The Try Guys, a group of YouTubers and content creators that got started at BuzzFeed, recently lost founding member Ned Fulmer amidst a cheating scandal. For the month of September, fans noticed that Fulmer had been missing from podcast episodes and videos on the main Try Guys YouTube channel.
Gen Z and millennials alike are combing through YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok for more info, especially now that former BuzzFeed employees are flocking to Twitter to express their opinions on the situation:
So, the question is how did a guy whose entire brand was about loving his wife (Ariel Fulmer) and being a father of two get caught up in a cheating scandal?
The internet broke when text messages were leaked on Reddit between Try Guys production manager Alexandria Herring’s fiancé and a Try Guys fan. The fan claimed to see Herring and Fulmer kissing at a New York club, Niagara, and wanted to let Herring’s fiancé of 10 years know.
Since then, a video of two people kissing and dancing has been circulating the internet, purportedly Herring and Fulmer. Another link was drawn between the video and photos of Fulmer and Herring with fans at a Harry Styles concert wearing similar outfits, around the same time. Fans noticed similarities between Herring’s bag and Fulmer’s shirt in the concert photos and club videos.
One problematic element of the alleged affair is that it was between Fulmer and an employee. As an executive producer and partner of 2nd Try LLC, Fulmer was in a position of power over his alleged mistress. The two would have met at BuzzFeed, where Herring was a production manager and Fulmer was a development partner. During the entire time Herring and Fulmerhave known each other, Fulmer has been in a position of power over Herring, which raises issues regarding the power dynamics and nature of the alleged relationship.
Fulmer’s post confirms a “consensual workplace relationship.” This leads to more questions, especially in a post-gossip channel 24-hour-news cycle society.
On September 29, the Try Guys official Instagram announced that Fulmer no longer works at the Try Guys. Since the allegations broke out, the Try Guys have changed their description and avatar on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. The red heart that used to signify Fulmer is notably missing. The Try Guys have unfollowed Fulmer on all social media platforms (but still follow Ariel).
Ariel Fulmer has posted her own notes app statement addressing the rumors:
It’s important to address that these are real people with real lives. The Try Guys, Ned Fulmer, Ariel Fulmer, and Alexandria Herring do not owe the public any details or additional statements on the cheating scandal.
So now the Try Guys are officially a trio. It’s an end of an internet era.
(featured image: Try Guys: Keith Habersberger, Ned Fulmer, Zach Kornfeld, and Eugene Lee Yang)
