The Try Guys, the comedy group co-founded by Keith Habersberger, Ned Fulmer, Zach Kornfeld, and Joey Kolfage, remain associated with BuzzFeed in a professional capacity, but their path has shifted from early foundational roles within BuzzFeed’s Tasty and entertainment units to leading their own independent brand, The Try Guys Company. They are not in a contractual employee–employer relationship with BuzzFeed in the way they were during the early viral years, yet they continue to collaborate on branded content and occasional programming under licensing and partnership arrangements. This status clarification explains the transition, current arrangement, and how to understand their ongoing visibility on BuzzFeed platforms.
The Early BuzzFeed Era and The Try Guys
Origins in Tasty and Early Video Operations
The Try Guys first gained widespread recognition through BuzzFeed’s Tasty franchise, where their recipe and challenge videos became breakout hits. They evolved from contributors into core personalities driving high-engagement content for BuzzFeed’s digital ecosystem. During this period, they operated as employees and contracted creators tightly integrated into BuzzFeed’s production and audience growth initiatives.
Growth of Identity Beyond BuzzFeed
As their audience expanded, The Try Guys leveraged their visibility to build a distinct brand identity. This included launching merchandise, developing original series, and exploring formats beyond what BuzzFeed alone could package. The shift signaled a move toward greater independence while still collaborating with BuzzFeed on select projects.
Current Relationship and Collaborations
Independent Brand and Partnership Model
The Try Guys now operate under The Try Guys Company, producing content across platforms including YouTube and their own subscription service. BuzzFeed continues to appear as a distribution or licensing partner for specific series, and The Try Guys contribute to BuzzFeed programming when mutually beneficial. Their relationship is governed by partnership and licensing agreements rather than standard employment contracts.
Clarifying Employment Status
As of the latest available information, The Try Guys are not BuzzFeed employees in the traditional sense. They are brand partners and collaborators who retain ownership of their core IP while leveraging BuzzFeed’s reach for select campaigns. This model allows both parties to benefit from audience overlap without a permanent employer–employee structure.
Notable Milestones and Timeline
| Date or Period | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 2015–2018 | Breakout videos on BuzzFeed Tasty and main BuzzFeed channels | Cemented their status as recognizable personalities and built a large cross-platform audience. |
| 2018–2020 | Gradual shift toward independent branding, merchandise, and The Try Guys Company formation | Marked movement from staff creators to independent brand with selective partnerships. |
| 2021–2024 | Ongoing licensing and collaboration deals with BuzzFeed for specific series | Continues their visibility on BuzzFeed platforms while preserving editorial independence. |
Key Details at a Glance
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Status | Independent brand partners, not BuzzFeed employees | Public statements and business registrations |
| Relationship Type | Partnership and licensing agreements | Company filings and industry reporting |
| Primary Platform | Independent YouTube operations and The Try Guys app | Platform analytics and official channels |
| BuzzFeed Collaboration | Select branded content and series under deal | Press coverage and bylined content |
How to Interpret Media Mentions
News and social posts often simplify nuanced creator–publisher relationships. When headlines ask whether The Try Guys left BuzzFeed, the accurate answer is that they moved from staff roles to partnership roles. They remain visible on BuzzFeed due to ongoing deals, but their primary business and content strategy now centers on their independent brand. Understanding this distinction helps audiences and analysts better interpret future moves, collaborations, and platform strategies.
Outlook and What to Watch
Going forward, The Try Guys will likely continue to balance their independent catalog with selective BuzzFeed collaborations, depending on alignment of audience, brand values, and commercial terms. Changes in either party’s leadership, platform algorithms, or content formats could reshape the nature of their cooperation, but the current model reflects a stable partnership phase rather than a departure or purely employee-based arrangement.
Conclusion
The Try Guys have not left BuzzFeed in a way that severs their connection; rather, they transitioned to a partnership model. They operate as The Try Guys Company, producing independent content while licensing their expertise and audience reach to BuzzFeed for specific initiatives. This arrangement offers the benefits of both independence and access to a major digital platform, and it clarifies why they remain visible on BuzzFeed without being traditional employees.