The Expansion of Smosh: Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox Take the Reins from Rhett & Link

Smosh Co-Founders Anthony Padilla, Ian Hecox Reunite to Acquire Comedy Brand From Rhett & Link (EXCLUSIVE)

The Return of Smosh

Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox, the co-founders of the popular YouTube comedy brand Smosh, have joined forces once again to acquire a majority ownership stake in the company. They have purchased Smosh from Mythical Entertainment, the production company owned by YouTube talk show stars Rhett & Link. This marks a significant reunion for Padilla and Hecox, who had not appeared together in videos or in public since Padilla left Smosh in 2017.

A Tale of Rekindled Friendship

The decision to acquire Smosh came after a reconnection between the two co-founders, who had experienced a rift in their friendship. Hecox explained, “By the time Anthony left Smosh, our friendship was not really that good.” However, after rekindling their friendship a year ago, they realized that their interests and goals align once again. Hecox added, “It’s kind of freaky how well this has all fallen into place. Our friendship had to end to be able to come back together.”

Returning to Their Roots

With their acquisition of Smosh, Padilla and Hecox are eager to return to their comedy roots. They plan to take Smosh in new creative directions while maintaining the essence of what made it successful. Padilla stated, “I really want to return to our roots, and part of that is owning the company so we can really take Smosh in any creative direction.”

The Financial Details

The specifics of the buyout from Mythical Entertainment have not been disclosed. However, Mythical Entertainment has confirmed that it has received a significant return on its original investment and will retain a minority stake in Smosh. To finance the acquisition, Padilla and Hecox worked with creator capital provider Breeze Financial.

A Longstanding Friendship

Just like Padilla and Hecox, Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, the owners of Mythical Entertainment, are also best childhood friends and OG YouTubers. McLaughlin expressed his excitement about the reunion of Padilla and Hecox, stating, “We always secretly hoped they would get back together… We have a soft spot for internet duos.”

The Continued Involvement of Rhett & Link

As minority shareholders, Rhett & Link will remain involved with Smosh in an advisory capacity. They believe that the reunion of Padilla and Hecox will bring excitement to the fans and are eager to continue supporting the brand.

New Leadership for Smosh

With Padilla and Hecox taking ownership of Smosh, Alessandra Catanese, the COO and executive producer of Pressalike Productions, which is Padilla’s production company, will step in as CEO of Smosh. This change in leadership will result in the departure of Smosh‘s current CEO, Daniel Tibbets, and EVP Joel Rubin. The core onscreen talent team of Smosh, including Shayne Topp, Courtney Miller, and Damien Haas, will remain in place.

The Future of Smosh

Under the new ownership, Smosh will continue to produce its popular content, including comedy sketches, Smosh Games, and Smosh Pit. Additionally, Padilla and Hecox plan to launch subscription-based memberships on the main YouTube channel, offering exclusive bonus content and other perks to their dedicated fanbase.

With their reunion, Padilla and Hecox hope to recapture the magic and laughter that first brought them together as friends and comedy partners. The return of Smosh marks a new chapter in their journey and a chance to take the brand in exciting new directions.