H3 Podcast on hiatus as Hila Klein accuses Ethan of affair

One of YouTube's best-known podcasts has gone dark. The "H3 Podcast" is on indefinite hiatus after co-founder Hila Klein said publicly that her husband and co-host, Ethan Klein, had an affair, and the show's crew said it would no longer work with him, according to Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and the Los Angeles Times. Ethan Klein has since said he is working to give up his ownership in the podcast and the couple's businesses. Here is what each side has said, and what it means for the show.

*This report draws on reporting by Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and the Los Angeles Times; full list of sources below.*

What did Hila Klein say?

Late Thursday, Oct. 22, Hila Klein posted a statement on Instagram saying that Ethan had been having an affair, according to Variety and the Los Angeles Times. In her account, he admitted to her that the affair had lasted more than six months. She said the two have separated.

This is Hila Klein's account. NewsCubby is not identifying or speculating about anyone else involved, and we are reporting only what the Kleins and the H3 crew have said publicly, as relayed by the outlets cited here.

How did the H3 crew respond?

Shortly afterward, the podcast's crew posted a joint statement on Instagram. According to Variety, the staff said it had decided unanimously that it would not keep working with Ethan Klein or allow him to profit from its work. The crew said the show would go on indefinite hiatus.

That's a striking move for a production so closely tied to its host. For years, the crew members who appear on camera have been part of the show's appeal, with running jokes, segments and fan followings of their own. Their decision effectively freezes the show while the Kleins' business arrangements are sorted out.

What has Ethan Klein said?

Ethan Klein responded in two steps. First, he posted on his Instagram Story asking people to respect his family's privacy and not to contact them.

In a follow-up statement, reported by The Hollywood Reporter, he said he was working with Hila to "urgently remove" his ownership and financial stakes in the podcasts, in the Teddy Fresh and Teddy Glow brands, and in their other joint ventures.

Those are the statements he has made publicly so far. NewsCubby will update this story if he says more.

Who are Ethan and Hila Klein?

The Kleins have been together for about two decades. They met when Ethan, who is American, was on a Birthright trip to Israel, where Hila grew up, according to The Hollywood Reporter. They married in 2012, and the Los Angeles Times describes them as married for 14 years.

Together they launched the h3h3Productions YouTube channel in 2011, Variety reported. It took off around 2013 with comedic reaction videos and sketches, and the couple became some of the platform's most recognizable creators.

How big is the "H3 Podcast"?

The podcast grew out of that channel. Variety dates its launch to late 2016, while the Los Angeles Times puts it in 2017. Either way, it became a mainstay of YouTube's long-form talk shows, mixing commentary on internet culture with interviews and recurring bits.

The Los Angeles Times reports more than 5 million followers across the H3 audience. The Hollywood Reporter notes the podcast has earned five Streamy Award nominations and has hosted guests including Post Malone, MrBeast and Jack Black.

What about Teddy Fresh?

Teddy Fresh is a clothing brand and Teddy Glow a related line, both among the joint businesses named in Ethan's statement. Ethan's statement about giving up his stakes in Teddy Fresh, Teddy Glow and other joint ventures, as reported by THR, suggests a significant reshuffling of the businesses the couple built together. No details of any new ownership arrangement have been made public.

Why this story is spreading

The Kleins have spent more than a decade sharing their lives with a large online audience, and their marriage has often been part of the show itself. That closeness is a big reason fans have reacted so strongly.

For the wider creator economy, the episode is also a case study in how tangled personal and business lives can be when a couple owns a media brand together, and how quickly a crew can take a stand when it disagrees with the person whose name is on the show.

Timeline: from YouTube couple to indefinite hiatus

- **2011:** the Kleins launched the h3h3Productions YouTube channel, according to Variety. - **2012:** they married. - **Around 2013:** the channel took off with comedic reaction videos. - **Late 2016 or 2017:** the "H3 Podcast" launched. Variety says late 2016; the LA Times says 2017. - **Thursday night, Oct. 22, 2026:** Hila Klein posted on Instagram that Ethan had an affair and that they have separated. - **After that:** the H3 crew said it would not work with Ethan, and the show went on indefinite hiatus. Ethan asked for privacy and then said he is giving up his stakes in the couple's businesses. - **Friday, Oct. 23:** Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and the Los Angeles Times reported on the split and the show's future.

What this means for H3's audience

For now, fans should not expect new "H3 Podcast" episodes. The crew described the hiatus as indefinite, and no return date has been announced. The existing back catalog has not been reported as affected. Any announcement about the show's future, or about new projects from the crew or from Hila Klein, would most likely come through their own social media accounts first.

What we don't know

Several key questions remain open. Ethan Klein's statements, as reported, did not dispute his wife's account, but neither of them has described what comes next for their marriage beyond the separation Hila announced. The reports NewsCubby reviewed did not mention any court filings. It is not yet clear whether the crew will relaunch the show under a new format, or when. And no other person has been publicly identified in connection with the allegation; NewsCubby will not speculate about anyone's identity. We will update this story if Hila Klein, Ethan Klein or the crew make further on-the-record statements.

What happens next

Several questions remain open. It isn't known whether the "H3 Podcast" will come back, in what form, or who would host it. The details of Ethan Klein's planned exit from the businesses have not been made public. Neither has said anything about any legal process.

NewsCubby will update this story as the Kleins or the H3 crew share more. We're keeping the coverage to their own public statements and to reporting from named outlets.

*This report draws on reporting by Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and the Los Angeles Times. It summarizes their reporting in our own words; quotes are attributed to the people and outlets that published them.*