Founders of Smosh YouTube Channel Reunite, Reclaim Majority Ownership of Company (Video)

thewrap.com:

On Tuesday, Smosh founders Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox announced they have reunited and regained ownership of the comedy brand, which they’ll run together.

This marks Padilla’s return to Smosh after he quit the venture in 2017 to pursue independent creator work.The pair are buying Smosh from fellow content creator duo Rhett & Link, who acquired it in 2019 following the collapse of the channel’s previous owner, Defy Media, to whom Padilla and Hecox originally sold their brand and channel.“I’m excited to be creating comedy once again with Anthony, who I began this journey of digital comedy with almost 18 years ago.

There’s a certain kind of magic that happens when the two of us create together, and I can’t wait to continue this journey with him,” said Smosh co-founder, Ian Hecox. “We’re forever grateful to our friends Rhett & Link, and the whole team at Mythical for their continued support over the years, particularly as we look forward to this new chapter.”Smosh was a joint venture Hecox and Padilla started in 2005, with the channel’s simple premise being two friends posting playful videos on the internet.

Over the years, it grew to be a fixture of the YouTube comedy scene and has, in the past, had the distinction of being the most subscribed-to channel on the platform.