0
0
After over a decade of speculation, British YouTubers Dan Howell and Phil Lester have officially confirmed that they’ve been in a relationship since 2009.
In a heartfelt joint video posted to their channel, Dan shared that the relationship started quickly and naturally.
“We fell into it hard and fast in 2009,” he said. “It was so fast that we never labeled it. We just ended up living together — and here we are.”
Phil added:
“We’re partners in everything. And no, it’s not always perfect. Don’t think we’re the ideal of human partnerships.”
Dan also opened up about the reasons behind their long silence on the topic. At the time, he was still coming to terms with his identity.
“I was so deep in the closet,” he admitted. “I felt we had to hide the relationship because I was still hiding who I was from my friends, family, and even myself.”
Phil said he understood Dan’s need for space, adding that he wanted to support him while he figured things out.
Though both came out publicly in 2019, they chose to keep their relationship private — partly to focus on their careers and protect their creative partnership.
“We wanted people to see us as a comedy duo, not just as a couple,” Dan explained. “There’s a lot of homophobia out there, and some straight guys just wouldn’t have watched us if they knew.”
They also addressed why they avoided “couple content” throughout their careers. Dan described the idea of making their private life public as “a dystopian nightmare”, rejecting the pressure to turn their relationship into entertainment.
After 16 years, the duo says they’re finally ready to share their story — on their own terms.
