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12 Things Fans Need to Know About Dan and Phil Dating — Phan Confirmed

Trenbuzz Admin
Dan and Phil Dating

Dan and Phil Dating

Dan and Phil Dating: This TrenBuzz deep-dive explains the new confirmation (yes — they confirmed it), the backstory (how long, when they met), what fans have long suspected (the “Valentine’s video” lore and early hints), how the pair came out publicly in 2019, what this means for their careers and privacy, and the best way for journalists and fans to respond responsibly.

Dan and Phil Dating (if you only want the facts)

Dan Howell and Phil Lester — the duo known to fans as Dan and Phil — publicly confirmed in a new video (Oct 13, 2025) that they have been in a romantic relationship since about 2009.
Both had publicly come out as gay in 2019, but had not previously confirmed the long-running “Phan” rumours in this clear, direct way.

1) What did they actually say? (the confirmation)

In a frank video posted to their shared channel titled along the lines of “Is Phan real? — Dan and Phil Reveal the Truth,” the pair answered years of speculation by saying they have been together since 2009 and that the relationship evolved naturally as they worked and lived together.
They emphasised they’ll keep some boundaries — they’re not turning every video into a relationship vlog — but they wanted to stop the speculative cycle and be honest with their audience.

2) How long have they known each other and when did things start?

Dan and Phil met online in 2009 and first met in person the same year; the duo quickly became collaborators and close friends. According to their confirmation, the romantic element began in the early days of that friendship in 2009, and they have lived together since 2011. Their public statement frames the relationship as something that developed organically in parallel with their career.

3) Weren’t they already “out”? What happened in 2019

Both creators publicly discussed their sexuality in June 2019: Dan posted a long-form video called “Basically I’m Gay” and Phil followed with “Coming Out To You.” Those videos were personal, important moments that Parkered years of fan speculation, but neither was a full confirmation of the current relationship status — Dan even spoke in 2019 about a romantic element in their early history without labeling the present. The 2025 video is the first time they’ve explicitly confirmed the long-term romantic relationship.

4) Ages, quick bios and career highlights

Both creators have toured together (TATINOF, Interactive Introverts, Terrible Influence) and have multiple collaborative projects (books, games, the DanAndPhilGAMES channel).

5) What is “Phan” and why did fans care so much?

“Phan” is the fan portmanteau for Phil + Dan used since the early 2010s. Fans speculated about the pair’s personal relationship for years — from affectionate on-screen moments to private messages, to the infamous early Valentine’s Day video lore that resurfaced after the confirmation. That fan history explains why this week’s video went viral: a fandom that invested emotionally for over a decade finally got a clear answer.

6) The Valentine’s-video story — what actually happened (fan lore)

Longtime fans pointed to an intimate Valentine’s message Phil once made for Dan (circulated on fan forums and occasionally visible due to privacy slips) as early proof that something romantic had existed. Dan has said historically some private videos were shared accidentally or leaked; those moments created a lot of early fan speculation and, regrettably, also exposed the pair to intrusive fan behaviour. The duo addressed this history in the confirmation video and asked for respectful boundaries.

7) Is this a marriage announcement or will they change their public content?

No — they did not announce a marriage. In their statement they emphasised continuity: their creative work will remain largely the same, and they will keep certain aspects of their private life private. They did, however, tease new projects (a podcast and continued live shows) that may include reflective stories — on their terms. Fans and press should expect more personal honesty but not a total shift to relationship-focused content.

8) Why did they wait? Context on privacy, safety and online harassment

Dan and Phil explained implicitly and in prior interviews that staying ambiguous was partly a protective choice. As two public queer creators with a history of intrusive fans and occasional threats, they paced disclosures for safety and mental-health reasons. Dan’s 2019 “Basically I’m Gay” video explicitly discussed the pressures of visibility; the 2025 confirmation appears to come after years of deliberation about timing and personal wellbeing. Treat this context with empathy.

9) How the media covered it (and how you should read coverage)

Mainstream outlets (People, Vulture, E! Online, Variety, BBC archives) have reported the confirmation and provided context about the pair’s careers. Avoid sensationalist takes (tabloid exaggeration or speculative timelines). When reading or sharing: prefer pieces that link to the original video or direct quotes, and avoid re-posting leaked private materials or doxxed content. Responsible coverage quotes the creators or their reps and respects their stated boundaries.

10) What this means for fans, creators and creators’ mental health

For many in the Phandom and the wider LGBTQ+ community, this confirmation is a milestone — the end of a long guessing game and an affirmation of queer relationships inside internet culture. But it’s also a reminder about creators’ right to privacy and the harm of invasive fandom. The healthiest reaction is celebration for those who wish to celebrate, and restraint for those who want details. Respect their boundaries; support their creative projects and mental-health advocacy work.

11) Quick verification checklist for journalists and bloggers

If you’re writing about this (and you should, responsibly), follow these steps:

  1. Link to the creators’ video or their official channel as primary evidence.
  2. Use archival sources for background (BBC Radio 1 shows, tour pages, official bios).
  3. Avoid republishing private or leaked material (Valentine’s video fragments/fan uploads) — instead summarise and attribute responsibly.
  4. Attribute earlier coming-out statements (Dan’s “Basically I’m Gay” and Phil’s “Coming Out To You”) with links to the original videos or transcripts.

12) Fan etiquette — how to show support without crossing lines

Final note — why this moment matters

This confirmation is both a culture-moment and a privacy lesson. Two creators who helped define YouTube comedy and fan culture for a generation chose when and how to tell a personal truth. Their choice reflects living with online fame and the responsibility of audiences and media to react with decency. Whether you call it Phan, Dan and Phil, or simply a long friendship that became something more — the headline is simple: they confirmed they’re dating, and they asked for respect.

Sources — verified external links

Below are the primary, reputable sources used to compile this article. I verified these were live and authoritative on Oct 14, 2025.

Disclaimer

This article synthesizes public statements, creators’ videos and reputable news coverage available on the update date above. It is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not an invasion of privacy. For primary verification, consult the creators’ official channels and direct statements. Please respect creators’ stated boundaries when sharing or reposting material. Images used in this article are royalty‑free or licensed for commercial use and are provided here for illustrative purposes.

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