YouTube Stars Dan and Phil confirm their relationship after years of speculation

YouTubers Dan Howell and Phil Lester have officially confirmed their relationship after years of fan speculation.

The longtime collaborators, famous for their YouTube content and joint projects, revealed they’ve been together since 2009 in a new video titled “Is Phan Real? Dan and Phil Reveal the Truth,” released on October 13.

In the 46-minute video, Howell asked, “Are Dan and Phil in a relationship?” to which Lester simply replied, “Yes.” Howell jokingly added, “Alright, bye,” before teasing viewers, “Oh, you wanted more? You want the juice, the tea, the blood, the tears?”

The pair went on to answer long-standing fan questions, explaining that they fell for each other soon after meeting and began filming videos the same day. “We signed up to be entertainers creating content for you to enjoy. Along the way, we fell hard and fast. And here we are, almost 16 years later,” Howell said.

For years, fans suspected their friendship was more than platonic due to their close chemistry both on and off camera. Although both came out publicly in 2019, neither had confirmed their relationship until now.

In his 2019 coming-out video, Howell hinted they had once been romantically involved but chose not to elaborate. Since then, the duo has pursued solo projects before reuniting for their 2024 joint tour, “Terrible Influence.”

In the new video, Howell joked that they were never “technically” together because they never said the words aloud, but admitted they’ve always been partners in every sense. “Don’t think we’re the perfect example of a relationship,” he said. “We’ve had ups and downs like anyone else. We’re weird. We’ve been attached at the hip for 15 years.”

Both explained that they chose to keep their relationship private to protect it from public scrutiny. “Dan and Phil, the comedy duo, and Dan and Phil, the gay boyfriends — it hits different,” Howell said.