Dan and Phil Confirm They’ve Been Dating Since 2009

After over a decade of speculation from fans worldwide, beloved YouTubers Dan Howell and Phil Lester have officially confirmed they’re in a relationship — and have been since 2009.

The long-awaited revelation came in a new video posted to their shared YouTube channel, where the duo sat down to finally address the persistent rumors about their personal lives.

“Are Dan and Phil in a Relationship?” — “Yes.”

Opening the video, Howell sat in front of the camera and asked directly, “Alright, let’s get this over with. Are Dan and Phil in a relationship?”

Without hesitation, Lester responded, “Yes.”

Howell jokingly stood up to leave the frame, saying, “Alright, bye,” before laughing and adding, “Oh, sorry, you wanted more, did you?”

The pair then delved deeper into their relationship, recounting the early days of their connection. “We fell into it hard and fast in 2009, and here we are almost 16 years later,” Howell said, prompting Lester to tease, “Stop telling me how long it was. So yeah, relationship, boyfriends.”

A Relationship Without Labels

The two YouTubers explained that they never felt the need to publicly label their relationship, choosing instead to live authentically and privately.

“It was so fast that we never labeled it,” Howell shared. “We just ended up living together, and here we are.”

Their decision to remain private, while often fueling fan theories and online debates, seems to have been a mutual choice to protect their relationship from public pressure.

Coming Out and Career Evolution

Both creators have been open about their sexuality in recent years. In June 2019, Howell publicly came out as gay in a deeply personal YouTube video, followed shortly by Lester’s own coming-out video later that month.

At the time, Howell acknowledged that the two had once been romantically involved but declined to clarify the status of their relationship. Fans have speculated ever since — until now.

Following their 2018 Interactive Introverts world tour, both pursued individual projects. Howell wrote the mental health-focused book You Will Get Through This Night and toured solo with We’re All Doomed in 2022. Meanwhile, Lester expanded his channel, AmazingPhil, and created solo content.

Their reunion came in 2023 when they revived their popular Dan and Phil Games channel after a five-year break, leading to renewed collaboration and, eventually, their 2024 North American tour, Terrible Influence.

“It’s Not Always Perfect”

In their new video, the pair was refreshingly candid about the realities of their long-term partnership.

“No, it’s not always perfect,” Lester admitted. “Don’t get it into your head that we are the ideal of human partnerships.”

Howell added, “We’ve had ups and downs like anybody. We’ve lived a thousand lifetimes of a normal person’s partnership, and I have no idea why we’ve survived.”

Their honesty resonated deeply with fans, many of whom have followed their journey since their early days on YouTube.

What’s Next for Dan and Phil

While the pair have now confirmed their relationship, fans hoping for a sudden shift in tone shouldn’t expect “couple content.”

Jokingly, they promised not to become “couple vloggers in bed” or post overtly romantic videos. Instead, they plan to continue doing what they love — creating entertaining, relatable, and sometimes chaotic content together.

Looking ahead, the duo announced their next big project: The Dan and Phil Podcast, a new platform where they plan to discuss stories and topics they’ve held back over the years.

“Fifteen years of suppressing all of these stories and opinions, and they’re finally gonna come out,” Lester joked.

A Defining Moment for YouTube’s Iconic Duo

For millions who grew up watching Dan and Phil videos, the revelation feels like the end of an era — and the start of another.

What began as a friendship between two creators in 2009 has quietly evolved into one of YouTube’s longest and most beloved partnerships. Now, after 16 years, the pair are ready to share their truth — not as a spectacle, but as a natural part of their story.

Their announcement has already sparked an outpouring of love and support across social media, celebrating not just their relationship but the authenticity and humor that made them icons of online culture in the first place.