If you were scrolling through YouTube in the mid-2010s, you couldn't miss them. Four guys from BuzzFeed—Keith, Ned, Zach, and Eugene—taking on everything from labor pain simulators to wearing high heels for a day. They were the internet's "bespectacled baby brothers," a brand built on friendship and the willingness to look a little bit ridiculous for the sake of a good video.
But things changed. Fast.
Honestly, the departure of Eugene the Try Guys favorite was probably the most telegraphed "surprise" in the history of digital media. For years, fans noticed his chair was empty more often than not. He was there, then he wasn't. Then he was in a Netflix movie. Then he was on a red carpet. By the time he officially said goodbye in 2024, it felt less like a breakup and more like a graduate finally walking across the stage.
The Long Goodbye: Why Eugene Left the Group
Let’s get one thing straight: Eugene didn't leave because of the Ned Fulmer scandal.
Well, not exactly.
According to Keith Habersberger and Zach Kornfeld, the wheels were in motion for Eugene to exit as early as 2022. He had projects. Big ones. Scripts that had been gathering dust while he was busy "trying" dog toys. But then, the internet imploded. When the news of Ned’s workplace affair broke, the company—2nd Try LLC—was thrown into a tailspin.
Eugene did what a founder does. He stayed.
He felt a deep sense of responsibility to his "tall and tiny nerds." He couldn't just walk away while the house was on fire. So, he reinvested. He helped steer the ship through the PR nightmare and the legal fallout. But as the dust settled, the reality remained: the "internet personality" life was wearing him thin.
Preservation of Self
In his 18-minute farewell video, "Love, Eugene," he didn't hold back. He admitted that being a digital creator often felt "untenable."
It’s a weird job, isn't it? You’re expected to be vulnerable, funny, and "on" at all times. For someone as meticulous and artistically driven as Eugene, the treadmill of weekly uploads was a grind. He spoke candidly about his mental health, noting that the internet hadn't always been a kind place for him.
He didn't want to just be a "Try Guy" forever. He wanted to be an author. A director. A filmmaker. Basically, he wanted to be the person he was before the BuzzFeed algorithm turned him into a household name.
What is Eugene Lee Yang Doing Now?
So, where is he in 2026?
If you’re looking for him on a YouTube thumbnail, you’re mostly out of luck. Eugene has pivoted almost entirely to the "prestige" side of entertainment. He’s been deep in the trenches of his queer YA fantasy duology, The Unders. Writing a book is hard. Writing an "epic queer fantasy" published by Macmillan is even harder.
Reports from the publishing world suggest the road hasn't been perfectly smooth—release dates have shifted—but his commitment to authentic Asian American and LGBTQ+ storytelling is still the core of everything he does.
The Creative Slate
- Directorial Debut: Eugene has been developing a feature film script. He’s moved from the "short-form comedy" world into the high-stakes "packaging" stage of Hollywood.
- Graphic Novels: Remember Buckaroo? His "twisted horror fantasy musical" graphic novel with Vault Comics is one of those projects that reminds you just how weird (and brilliant) his brain is.
- Voice Acting: After the success of Nimona, where he voiced Ambrosius Goldenloin, his voice is in high demand for animation.
He’s basically living the life he always wanted, even if it means he isn't trying 2,000 calorie pizzas with Keith anymore.
The Try Guys Without Eugene: A New Era
People worried. They really did.
"The Try Guys doesn't work without Eugene," was a common refrain on Reddit. But Keith and Zach are nothing if not resilient. They didn't try to replace him with a "New Eugene." That would have been a disaster.
Instead, they expanded. They launched the 2nd Try subscription service (2ndtry.tv) and brought in a rotating cast of "official" Try Guys.
The New Faces
We’re talking about people like:
- Jonny Manganello (JonnyCakes): The baker who basically became a staple.
- Kwesi James: Whose chaotic energy fits the brand perfectly.
- Ash Perez and Joyce Louis-Jean: Bringing back that old-school BuzzFeed chemistry.
- Miles Bonsignore: Because the fans would have rioted if he didn't stay involved.
They even launched a secondary channel, Try Every Day, in late 2025. It’s a return to the basics—low-stakes, daily content that doesn't require a six-figure production budget. It's working. The brand has survived the loss of two founding members, which, in the world of YouTube, is basically a miracle.
Final Verdict on the Eugene Era
Eugene Lee Yang was the "ace" of the group. He was the one who could do everything perfectly, the one who brought the "flair and flourish." Seeing him leave was the end of an era, but it was also a necessary evolution.
You can't force someone to stay in a box, even if that box is millions of subscribers and a lucrative production company.
He still owns a piece of the company. He’s still a founder. But his days of "trying" are mostly behind him, replaced by the much harder task of "creating" from scratch.
If you’re missing the old days, the archives are always there. But if you want to support the current version of the group, checking out their independent streamer is the way to go.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out 2ndtry.tv for the uncensored, "grown-up" version of the current cast.
- Keep an eye on MacMillan’s 2026 catalog for official release dates for The Unders.
- Follow Eugene's production company, 2nd Try, as they continue to produce work behind the scenes.