YouTubers Dan and Phil Announce Romance After 16 Years

Popular YouTube personalities Dan Howell and Phil Lester have finally confirmed their romantic relationship after 16 years. This announcement came via a 46-minute video shared with their nearly 3 million subscribers. The video, titled “Are Dan and Phil in a Relationship?” marks a significant moment in their long-standing friendship and partnership.

Relationship Confirmation and Background

In the video, posted on October 13, 2023, Howell, aged 34, and Lester, aged 38, revealed that they began dating in 2009. At that time, they described falling into their relationship quickly but chose not to label it officially. This confirmation follows their individual announcements in June 2019 when both came out as gay.

Reflections on Their Journey

Howell expressed the challenges they faced over the years. He shared that his upbringing in a homophobic environment made it difficult for him to talk openly about their relationship. “I felt we had to hide the relationship because I was still hiding who I was,” Howell admitted. He referred to Lester as his “safe space” during this period.

Lester acknowledged the ups and downs in their relationship. “It’s not always perfect,” he stated. The couple emphasized that they want to be authentic moving forward. “We can’t live in fear anymore,” Howell said, indicating a desire to embrace their relationship fully.

Future Plans and Content

Despite this newfound openness, the duo clarified that their content will not pivot to typical couple-oriented videos. “We have been held back from doing this for so many years,” Howell noted. They aim to maintain the essence of what brought them together while sharing new aspects of their lives.

Announcing New Ventures

• They unveiled “The Dan and Phil Podcast,” where they plan to share more personal stories.
• Lester humorously remarked, “15 years of suppressing all of these stories and opinions, and they’re finally gonna come out.”

The video marks a pivotal chapter not only in their personal lives but also in their professional journey as content creators. Fans can look forward to seeing more of an authentic Dan and Phil in the future.