Note: I suddenly remembered after writing this Trisha uses they/them pronouns, but also uses she/her. I was going to edit the whole post, but on reflection I don't feel it's necessary as she/her is also acceptable.
The Frenemies podcast was a turbulent journey from start to finish. I was a fan of h3h3 (aka Ethan and Hila Klein) and had watched a few episodes of the H3 Podcast. Ethan's main focus in recent years has been on podcasting, and Hila runs a successful fashion brand, Teddy Fresh. I knew Trisha Paytas as a controversial figure within the YouTube community. I never watched her videos as I found her to be offensive and attention-seeking. She has said herself that she will do anything for attention, whether it be positive or negative. There are several compilation videos on YouTube of the problematic things she has said and done over the years.
In 2019, Ethan posted a video where he reacted to the subreddit 'Instagram Reality' where users compare edited and unedited images, usually taken on the same day. Tana Mongeau, another controversial YouTube personality, was also featured in the video. Tana became a topic of discussion on social media after uploading a heavily edited photo of herself at the People's Choice Awards. Perhaps excessive editing comes from influencers' own insecurities but there is no denying that it can be harmful to other people, including their own followers.
Instagram Reality subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Instagramreality/
Many celebrities, including the Kardashians, have been criticised time and time again for their obvious Facetuning and editing mistakes. People online like to point out wavy wardrobe doors in the background of photos and other ‘fails’. The Kardashians have also denied many times that they have had certain plastic surgery procedures despite differences in their appearances throughout the years. Khloe Kardashian received backlash after she made attempts to erase an unedited image of herself online because she wasn't happy with how she looked. Ethan has discussed his own body insecurities and struggles with depression. While I don't agree with some of the comments he made in his video (like when he compared Tana to a "twinkie" and a "manatee") he made some valid points.
Trisha saw Ethan's video and made a response to it in her signature chaotic style, sitting on the kitchen floor. In the aftermath of their Twitter beef, no one expected Trisha to guest star on the H3 Podcast. She made some comments that caused many viewers to feel uneasy. She talked about her obsession with Jewish people, particularly Jewish men. A few months later, it was revealed that Trisha was dating Hila's brother Moses. Ethan and Hila were critical of Moses for not telling them that he was in a relationship with Trisha, and another online drama unfolded. Fast forward to September 2020, when the first episode of Frenemies was unveiled. The video popped up in my recommended and I clicked on it because the thumbnail and title caught my attention. The show had an interesting concept, two hosts who don't particularly like each other but are tied to each other through a mutual connection: Moses. The set design was simple but effective, one half of the frame pink to represent Trisha and the other half black to represent Ethan.
The episode where they cosplayed as each other, iconic ✨
Trisha revealed to Ethan in the first episode that she started dating Moses as a “joke” and also to get back at him and Hila. Her first major fall out with Ethan on the podcast happened in Episode 5, 'Trisha & Ethan Have a Huge Fight & She Storms Out'. Trisha accused Ethan and his production team of exploiting her mental health by giving the video this title. It could be argued that it was unnecessary to use this title and they didn't need to include the clip where Trisha left. It was a pre-recorded show, so it could've been edited out. However, you could also argue that for context purposes it wouldn't have made sense not to include it.
The thing that really struck me with Frenemies was that, as much as Ethan was typically the voice of reason, they both were flawed. Viewers began to feel connected to Ethan and Trisha because we felt like we were going on this positive journey with them as they grew closer as friends. The show was really funny, and hearing producer Dan laugh in the background made it even funnier. The dress-up element was hilarious, and I looked forward to seeing the looks they would turn up with each week. This was definitely Trisha's influence so I'll give her full credit for that. With each episode, I started to feel like I understood her better as a person. After she made a comment body shaming the YouTuber Phillip DeFranco, Ethan revealed that Phil had messaged him afterwards expressing his anger and disappointment, and said that Frenemies was essentially the Trisha Paytas redemption podcast. He might have had a point. I was very sceptical of Trisha at the beginning, but started to genuinely like and appreciate her. She still said and did things from time to time that rubbed me the wrong way, but I felt like she was trying to do better and that was really all that mattered.
One of the DMs Trisha leaked
In the final episode, Trisha went off on Ethan after he interrupted her (he was asking the crew if they wanted pizza) while she was talking about Brokeback Mountain. It was upsetting to watch. After this, she made attempts to ruin his reputation, posting rant videos online and releasing private DMs discussing the profits from the video revenue. While attempting to expose Ethan, she made herself look bad when one of the screenshots revealed that she called him "Jewy", insinuating that he was greedy and money hungry, an incredibly anti-Semitic stereotype. Trisha's sister even contributed to the madness by making a video about the situation, which led to "The 5%" becoming a meme in the Frenemies and wider h3h3 community.
In response, Ethan did a funny bit on the After Dark podcast about all of the incredible things you could buy with the 5%. The downfall of Frenemies was sad to witness because Ethan and Trisha seemed to be developing a genuine bond. They even bought matching cars, and Ethan posted an Instagram about how he considered her to be one of his best friends. Trisha had me and many other viewers convinced that she was making positive changes, but whether any of it was real remains to be seen. I'm not saying Ethan was completely faultless, but you could tell he always wanted to make things right and never tried to cause her intentional mental harm. Trisha and Moses got married last December and just welcomed their first baby, Malibu Barbie. I'm not kidding. I kind of wish I was.
I'll always remember this podcast fondly, despite its disastrous end. Frenemies fans mourned for a while, but the legacy lives on to this day through memes and TikToks.
RIP Frenemies. 2020-2021.
Peace and love✌🏼
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