The Try Guys and Ned Fulmer’s departure, explained

Popular YouTube channel The Try Guys has announced that they are parting ways with Ned Fulmer, their co-creator. This announcement was shared by the group on Twitter and Instagram. It caps off an intense day of internet speculation, sleuthing and conspiracy.

“Ned Fulmer is no longer working with The Try Guys,” the statement reads. “As a result of a thorough internal review, we do not see a path forward together. We thank you for your support as we navigate this change.”

The group’s Twitter bio has already been updated to remove Fulmer’s handle, and their social media avatars across the brand’s pages have been changed to display group’s Triceratops logo.

Fulmer posted a social media statement, which confirmed his suspicions about infidelity. “Family should have always been my priority, but I lost focus and had a consensual workplace relationship,” Fulmer said. “I’m sorry for any pain that my actions may have caused to the guys and the fans but most of all to Ariel. The only thing that matters right now is my marriage and my children, and that’s where I am going to focus my attention.”

These are the men who made this happen.

The Try Guys’ official members are Keith Habersberger, Eugene Lee Yang, Zach Kornfeld, and, until recently, Ned Fulmer; the four co-created the group in 2014 when they were employed by BuzzFeed. As part of BuzzFeed’s video operation, the group played a large role in defining a kind of media presence on the internet. Their whole schtick is in their name — they’d simple “try” things, ranging from various foods and sports to simulating labor pain, their most viewed video of all time. (2015 was a different time — a time when things felt “radical” rather than “cringe.”)

This worked. They became immensely popular and created their YouTube channel in 2018. It now boasts 7.8 million subscribers. Their popularity has swelled past the confines of YouTube; they’ve published several books, appear in various podcasts and spinoffs, and host a show on the Food Network.

They have managed to stay relevant in today’s crowded video sharing space. This is truly impressive. They were both funny and relatable in their videos. The fact that they all fell in to a particular archetype helped as well, allowing them to draw their respective fanbases. Fulmer, who was also a huge Wife Guy and co-authored a cookbook together with Ariel Fulmer, is notable.

What’s the drama?

Reddit user shared a deleted video on Monday showing a couple having sex at a NYC bar. It was posted to the subreddit r/TryGuys.

Fans in the subreddit began pointing out Fulmer’s absence in three of the Try Guys’ most recent YouTube videos — including “Try Guys Try Stand-Up Comedy,” “Keith Eats Everything at a Vegas Buffet,” and “Try Guys Ruin Chocolate Eclairs w/ Pro Chefs” — an odd lack of appearance, given the show’s typical focus on the group’s rapport. Fulmer was not featured in any of the recent episodes on podcasts or through social media marketing.

Twitter threadThe Monday post summarizes fan-dissected incidents that looked suspicious. It starts with noting those missing and then goes on to note that Fulmer appeared in promotional material for the season. Fulmer also appeared in Las Vegas promotional photos, according to fans. Fans have suggested Fulmer may even be removed from shots in the Try Guys videos.

Additionally, Ariel Fulmer wasn’t present in the previous two episodes of You can sit with usThe podcast is hosted by The Try Guys’ wives.

The quartet of YouTubers have worked together, in this tightknit cast, for long enough that it’s hard to know whether the dynamic will gel with just three cast members, whatever the group’s decision going forward may be. Their reputation was built on being approachable and friendly, as well as their down-to earth demeanor. It’s hard to know where the group will go from here.