The Try Guys addressed the scandal in a YouTube video
(Picture: Getty Images for Shorty Awards)The Try Guys’ three remaining members, Zach Kornfield, Eugene Lee Yang and Keith Habersberger, have shared a YouTube video addressing the scandal around former team member Ned Fulmer.
Fulmer, who is married, left the Try Guys YouTube group after it emerged that he had been having an affair with an employee.
Fans speculated that something was amiss after Fulmer failed to appear in new videos and podcast episodes. Photos and videos of Fulmer with an employee were circulated on social media.
Although the Try Guys had already made a statement on social media announcing that Fulmer had left the group, Kornfield, Yang and Habersberger further explained what had been going on behind the scenes over the last few weeks, as well as what future Try Guys content would look like.
Eugene revealed that they underwent a three-week process with “employment lawyers, corporate lawyers, HR, PR, and more, in order to make sure [they] were taking all necessary steps”.
Zach explained that had removed Ned from new content, including removing his section from videos and editing him out of others. He will also be edited out of future videos.
He added that there are a few videos that they cannot release due to Ned’s involvement, a decision that has cost the YouTube group “lots of money”.
Keith said that an internal review found that Ned engaged in conduct “unbecoming of our team” and that they knew they could not move forward with him.
They removed Ned as a manager of their company on September 16. However, they chose to wait to announce that Ned was leaving out of respect for his family.
Eugene said that they “couldn’t wait any longer” to make a public statement due to “rapidly accelerating speculation”.
The Try Guys also shared how the scandal has made them feel, with Habersberger saying: “Ned confirmed the reports and since confirmed that this had been going on for some time, which was obviously very shocking to us.
“And we just want you to know we had no idea this was going on. All of that information was just as shocking to us as all of this has been for you this week.”
Yang added: “From the jump, we were acutely aware of just how contrary this was to the values of the company we built and those of everyone who works here.
“This is something we took very seriously. We refused to sweep things under the rug. That is not who we are and it’s not what we stand for.”
He also said: “We are obviously incredibly shocked and deeply hurt by all of this. This is someone who we built a brand and a company with for eight years.
“We feel saddened, not just personally but on behalf of our staff and our fans who believed in us.”
Kornfield shared: “I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to fully articulate the pain we feel at this moment. It’s hard to rewatch old videos that we love and are proud of.
“We’re losing a friend, we’re losing someone we built a company with, who we have countless memories with. We just made a TV show together.
“I’m sure many of you feel the same way. It’s weird. We’re sorry that this ever happened. We don’t know what more to say.”
Habersberger said their primary focus is making sure their employees feel “comfortable and proud” going to work.
Finally, amid the ongoing scandal, Yang encouraged their fans to be kind: “We also want to remind you that the internet has a tendency to be a lot harsher towards women than men. So, please, we ask that you exercise kindness.”
