of a difficult era for her and Hacmon.
