YouTubers Dan Howell and Phil Lester are finally opening up about their relationship after years of speculation.
The longtime duo, known for their YouTube channels and joint projects, confirmed 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 a 46-minute-long video, Howell asked, “Are Dan and Phil in a relationship?” and Lester replied simply, “Yes.” Howell then joked, “Alright, bye,” before teasing fans, saying, “Oh, you wanted more, did you? You want the juice? The tea? The blood, the tears.”
The couple went on to list most of the questions they have been asked by fans and revealed they fell for each other soon after meeting and started filming videos on the same day.
“We signed up to be professional entertainers to create content for you to enjoy. Along the way, we fell hard and fast. And here we are, almost 16 years later,” Howell said.
Fans have long suspected there was more to their friendship, as Howell and Lester’s chemistry both on and off camera has always raised questions. Though both came out separately in 2019, they never confirmed their relationship until now.
According to “People”, Howell had previously shared in his 2019 coming-out video that the pair were romantically linked when they first met, but he chose not to discuss their current status at the time.
Since then, both continued with solo projects before reuniting for their third joint tour, “Terrible Influence”, in 2024.
In their latest video, Howell joked that they were never “technically” together because they never said the words, but admitted they have always been partners in everything.
“Don’t get it into your head that we are the ideal of human partnerships,” he said. “We’ve had ups and downs. Like anybody, if you’re a mess, we are a mess. We’re weird. We’ve been attached at the hip 24/7 for 15 years.”
They also explained why they chose to keep their relationship private for so long. Howell said they wanted to protect what they had without letting public pressure interfere.
“Dan and Phil, the comedy duo, and Dan and Phil, the gay boyfriends. It hits different,” he said.
As a gay couple, the quirky duo admitted that fear and past trauma held them back from being open before, but they now feel ready to live authentically. “If you’ll have us, we’d love to just finally be ourselves and do what we love,” Lester added.
Even with the announcement, Howell and Lester made it clear they will not be turning into “couple vloggers in bed.” Their focus remains on making their audience laugh, just as they always have.
The reveal sent fans into a frenzy across social media, with many celebrating the long-awaited confirmation.
“I know I’m making so many jokes, but I am so proud of Dan and Phil. They have been so endlessly forgiving and kind, and before they could even be out, they created a safe space for millions of fans to be themselves. They deserve this love. I hope they can finally feel relief,” said X user @HorrorHijabi.
@cheerlollypop wrote: “I hope Dan and Phil know how loved and supported they are and I hope the future is nothing but good to them.”
Some fans, however, said they’d known all along. Many joked that the news was hardly surprising, with @jellyminas commenting: “We already knew for years, but I’m so happy for them.”
