Arden Cho and Ryan Higa: What Really Happened to YouTube’s Favorite Couple

Arden Cho and Ryan Higa: What Really Happened to YouTube’s Favorite Couple

You remember the 2010s, right? It was a time when YouTube felt smaller, more personal, and a little less like a corporate machine. If you were online back then, you definitely knew Ryan Higa—or NigaHiga—and the magnetic Arden Cho. When they finally went public with their relationship in 2019, it felt like the ultimate "I knew it!" moment for fans who had been shipping them since the Agents of Secret Stuff era.

But then, just like that, they were over.

The breakup of Arden Cho and Ryan Higa wasn't just another celebrity split; it felt like the end of a specific chapter of internet history. Honestly, people are still trying to piece together what went sideways. Was it the long distance? Career clashing? Or just two people growing in opposite directions? Let's get into what actually happened and where they both are now, because a lot has changed since those "Off The Pill" podcast days.

The Long Road from Co-Stars to Couple

It’s kinda wild to think that their history spans over a decade. They met on the set of Agents of Secret Stuff in 2010. Ryan was the king of YouTube, and Arden was a rising star. There was always this undeniable chemistry, but they didn’t actually start dating until much later.

In a 2019 episode of Ryan’s Off The Pill podcast, they admitted they almost dated back then, but the timing was off. Ryan was young—barely 20—and Arden was a few years older, already looking toward a more serious acting career. They stayed friends, though. They popped up in each other’s videos for years, fueling rumors that they were secretly together.

When Ryan finally posted "Revealing My Not-So-Secret GF!" in March 2019, it was a massive deal. They were open about the struggles, too. They talked about navigating a long-distance relationship while Arden was filming in Chicago and New York and Ryan was based in Las Vegas. They seemed like they had it figured out. They understood each other’s "love languages" and did the work.

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Then came 2020.

The Breakup and Those Cheating Rumors

The split happened about a year after they went public. Ryan confirmed it in a video titled "My Midlife Crisis," where he kept it pretty respectful. He basically said they had broken up a while ago and it was mutual. No big drama, no "tea."

But the internet being the internet, things got messy anyway.

Arden posted some cryptic Instagram stories in Korean around that time. Fans started translating them, and a few people suggested the words implied someone had cheated. It caught fire. People were ready to cancel Ryan.

He had to address it almost immediately. He clarified that he never cheated and that the breakup was simply a case of two people wanting different things. Arden later clarified that her posts weren't directed at him in the way people assumed. Sometimes a breakup is just a breakup.

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If you look at the timeline, their lifestyles were becoming polar opposites. Ryan is a self-proclaimed introvert who loves staying home, gaming, and living a quiet life in Vegas. Arden is a high-energy extrovert who was busy starring in Teen Wolf and later Partner Track. She’s always on the move. When one person wants to settle down and have four kids (something Arden mentioned was a dream of hers) and the other isn't there yet, it creates a rift that no amount of "love languages" can fix.

Where is Arden Cho Now? (Spoiler: She’s Engaged!)

Arden has been thriving, honestly. After a rough patch where she was vocal about being depressed and regretting how much she prioritized her career over her personal life, she found her stride again.

On March 31, 2025, Arden shared some massive news: she’s engaged.

She posted some stunning beach photos from a proposal in Maui. While she didn't initially name him, she dropped some adorable hints, saying "He fixes bones, I tell stories." It turns out her fiancé is reportedly an orthopedic surgeon named Christopher Lee.

It’s a total "full circle" moment. She’s finally finding that balance between her acting career—which has stayed hot with projects like K-Pop Demon Hunters—and the family life she’s always wanted. She seems incredibly happy, and fans are just glad to see her winning.

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Ryan Higa’s Quiet Life in 2026

Ryan is... well, he’s Ryan. He hasn't really changed much, and that’s why people still love him. He’s moved away from the high-production YouTube sketches that made him famous and has found a comfortable home on Twitch.

He’s been in a long-term relationship for a few years now, though he keeps it very low-key. He doesn't post "girlfriend reveal" videos anymore. Instead, she occasionally pops up in the background of vlogs from his friend group or on Instagram posts from people like Dina. He seems much more content living a private life away from the intense scrutiny of the "influencer couple" spotlight.

Why the Arden and Ryan Story Still Hits Different

There’s a reason we still talk about them. They represented a bridge between "Old YouTube" and the modern entertainment world. They were both pioneers for Asian American representation at a time when there wasn't much of it in mainstream media.

Seeing them break up was a reminder that even the most "perfect" internet couples face real-world friction. Distance, career goals, and personality differences are universal.

If you're still holding onto hope for a reunion, it’s time to let that go. They’ve both moved on to partners who seem to fit their current lifestyles much better. Arden is planning a wedding, and Ryan is clicking heads on Valorant and enjoying his privacy.


Next Steps for Fans:

If you want to catch up with where they are today, you should check out Arden’s latest project, K-Pop Demon Hunters, which has been getting a ton of buzz for its choreography. On the other hand, if you’re feeling nostalgic for the Ryan Higa era, his Twitch VODs are the best place to see him just being himself without the pressure of a script. Just don't go looking for drama in the comments—that ship sailed years ago.