Trisha Paytas’ fans urged her to change her baby’s name after some branded it to be “cruel”.
Paytas, who uses both she/her and they/them pronouns, has been open about their struggles with fertility.
Their journey to parenthood was not without challenges, and the couple even found themselves addressing bizarre online speculation that their child was a reincarnation of Queen Elizabeth II, given the late monarch’s passing close to Paytas’s due date.
Since launching their YouTube career in 2007, Paytas has amassed over five million subscribers and nearly one billion total views.
Their content spans mukbangs, fashion hauls, makeup tutorials, and their well-known ‘kitchen floor’ videos, where they candidly share emotional moments with followers.
Throughout their career, Paytas has often sparked debate for their evolving personal identity, including exploring different religious affiliations such as Judaism, Islam, and the Hare Krishna movement.
Paytas and her husband, Moses Hacmon, announced the birth of their daughter, Malibu Barbie, in a TikTok video posted on September 15 2022.
The post was captioned: “Best day ever […] Meet our daughter – Malibu Barbie Paytas Hacmon […] born 09.14.22.”
Social media reactions have ranged from humorous to critical.
One Twitter user referenced the 1993 film Addams Family Values, where a character expresses outrage over receiving the wrong Barbie doll: “When the nurse asked what you wanted to name her.” Another user joked about the Queen Elizabeth theory, writing, “When you realize you’re no longer in Buckingham Palace.”
Despite the criticism, many fans have shown support for the name choice. TikToker Cameron Perez commented: “MALIBU IS SUCH A PRETTY NAMEEE. AND BARBIEEE SO CAMP.” Fellow influencer Abbie Herbert added: “Congratulations […] Malibu is beautiful.”
However, some users were less enthused, calling the name “cruel.”
One commenter wrote: “Naming your newborn MALIBU BARBIE is cruel. What an awful name. If you think it’s a cute name you should not be allowed naming rights to any future posterity [sic].” Another agreed, stating, “Naming your kid Malibu Barbie just seems cruel.”
The expectant mom – who tied the knot with Hacmon in 2020 – defended her decision in an interview with E! News, sharing that her baby has really grown into the persona.
“She’s like a little girl, so I just get to dress her up! Like, I was excited to have a boy or a girl, but now that she’s a girl I just, like, dress her like a mini-me. She’s so much fun… she’s very Malibu Barbie,” she said.
Paytas also opened up about motherhood, expressing that despite how much she enjoys it, it still comes with its hardships.
“I don’t think anyone fully prepares you to be a mom, or a parent, and all of it is both easier and harder than I thought,” she said. “On one hand, you know, changing diapers, all that stuff, it’s very easy. And then, on the other hand, it’s a lot more difficult.”
“I’m like: ‘Oh my gosh, you have to entertain this person and what does she like to do?’ She likes to look at her hands, she likes to look at [toys] and you’re just, like, you’re figuring it all out. So it’s easier and harder than I thought.
“But it’s so perfect,” she continued. “I never thought this would ever happen for me, marriage and a baby.”
