Youtubers Dan and Phil Forgive Fan Parasociality Through Their Relationship
- Caresse Liang
- Nov 12
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 13
By: CARESSE LIANG / STAFF WRITER
“Are Dan and Phil in a Relationship? Yes.”
oThe decision to come out with this news came to a revelation after years of emotional turmoil between each other and the parasociality of their fans.
Daniel Howell and Phil Lester—known professionally as Dan Howell and AmazingPhil, respectively—are two of Youtube’s original creators. Initially starting out as separate vloggers in 2006 and then collaborators in 2009, this dynamic duo eventually moved in together and started filming on their joint gaming channel, “DanandPhilGAMES,” in 2014.
Through their videos, posts, and their international tours, their interactions were closely investigated by most of their fans, who are referred to as “Phans.”
While the two did not come out as gay until 2019, their fanbase—who were fairly young and were new to the internet—drew thousands of conclusions from sporadically taken clips way before their coming-out.
The combination of the public knowledge of them living together, filming together, and spending quality time together brought down a weight of emotional and psychological trauma. Specifically, these fans would stalk, dox, and violate the personal boundaries of Howell and Lester; they both state that it was not all of their fans, but it was a significant amount.
In the 47-minute contemplative video discussing their relationship and history, they address the fact that the obsession with what they call a “conspiracy” has had an impact on their personal lives.
“You knew, didn’t you? How? Did you have some kind of hard evidence, because you consumed or sought out something incredibly personally invasive, with no regard for how that makes people feel?” Howell states, peering into the camera.
Both of them talked about their reactions to parasocial fans. Howell mentions that “Phil was [his] safe space,” and the violation of fans trying to investigate their relationship almost “killed him.” Lester talks about his leaked “V-Day” video, in which he made an animation for them both in private, and how fans have dissected and even threatened him about re-releasing it.
Between the two, the sole focus on the possibility of their relationship being romantic diverged fans from wholeheartedly enjoying their content that they loved to make.
The landslide of events happening at once led them to a long hiatus in 2018, eventually coming back in 2023 with the intention of starting refreshed and secure. And the question was, “Why are [they] talking about it now?”
At the end of the day, they acknowledged that what truly brought them back was the happiness coming from making content for their fans—regarding them as “the funniest fandom,” and “one of the best places on the internet.” Through a virtual world of constant change and transformation, they both realized that as they continued growing—their fans would, too.
Having fulfilled most of their goals and aspirations through Youtube, the duo finally decided to “come out” a second time, like a hard launch. Beginning a new chapter for the two, Dan and Phil have reminded themselves and their audience that they’re only here for fun; while the journey was long-winded and rough, they want to use this video to “understand and forgive.”
While privacy is a hard topic for celebrities to have, both Howell and Lester have laid out some guidelines for the phans, starting with an established list of “rules.”
With a little final chuckle of “gay,” Youtube’s iconic duo, Dan and Phil, end their segment with a comfortable reminder that fans and celebrities are always at arm’s length—and they don’t need to know anything more.