Even if you don’t follow The Try Guys’ media content, chances are you’ve probably heard their name in the past week or so. On Sept. 27, the popular YouTube group announced that one of its four members, Ned Fulmer, would no longer be working with the content creators, following reports of an extramarital affair.
The Try Guys released a joint statement on social media, officially declaring Ned’s departure from the brand following a “thorough internal review.” The statement read, “We do not see a path forward together. We thank you for your support as we navigate this change.” Since then, both Ned and his wife, Ariel Fulmer, have spoken out on the matter.
As speculation surrounding Ned’s extramarital affair (and what, exactly, the other three members — Keith Habersberger, Zach Kornfeld, and Eugene Lee Yang — knew about it) reached a fever pitch, the remaining Try Guys released a five-minute video statement about the matter on Oct. 3.
Keep up with the latest developments in the Try Guys drama ahead.
Who Are The Try Guys?
Consisting of four members — Kornfeld, Habersberger, Yang, and Ned — The Try Guys started their now-uber-popular video series when they were employed with BuzzFeed back in 2014. They would, as their name suggests, try out different things for the media company’s YouTube channel. From trying out labor-pain stimulations and testing out the legal alcohol limit to replicating iconic music-video choreography and obscure recipes, The Try Guys have pretty much done it all.
In 2018, the video producers parted ways with BuzzFeed and started their own independent YouTube channel, which currently boasts 7.86 million subscribers. They also launched a Food Network TV series called “No-Recipe Road Trip With the Try Guys,” released book “The Hidden Power of F*cking Up,” and started podcast “The TryPod.”
What Happened With Ned Fulmer and The Try Guys?
Fans initially speculated internal trouble with the group when Ned was notably missing from the recent videos posted on The Try Guys’ YouTube channel and their weekly podcast episodes, without so much as an explanation or a mention from the rest of the guys. Then, Reddit user u/hamilton390 shared now-deleted screenshots of a video that appeared to feature Ned making out with Try Guys associate producer Alex Herring at a bar.
As the clip circulated the internet, The Try Guys released the aforementioned Sept. 27 statement, seemingly confirming the affair. “Ned Fulmer is no longer working with The Try Guys,” they wrote. “As a result of a thorough internal review, we do not see a path forward together.” Soon after the announcement, The Try Guys switched out their profile picture of all four members with the company’s official logo across Instagram and Twitter.
On Oct. 3, the remaining Try Guys released an additional video statement clarifying that they were blindsided by the news of Ned’s behavior, and stressing that his actions were entirely contrary to what they stand for as a company.
“And we just want you to know that we had no idea this was going on. All of that information was just as shocking to us as all of this has been for you this week. And thus began a three-week process of engaging with employment lawyers, corporate lawyers, HR, PR, and more in order to make sure we were taking all necessary steps,” they stated in the video. “From the jump, we were acutely aware of just how contrary this was to the values of the company we’ve built and those of everyone who works here. This is something we took very seriously. We refused to sweep things under the rug. That is not who we are and is not what we stand for.”
Has Ned Fulmer Addressed the Controversy?
Shortly after The Try Guys released their statement, Ned admitted to having a “consensual workplace relationship.” “Family should have always been my priority, but I lost focus and had a consensual workplace relationship,” he wrote in an Instagram post shared on Sept. 27. “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.”
Ned married Ariel in 2012, and they have two boys together — Wesley, 4, and Finley, 1. He famously earned the title of “Wife Guy,” given how frequently Ariel appeared in their videos and social media posts. The married couple also coauthored 2021’s “The Date Night Cookbook” and are the hosts of the “Baby Steps” podcast, where they get real about the struggles and challenges of parenthood.
Has Ned Fulmer’s Wife, Ariel Fulmer, Said Anything on the Matter?
On Sept. 27, Ariel shared a brief statement on Instagram, thanking the people who reached out to her and asking for privacy as she and Ned work through their marital issues. “Thanks to everyone who has reached out to me — it means a lot. Nothing is more important to me and Ned than our family, and all we request right now is that you respect our privacy for the sake of our kids.”