0 comments
no more Mr. Wife guy (allegedly, anyway)
For the chronically online Gen Zers and younger millennials amongst us (I know you’re out there, don’t deny it), it’s been an intense week.
One of the pioneering channels of the modern commentary YouTube scene, H3H3, abruptly announced it was placing its popular podcast on an ‘indefinite hiatus’ amid allegations that its leading man, Ethan Klein, has been having a six-month affair. Announced via Instagram, the news has effectively ended his relationship with long-term business partner and wife, Hila Klein, with whom he shares three children. Ethan has also confirmed he is removing all personal ownership from H3H3 and any associated brands as quickly as possible, with the main podcast’s future currently in jeopardy.
Why’s this such a big deal, you might be asking? If you’re not in the trenches of internet culture, it’s a fair question.
Ethan’s news follows on from several other high-profile cheating scandals that have sent YouTube channels into freefall, most notably Ned Fulmer from The Try Guys in 2022. Ned had a consensual workplace affair with a producer, shattering his previous public image as a ‘wife guy’ who cherished his marriage. As a result, he was removed from The Try Guys cast and tried to create his own podcast called ‘Rock Bottom.’ That went about as well as you’d expect. Ethan is now in the exact same place, despite many years of bashing cheating men, including Ned, on his podcast.
As you’d expect, the audience reaction was immediate and fierce. Fans are currently scrutinising clips from hundreds of H3H3 podcast episodes, with speculation swirling around a recently departed employee believed to be Ethan’s secret lover. A simple YouTube search brings up tons of compilation videos between the two, as the community subreddit implodes with opinions, theories, and visceral outrage. The court of public opinion has condemned Ethan, turning his imploding marriage into content that is being dissected as we speak.
H3H3’s story is a cautionary tale as to the pitfalls of parasocial relationships, particularly for those who broadcast themselves online and make a career out of badmouthing other marriages and influencers, as Ethan did.
Gen Z especially is guilty of projecting personal beliefs and ideals onto celebrities, routinely feeling disproportionally disappointed when they fall short. Social media inherently encourages an interpersonal dynamic between creator and viewer, where public investment in deeply private matters is standardised. H3H3 fans had expectations of Ethan and Hila and felt extremely betrayed, despite not ever knowing the full picture beyond a carefully constructed online image.
Any creator who builds themselves up as a ‘wife guy,’ such as Ethan, will have to deal with immediate harassment and invasive interest from fans when they destroy that intentionally-built persona. Parasocial relationships online can be lucrative and beneficial, but come back to bite once things turn sour. Our advice to any online influencer in hot water would be to walk away from the screen and…well, touch grass. Either that or avoid cheating on your spouse, but what do we know?
Viewers, too, could probably save a ton of heartache and grief if they recognise the dynamic they have with their favourite creators, and understand that we only see a small, hand-picked snippet of their lives. Not everything is as it seems and, most crucially, we don’t ever really know these people. We’ll get down from our soapbox, but you get our drift, right?
🚀 Binface heading to space?
‘Binface’ is new name for UK space cleanup mission – the register
The UK Space Agency is about to launch its ‘Active Debris Removal Mission’ and has asked the internet to give it a name, which always works out so well. ClearSpace UK will be removing a pair of UK-registered satellites from orbit, with the names ‘SpaceyMcSpaceFace and ‘Binny McBinFace’ taking the lead as potential options. Other suggestions included ‘Dusty Bin’ and ‘Prime Binister,’ but ‘Binface’ was the winner in the end. The real lesson here is not to give the UK public any free rein with names.
US startup’s demonstration of lighting Earth from space draws criticism – guardian
Reflect Orbital, a US startup, is aiming to launch 50,000 satellites into space over the next ten years in order to illuminate different parts of the world during the night-time. This includes constructing large mobile lights, which have caused distress for locals in California at a testing area. The company says it will use this technology for crops, military operations, or for search-and-rescue missions, though astronomers and environmentalists say it could harmfully disrupt wildlife and sleep patterns. Is science going too far?
🎬 From the screen to the… tapestry?
How ‘You Can See Everything’ became a surprise box office hit – variety
Remember Elizabeth Holmes, the fraudulent businesswoman who made a living out of fake blood test machines via her ‘medical’ company, Theranos? A new A24 film, led by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, examines her final 34 days before facing prison time, and has proved insanely popular in the US. Word-of-mouth, a surprise rollout, and a limited cinema run have all boosted its appeal, adding further to the revival of original movies at the box office in 2026. Cinema is back, baby.
Bayeux Tapestry proves bigger hit than Spider-Man with culture fans – aol
Well, it might not be totally back, if Monzo’s latest data is anything to go by. The company says that the current Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum has generated a ‘greater initial spending rush’ than major film premieres, as more Gen Zers take to cultural events rather than commercial entertainment. There were thousands in virtual queues akin to Glastonbury and Oasis. Impressive stuff.
