Relationship
Dan and Phil confirm dating: 'We fell into it hard and fast'
Photo Inside Page
Photos
Fans continue to celebrate as longtime YouTube duo Dan Howell and Phil Lester finally confirm they're in a relationship.
In their latest vlog, the two addressed the question head-on with Dan opening the video.
“Alright, let's get this over with. Are Dan and Phil in a relationship?” he quickly said.
Phil answered simply, “Yes.”
The revelation brought joy to millions who have followed their journey for over a decade. The couple shared that they had actually started dating back in 2009, the same year they first met.
"We fell into it hard and fast in 2009 and here we are almost 16 years later,” Dan said.
“It was so fast that we never labelled it. We just ended up living together and here we are,” he added.
They explained that their decision to keep their romance private stemmed from a desire to protect their personal lives amid years of fan speculation.
Dan also opened up about his struggles with identity during that time, admitting he was afraid to be open about his sexuality.
"What we had was the most important thing to me and I wanted to protect it. So when other people tried to grab it and drag it into the light, I felt completely violated. Having all of these people trying to out us and being so hostile to me when I tried to hide it was so triggering. Honestly, it could have killed me," he explained.
Phil shared similar sentiments, reflecting on how public pressure affected their early years.
"It's sad because those years should have been the happiest times of our life. I mean it was so amazing and we're having so much fun personally."
Now, after nearly 16 years together, Dan and Phil said they're done being vague about their relationship.
While acknowledging that their partnership isn't perfect, they emphasized their genuine bond.
"No, it's not always perfect. Don't get into your head that we are the ideal of human partnerships,” Phil said.
Dan added, "We have had ups and downs like anybody. We have lived a thousand lifetimes of a normal person's partnership and I have no idea why we've survived."
Both YouTubers publicly came out as gay in 2019, with Dan bravely admitting it first in a video.
Dan and Phil, who currently have 2.91 million subscribers, are beloved for their humor, creative content, and long-standing chemistry. Beyond YouTube, the pair have also worked together as comedic hosts in numerous live shows and events.
Meanwhile, Take a look at these queer couples who prove love wins:
