The price of infidelity: Ned Fulmer's abrupt departure from 'The Try Guys'
'The Try Guys' announced on social media that Ned Fulmer, one of their four founding partners Try Guys, no longer works with them.
For those who are not much into YouTube, the Try Guys are a group of friends/colleagues who make videos on the social media platform - as well as TikTok and their own media outlets - in which they experiment with things they've never done before. It results in funny and very popular videos with millions of viewers.
Image: The Try Guys / YouTube
To get an idea of their experiments: Their first memorable video took the men to try on Victoria's Secret underwear. It was very funny to see them in the lingerie, the video went viral, and the Try Guys' popularity exploded.
'The Try Guys' came to experience the pain of childbirth through a machine, do ballet, shave their legs, go diving, or undergo hypnosis sessions.
All of a sudden, in September 2022, the Try Guys tried something new: they kicked out one of their members. What happened? Why did they cut loose Ned Fulmer?
The drastic decision came after they learned that Ned Fulmer, married with two children, had been unfaithful to his wife Ariel.
Photo: nedfulmer / Instagram
"Ned Fulmer is no longer working with 'The Try Guys'. As a result of a thorough internal review, we do not see a path forward together. We thank you for your support as we navigate this change," the Try Guys shared on their Instagram account.
Photo: Tryguys /Instagram
The controversy started when a video appeared on social media showing Ned Fulmer kissing another woman. He later acknowledged that it was indeed him and that he was unfaithful to his wife.
"Family should have always been my priority but I lost focus and had a consensual workplace relationship," Ned Fulmer said on Instagram.
According to TMZ, the woman with whom he was seen kissing would be Alex Herring. She's a producer who worked with 'The Try Guys' in New York; hence the employment relationship.
Image: The Try Guys / YouTube
Ned's wife Ariel, here in a picture with her husband on Instagram (@nedfulmer) got a lot of support from friends and strangers on social media.
"Thanks to everyone who has reached out to me - it means a lot. Nothing is more important to me and Ned than our family, and all we request right now is that you respect our privacy for the sake of our kids," said Ariel Fulmer on Instagram (@arielfulmer). It seems, for now, that she hasn't shown Ned the door over his infidelity.
The Try Guys, on the other hand, have shown Ned the door. They did not only kick him out of the group but also removed his image from the team's websites.
It began with their Twitter profile photo, which now shows the triceratops, the group's logo, instead of a photo with the four original group members. Also, note their tweet on September 29: "The TryPod will be taking a week off... We wanted to take some time to formulate our thoughts before recording the episode."
The Try Guys had been together for a long time before this scandal happened. Keith Habersberger, Zach Kornfeld, Eugene Lee Yang, and the aforementioned Ned Fulmer were four video producers with a simple idea: guys trying things out. They became famous with videos on the website Buzzfeed in the 2010s.
In 2018, they took their viral videos to YouTube and even began their own podcasts, published their own books, and made tours. With their own production company, '2nd Try,' they have an audience of millions on several media outlets.
The Try Guys have multiplied their popularity with a YouTube channel that is close to 8 million subscribers, their own programs and podcasts, and a line of merchandising that is sweeping their fans.
Obviously, after more than eight years seeing 'The Try Guys' as a quartet, it will be strange to see them converted into a trio.
However, considering the comments from fans about the scandal, it is clear that the vast majority applaud the drastic and quick decision by 'The Try Guys.' They even suggest a new name for them: 'The Triguys'.