using the try guys scandal to explore Business and Ethical Issues in the Workplace
Mia Rae Jeffers
10/01/2026
In September of 2022, The Try Guys faced an ethical and workplace issue involving a founding member and co owner, Ned Fulmer, who was involved in a relationship with a subordinate employee. Fulmer later described it as a “consensual workplace relationship,” but the situation raised concerns because of the power difference between a company owner and an employee (Ahsan, 2022). The University of Minnesota Law Review explained that “the person at the top of the organization always has the ability to impact someone’s employment in some way” (Ahsan, 2022). After the relationship became public, the Try Guys conducted an internal investigation and announced that Fulmer would no longer work with the company “as a result of a thorough internal review” (Ahsan, 2022). The situation became especially damaging to the brand because Fulmer had been publicly known as the “Wife Guy,” creating a disconnect between his public image and his actions (Ahsan, 2022).
Following the scandal, the remaining Try Guys addressed the situation publicly and explained that they had worked with “employment lawyers, corporate lawyers, HR, PR and more” during their three-week investigation (Los Angeles Times, 2022). The company also removed Fulmer from existing content, with some videos becoming “unreleasable” because of his involvement (Los Angeles Times, 2022). The situation demonstrates how the actions of a company leader can create ethical, legal, and reputational challenges for a growing brand. Ahsan (2022) concluded that the Try Guys’ response was “a quick, decisive, and intentional internal response to a difficult ethical and legal question,” showing the importance of having strong workplace policies and procedures in place.
The Remaining members of The Try Guys communicated their ethical position primarily through their public content, personal branding, and their behavior, rather than through a clearly visible formal code of conduct. This became important because the brand was closely connected to the personalities and values of its founders. Babri et al. (2019) explain that “mission statements declare what the corporation intends to accomplish, while ethical codes address the values embraced by the corporation.” The Try Guys’ brand relied heavily on its members’ personal identities; communicating ethical expectations through a formal code of conduct would have been more effective than relying primarily on their public image. A written policy could have clearly established expectations regarding workplace relationships, conflicts of interest, and professional conduct.
Although Fulmer described it as a “consensual workplace relationship,” the situation created concerns because of the power imbalance between an owner and an employee (Ahsan, 2022). Ahsan (2022) explained that “the person at the top of the organization always has the ability to impact someone’s employment in some way.” The situation also created a reputational challenge because Fulmer had developed a public identity as the “Wife Guy,” which made the incident especially damaging to the brand (Ahsan, 2022). This challenge occurred during the growth and maturity stages, when the brand had already established a large audience, recognizable identity, and strong connection with consumers, in this case, fans.
The Try Guys could have taken several steps to prevent or reduce the impact. First, the company could have implemented a formal code of conduct that clearly addressed relationships between managers, owners, and employees, along with required disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. The company also could have provided regular ethics and workplace training and established confidential procedures for employees to report concerns. After the situation became public, the Try Guys responded by conducting an internal investigation and removing Fulmer from the company, which Ahsan (2022) described as “a quick, decisive, and intentional internal response.” Continuing to communicate transparently with employees and consumers while strengthening workplace policies could help the brand rebuild trust and prevent similar issues in the future
The Try Guys situation demonstrates how ethical issues involving company leadership can have a significant impact on a brand’s reputation and consumer trust. Although the relationship was described as consensual, Fulmer’s position as a co owner created additional ethical and legal concerns because of the workplace power imbalance. The company’s decision to investigate the situation and remove Fulmer helped address the immediate problem, but stronger ethical policies could have reduced the risk. Moving forward, clear codes of conduct, ethics training, and transparent communication can help the Try Guys maintain trust and protect the brand’s reputation.
References:
Babri, M., Davidson, B., & Helin, S. (2019). An updated inquiry into the study of corporate codes of ethics: 2005–2016. Journal of Business Ethics, 168, 71–108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04192-x
National Law Review. (2025). Key considerations for employers when workplace issues go viral: Lessons learned from the Try Guys. https://natlawreview.com/article/key-considerations-employers-when-workplace-issues-go-viral-lessons-learned-try-guys
Ogletree Deakins. (2025). Key considerations for employers when workplace issues go viral: Lessons learned from the Try Guys scandal. https://ogletree.com/insights-resources/blog-posts/key-considerations-for-employers-when-workplace-issues-go-viral-lessons-learned-from-the-try-guys-scandal/
Rolling Stone. (2025). The Try Guys, Ned and Ariel Fulmer, and the growth that followed rock bottom. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/try-guys-cheating-ned-ariel-fulmer-growth-rock-bottom-1235430501/
Twenty Eight Consultancy. (n.d.). Addressing and resolving conflict within power imbalance dynamics in the workplace. https://www.twentyeightconsultancy.com/post/addressing-and-resolving-conflict-within-power-imbalance-dynamics-in-the-workplace
University of Minnesota Law Review. (2022, December 2). The Try Guys try responding to a relationship at work: The legal implications of consensual workplace relationships. https://journals.law.umn.edu/mlr/2022/12/02/the-try-guys-try-responding-to-a-relationship-at-work-the-legal-implications-of-consensual-workplace-relationships
