Navigating public romance under the glare of continuous algorithmic scrutiny isn't easy. For Anthony Padilla, co-founder of Smosh and pioneer of early YouTube comedy, balancing personal life with a career built on hyper-transparency has meant learning hard lessons about boundaries. Fans often seek details on who stands beside internet icons, tracking every digital footprint, soft launch, and sudden grid disappearance.
Anthony Padilla's relationship history spans over a decade of high-profile digital partnerships. From early engagements captured through vlogs to later years defined by a deliberate pivot toward privacy, his romantic timeline reflects how creator culture itself evolved from oversharing to guarded protection.
The Early Era: Kalel Cullen and Public-Facing Romance
Back when sketch comedy on YouTube operated like the Wild West, Anthony's relationship with fellow creator Kalel Cullen (then known as WatchUsLiveAndFood or one half of KalelAndAnthony) became a focal point for millions of subscribers. They started dating around 2010 and announced an engagement in 2013.
At the time, vlogging culture encouraged couples to blend their personal brands. Fans bought into a shared narrative where every vacation, apartment move, and milestone was broadcasted for monetization and community engagement. However, living life behind a permanent lens strains even grounded foundations.
By late 2014, the couple announced their separation, calling off the engagement. The breakup triggered intense online speculation, teaching Anthony an early lesson about the emotional toll of inviting millions of strangers into a domestic partnership. Both creators eventually moved on, with Kalel shifting focus away from traditional daily vlogging toward vegan lifestyle content and sustainable design.
The Quiet Years: Miel Bredouw
Following the high-visibility split from Cullen, Anthony adopted a noticeably quieter approach to his personal life. In 2015, he began a relationship with comedian, musician, and podcaster Miel Bredouw.
Unlike his previous public dynamic, this chapter saw significantly less performative documentation. While they occasionally appeared on each other's social media platforms or creative projects—such as Miel's work in audio comedy and podcasting—they kept the core mechanics of their day-to-day life out of the spotlight.
The relationship lasted for roughly four years before ending amicably around 2019. This transition period coincided with a major professional pivot for Anthony, who had left Smosh years prior and was in the middle of launching his deep-dive interview series exploring the psychology of various internet subcultures.
The Long-Term Partnership: Mykie (Glam & Gore)
In late 2019, Anthony confirmed he was in a relationship with special effects makeup artist and YouTuber Lauren Mychal, widely known online as Mykie from the channel Glam & Gore. The couple made their relationship public in December 2019, sharing warm tributes and collaborative glimpses into their lives.
For nearly five years, Mykie served as a steady presence during a massive resurgence in Anthony's career, including the monumental 2023 announcement of his return to Smosh alongside co-founder Ian Hecox. Anthony frequently described her as a vital creative muse and an anchor amid the fast-paced demands of content creation.
Because of past experiences with overexposure, the couple deliberately curated what they shared. They avoided chronicling every disagreement or domestic detail, opting instead for occasional celebratory posts on Instagram or Twitter. By late 2024, attentive followers noticed a shift, and public records indicated the multi-year relationship had come to an end. Since then, Anthony has maintained a single status, focusing heavily on the operational expansion of Smosh under Rhett and Link's Mythical Entertainment umbrella and his ongoing interview content.
Why Creators Hide Their Significant Others
The evolution of Anthony's romantic timeline highlights a broader psychological shift across the creator economy. Early internet culture rewarded total vulnerability, convincing creators they owed their audience access to their bedrooms and kitchen tables.
Over time, this dynamic proved unsustainable for several structural reasons.
- Algorithmic Harassment: Parasocial fans frequently project unrealistic expectations onto public couples, leading to targeted harassment campaigns directed at partners whenever minor friction occurs online.
- Professional Independence: Creators like Mykie and Miel established massive independent portfolios in makeup artistry and audio production. Conflating an individual's career with a partner's brand often diminishes independent artistic achievements.
- Mental Health Boundaries: Establishing a hard wall between performance and domestic reality prevents burnout, giving public figures a safe space to decompress away from the metrics of public approval.
For more on how digital media companies manage creator talent and public branding, look at industry analyses from outlets like The Verge or official corporate updates on Mythical.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Anthony Padilla currently married?
No, Anthony Padilla is currently single and has never been married.
Who was Anthony Padilla engaged to?
He was previously engaged to fellow YouTuber Kalel Cullen in 2013, though the couple called off the engagement and split up in late 2014.
How long did Anthony Padilla date Mykie?
Anthony and Mykie were in a relationship for approximately five years, from late 2019 until their separation in 2024.
Why doesn't Anthony share details about his dating life anymore?
After experiencing intense public scrutiny and the pitfalls of hyper-transparent vlogging during his early career, he adopted a private approach to protect his partners from online harassment and maintain personal boundaries.
