First Child: Malibu Barbie
September 2022
Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022. Trisha gave birth to Malibu Barbie on September 14, 2022, sparking the original theory.
Exploring the viral internet phenomenon that connects celebrity deaths with Trisha Paytas's childbirth
The "Trisha Paytas Baby Theory" is a lighthearted internet conspiracy theory and meme that originated in 2022. The theory humorously suggests that whenever American YouTuber and internet personality Trisha Paytas gives birth to a child, a prominent public figure passes away around the same time, with their soul supposedly being "reincarnated" as Trisha's baby.
What started as a coincidental observation quickly evolved into one of social media's most enduring and bizarre memes, gaining traction across platforms like TikTok, Twitter (now X), and Instagram. Despite being completely fictional and meant purely as humor, the theory continues to resurface whenever a notable celebrity passes away during Trisha's pregnancies.
Trisha herself has acknowledged the meme, initially finding humor in it but later expressing discomfort when the jokes continued during her subsequent pregnancies, especially when they involved figures who were ill but still living.
The theory originated in September 2022 when Queen Elizabeth II passed away at the age of 96 on September 8th. Just days before, on September 7th, Trisha Paytas had announced on social media that she was 1cm dilated and preparing for labor. The timing of these two events led internet users to jokingly speculate that the Queen would be "reincarnated" as Trisha's baby.
The earliest known post referencing this theory was from TikToker @smurphy_murphy, who posted a video on February 16, 2022 (when Trisha first announced her pregnancy) with the caption: "Queen Elizabeth holding on for dear life so she doesn't get reincarnated as Trisha Paytas' baby." This video gained over 484,000 views and set the stage for what would become a viral sensation months later when the Queen actually passed away.
Trisha's first daughter, Malibu Barbie Paytas-Hacmon, was born on September 14, 2022, just six days after Queen Elizabeth's death. The coincidental timing cemented the meme in internet culture.
What could have been a one-time joke evolved into a recurring internet phenomenon as Trisha continued to have children. Each time she announced a pregnancy or gave birth, social media users would speculate about which famous figure might pass away next.
September 2022
Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022. Trisha gave birth to Malibu Barbie on September 14, 2022, sparking the original theory.
May 2024
When King Charles III was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024 while Trisha was pregnant with her second child, the theory resurfaced. Pope Francis passed away around the time Elvis Paytas-Hacmon was born.
July 2025
Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne passed away on July 22, 2025, shortly after Trisha announced the birth of her third child, Aquaman Moses Paytas-Hacmon, reigniting the theory once again.
The Trisha Paytas Baby Theory has become a unique internet phenomenon that demonstrates how quickly coincidences can transform into widespread memes in today's digital landscape. Despite being completely fictional, the theory has:
Trisha herself has addressed the theory multiple times. On her podcast, she stated: "I get the meme of it all. I was able to lean into the Queen Elizabeth one a little bit, but it also terrifies me that people believe in it enough." As someone who believes in manifestation and reincarnation, she expressed concern about the jokes potentially manifesting negative outcomes.
More recently, when announcing her third child Aquaman, she preemptively addressed the theory: "A lot of people have passed since I gave birth, or gotten ill... Connie Francis, Pope Francis... Anyway, let's relax, a baby is here. We don't have to reincarnate everybody really, ok?"
The Trisha Paytas Baby Theory has inspired countless memes across social media platforms. Here are some examples of how this theory has been represented online:
It's important to note that the Trisha Paytas Baby Theory is entirely fictional and meant as internet humor. The timing of celebrity deaths and Trisha's childbirths are purely coincidental, though the internet's ability to spot and amplify these patterns has created a lasting meme.
The theory represents a perfect example of how internet culture can transform random coincidences into elaborate, shared jokes that persist over time. It also demonstrates how quickly these theories can spread across platforms and become part of the online conversation around certain celebrities.
Whether you find it amusing or bizarre, the Trisha Paytas Baby Theory has secured its place in internet history as one of the more unusual memes of the 2020s.