WOMAN, 28, MOVED IN WITH FRIEND’S STEPDAD AND WENT VIRAL
A 28-year-old photographer moved in with her best friend’s stepdad after a breakup, and their roommate texts became a TikTok hit. Rylie Middaugh and Tom Ward now have viewers around the world.
Middaugh, 28, runs her own photography business and lives on Ward’s property in Bend, Oregon. The unlikely pair, decades apart in age, were profiled by People on July 5, 2026, as their friendship took off online.
“Tom and I come from completely different generations, but we’ve found so much common ground through simple things like sharing stories, watching sunsets or just sitting down to eat a meal together,” Middaugh said.
She added: “I’ve always felt like I’m a bit of an old soul, so having a roommate like Tom has been exactly what I needed.”
How a breakup led to a new roommate
Middaugh moved from South Carolina to Oregon in 2023 to be with her long-term boyfriend, That’s Life reported. When the relationship ended, she needed somewhere to go.
She moved onto Ward’s property within days of leaving the place she shared with her ex. It was about 10 minutes from her former home.
Ward is her best friend’s stepdad, and he had an empty guesthouse available, The Washington Post reported. He had lived alone for several years after his partner died.
The early days were quiet. Middaugh kept mostly to herself for the first few weeks, Central Oregon Daily reported. Then the two began spending time together and eating meals side by side.
From sunsets to TikTok
Middaugh said she often brings a professional camera to Pilot Butte while Ward snaps pictures on his iPhone.
One of their stories started with a misplaced phone. Ward asked Middaugh to call it so they could find it.
Their text exchanges and roommate videos took off on TikTok. The texts alone introduced Ward to hundreds of thousands of viewers.
The pair now make content daily, either in the car or at home. A TikTok video of their text messages made them unexpectedly famous, and millions of people worldwide have watched their videos.
Both said their favorite part of living together is the friendship, not the fame, along with making themselves and others laugh and smile.
Where they stand now
Seven months after becoming housemates, Middaugh said living with Ward was still an adventure.
On October 14, 2026, Middaugh said she and Ward would remain roommates “for a while yet” and called him “a lifelong friend.”
