If you spent any time on the "storytime" side of YouTube circa 2015, you probably remember the chaos. Trisha Paytas, dressed in a full Glinda the Good Witch costume, sitting on her kitchen floor, sobbing. The target of her heartbreak? Broadway veteran and Desperate Housewives actor Roger Bart. It’s one of those Hollywood pairings that feels like a fever dream, but for two and a half years, it was very real.
Even now, years later, the Trisha Paytas and Roger Bart saga remains a fascinating case study in how two completely different worlds—old-school Broadway prestige and chaotic digital-age influencer culture—can collide and explode.
The Relationship Nobody Saw Coming
Trisha Paytas has lived a thousand lives online. We've seen her as a beach-pop singer, a mukbang queen, and more recently, a mom of three (welcome to the world, Aquaman Moses). But back in 2013, she was just starting to cement her status as a viral powerhouse. Roger Bart, on the other hand, was the Tony-winning actor known for The Producers, the singing voice of Hercules, and playing the creepy pharmacist George Williams on Desperate Housewives.
They met when Trisha was in her early 20s and Roger was in his 50s. Despite the 26-year age gap and the vastly different career paths, they dated for roughly two and a half years.
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Honestly, it wasn't a secret relationship, but it wasn't exactly "Instagram official" in the way we think of it today. Trisha would often hint at her "actor boyfriend," but for a long time, Roger stayed out of the direct line of fire of her vlogs. That changed fast once things went south.
That Infamous Halloween Party
Everything hit the fan in late 2015. Trisha was hosting a Halloween party with Shane Dawson—this was the peak Shane-and-Trisha era—and she was dressed as Glinda. In the middle of the festivities, she allegedly discovered that Roger hadn't just been unfaithful; he had an entire separate life.
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The fallout was documented in a video titled "ROGER BART IS A CHEATER." It’s a classic piece of internet history.
Trisha claimed she found out Roger had a live-in girlfriend he’d been with for years. According to her, he had been flying Trisha out, promising a future together, and telling her they would eventually live together, all while another woman was already in the picture. The betrayal wasn't just a one-night stand; it was a years-long web of lies.
Why the Story Still Sticks Around
- The Age Gap: People often point to the power dynamic, given Trisha was quite young and Roger was an established industry veteran.
- The Contrast: You have a Broadway legend and a woman who once claimed she was "1000% transgender" while identifying as a "drag queen." It’s an unlikely duo.
- The Recurrence: Every time Roger Bart trends for a new role—like his recent run as Doc Brown in Back to the Future: The Musical—the "Trisha's Ex" tweets inevitably resurface.
The Aftermath and Current Status
Roger Bart hasn't really addressed the Trisha drama in a public, formal way. He’s continued his high-profile theater career, earning Tony nominations and appearing in major shows. However, if you look at his social media or Reddit threads about him, the ghost of Trisha Paytas is always there. Fans of the influencer are nothing if not loyal, and they rarely let people forget.
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Trisha, of course, moved on to many other public relationships—most notably her tumultuous time with Jason Nash—before finding stability with her husband, Moses Hacmon. They now have three children: Malibu Barbie, Elvis, and Aquaman Moses.
It's wild to think that the woman who was once crying on a floor over a Broadway actor is now one of the most successful podcasters on the platform with Just Trish. She’s leaned into her "theatre kid" energy in a different way, even hosting her own one-night-only Broadway-style show in 2025.
What We Can Learn From the Drama
- Digital Footprints are Permanent: Roger Bart is a respected actor, but for a huge segment of Gen Z and Millennials, he is "that guy who cheated on Trisha Paytas."
- The Rise of the "Receipts" Culture: Trisha was one of the first to realize that documented heartbreak is a form of currency. She didn't just tell the story; she showed the raw, immediate aftermath.
- Vetting is Vital: Whether you're an influencer or a Tony winner, the internet will eventually find out the truth.
If you’re looking into this because you saw a clip on TikTok or a mention on a podcast, just know that the Trisha Paytas and Roger Bart era was as messy as it sounds. It was a bridge between the old guard of Hollywood and the new, lawless land of YouTube creators.
Next Steps for the Curious: If you want to see the cultural impact firsthand, you can still find mirrors of Trisha's 2015 "call-out" videos on YouTube. It’s a fascinating look at how influencer "expose" culture started. You might also want to check out recent episodes of the Just Trish podcast, where she occasionally reflects on her past relationships with a bit more maturity and a lot of humor.