Ethan Klein blamed Trisha Paytas' fans for accusations that Teddy Fresh is a 'toxic' work environment
- Clothing brand Teddy Fresh faced a fresh wave of Glassdoor reviews saying it's a toxic work environment.
- Founders and YouTubers Ethan and Hila Klein denied the claims, calling it a "utopian" place to work.
Married influencers Ethan and Hila Klein have responded to several negative reviews posted to workplace review site Glassdoor claiming their clothing brand Teddy Fresh is a toxic workplace.
The Kleins addressed the controversy on July 15 during a live stream on their YouTube channel H3 Podcast. They said the criticisms had been made in "bad faith" and were "really far from the truth." Ethan also said he believed some of the negative posts were made by fans of other influencers he's feuded with, including Trisha Paytas, who is married to his brother-in-law.
"Trisha has nothing to do with it, but there's a community of psychos," Ethan said, adding that Paytas' fans "hate my guts." Hila's brother, Moses Hacmon, is married to Paytas, and the couple is expecting a child. Paytas and Ethan Klein have a tumultuous relationship that came to a head in June 2021 when Paytas abruptly quit "Frenemies," the hugely successful podcast the pair hosted.
Paytas did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
Ethan also suggested internet commentary creator Daniel Keem, known as Keemstar, might be behind some of the negative Glassdoor reviews. He and Keemstar have had a long-standing feud. Ethan pointed to an episode of "Some Ordinary Podcast," which covers internet drama and gossip, posted on June 26, in which Keem said Teddy Fresh employees frequently contacted him with complaints about the company. Keem did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
"Anyone else that's trying to run a company doesn't have to deal with this kind of bullshit," Ethan said. "But because of who we are, everybody's taking shots."
On Glassdoor, where workers can anonymously rate their employers, Teddy Fresh has 42 reviews and an average rating of 1.8 out of five stars.
While Teddy Fresh was founded in 2017, the company's first Glassdoor reviews only appeared in December 2021, when a series of one- and two-star reviews appeared alleging a toxic environment and multiple firings. Representatives for Teddy Fresh and H3 Podcast did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
"We've worked so hard, specifically Hila, to build this company and do it the right way, and I feel like there's really nothing bad you can say or criticize Teddy Fresh," Ethan said in the video. "People are always looking for a reason to tear it down."
The Kleins described their workplace as "wholesome" and "utopian," citing ping-pong tables, karaoke, competitive pay, and generous benefits.
Regarding the negative reviews, Hila said, "Maybe there's a couple that are real, obviously it really is sad to see, and I take it very seriously," Hila said. "I do believe that we are improving the company all the time and constantly trying to make sure it's a really good environment for our employees. We try to make everyone feel like they're valued."
Ethan and Hila Klein founded their original YouTube channel h3h3Productions in 2011, where they posted commentary and discussion surrounding online personalities. It amassed over 6 million subscribers but has been dormant since 2020. The pair now post on their second channel, H3 Podcast, where they have almost 3 million subscribers.
Ethan Klein has been involved in multiple disputes in his decade online, feuding with influencers including PewDiePie and James Charles.
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