Antony Padilla and Ian Hecox, have made a comeback to Smosh as they successfully repurchased the YouTube comedy brand they established 18 years ago. Reuniting both as comedy partners on-screen and business associates off-screen, Padilla and Hedcox acquired a majority ownership stake in Smosh from Mythicl Entertainment, the production company owned by YouTube personalities Rhett & Link.
This development marks their first collaboration in over six years, with their comedy sketches scheduled to debut on Smosh’s main channel on June 30.
The journey leading to this reunion was fueled by a reconnection between Padilla and Hecox, who had experienced a strained friendship following Padilla’s departure from Smosh in 2017 due to a loss of creative inspiration. However, the pair reconciled and realized the potential of reuniting.
As they brainstormed ideas, Hecox proposed the audacious notion of buying back Smosh, which ignited their excitement for working together once again. Their vision for the future of Smosh involves returning to their comedic roots and taking the company in new creative directions.
The financial details of their buyout from Mythical Entertainment have not been disclosed. However, Mythical Entertainment expressed satisfaction with the return on their original investment and will retain a minority stake in Smoosh. To finance the acquisition, Padilla and Hecox enlisted the support of creator capital provider Breeze Financial.
Credits: Knowledia News
Smosh was originally founded by Padilla and Hecox during their sixth-grade years in Sacramento, and the channel has steadily gained popularity since its inception in 2005. The duo initially created content to amuse each other but unintentionally turned it into a successful business venture. Over time, Smoosh and its related channels have amassed a substantial following of over 75 million across various platforms.
Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, childhood friends and fellow YouTube veterans, also share a similar journey with their channel, having launched their first YouTube venture in 2006. Rhett McLaughlin expressed his admiration for the reunion and shared that they had secretly hoped for Padilla and Hecox to reunite. Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal will maintain an advisory role as minority shareholders in Smosh.
Reunion and ownership
As part of the ownership transition, Smosh’s CEO, Daniel Tibbets, and EVP Joel Rubin, will be leaving the company. Alessandra Catanese, the COO and executive producer of Padilla’s Pressalike Productions, will assume the role of CEO at Smosh, while Pressalike will continue its independent operations.
The core onscreen talent team of Smosh, including Shayne Topp, Courtney Miller, and Damien Haas, will remain intact, and the company will continue operating from its Burbank studio.
Padilla and Hecox plan to revive the main Smosh channel with their sketches while maintaining the existing content formats and release schedules for Smosh Games and Smosh Piy. Additionally, they will introduce subscription-based membership on the main channel, offering exclusive bonus content, live stream watch parties, and other perks.
Throughout the process of finalizing the deal, Padilla and Hecox kept the news confidential, shooting the announcement video in secret with Pafilla’s crew shortly after Memorial Day. The anticipation surrounding their reunion and the return of their comedic chemistry has generated significant excitement among their fan base.
Exploring the Implications of the Acquisition
Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal will maintain the involvement with Smosh in advisory capacities, while the new ownership structure results in the departure of Daniel Tibbets, the CEO, and Joel Rubin, the EVP, from the company.
Tibbets expressed his enthusiasm for the Creator Economy, highlighting the significance of individuals possessing the ability to build enduring brands driven by their creativity and business acumen. He expressed his delight at witnessing Ian and Antony reclaim control of the brands that were established 18 years ago.
The core on-screen talent of Smosh, including Shayne Topp, Courtney Miller, and Damien Hass, will remain unchanged, and the company will continue operating from its 17,000-square-foot Burbank studio.
Regarding content, Padilla and Hecox will revitalize the main channel with their sketches while maintaining the regular formats and release schedules for Smosh’s other channels. Additionally, They plan to introduce a subscription-based membership system, offering viewers the option to pay a fixed monthly fee for exclusive bonus content.
Expressing their enthusiasm, the internet duo is eagerly anticipating their collaboration and is set to star in a series of comedy sketches while also taking on writing and directing duties for various SMosh content.
Fans can look forward to their forts collaboration in over six years, which will premiere on the main Smosh YouTube channel on June 30th, followed by the release of a new comedy video every two weeks.
Padilla emphasized the desire to go back to their origins, highlighting the significance of owning the company to have the freedom to explore various creative directions for Smosh.
