British YouTubers Dan Howell and Phil Lester have finally cleared the air on their rumoured relationship. But in their latest video, they also reveal the exact moment their own audience almost ruined it.
In a 50-minute video uploaded to their joint YouTube channel, Dan and Phil confirmed they’ve been in a private relationship for the past 16 years – since they first met.
via Instagram
“Phil was my safe space, you were my first boyfriend,” Dan said.
The 34-year-old talked about struggling with his mental health as a closeted teenager, into young adulthood. He’s previously opened up about getting bullied growing up in Reading, because he was so “different” from the other boys. He said that when he connected with Phil online, he found an escape from his depression.
“Not only did I feel accepted for who I was for the first time, but I was like, when we’re hanging out together, life is great,” he said.
Dan and Phil kept their relationship private from the start. But things reached a breaking point when a sweet gesture that was meant to stay private was accidentally shared by Phil on his second YouTube channel.
via Tumblr
“I had made a lovely Valentine’s video for Dan, and obviously that was so personal, and nothing I would ever want anyone to see,” Phil said.
The video went from private to public when an unfortunate YouTube glitch publicised a bunch of private videos and shot it straight into the feeds of his subscribers.
“That felt like a violation because that was something so personal and nice that I made, and then everyone was pulling it apart,” Phil said.
“That was almost a relationship breaking point for us.”
Dan added: “It felt like an assault. People took something from us and I was like, this is soiled now.”
The couple thanked their audience for “self-regulating” the video and trying to stop it spreading, to respect their privacy. Throughout the video, they criticise intense parasocial relationships, where viewers feel entitled to know about the private lives of internet celebrities.
Thankfully, this almost forced coming-out didn’t completely end their relationship, and they were able to move on from the incident.
For more like this, like The Tab on Facebook.
Featured image via Dan and Phil on YouTube
