David Dobrik and Liza Koshy announce split in emotional video

5 June 2018

YouTube couple David Dobrik and Liza Koshy have announced their separation in an emotional video online.

The pair had dated since 2015 and built a combined audience of more than 20 million Youtube followers.

The say in their video they split six months ago but waited until this week to tell their fans.

"It wasn't healthy for us to continue to be together - for now," says David in the six minute video.

"You never know what could happen, but just not now."

They both admitted the pressure of their YouTube careers had been a factor in their split.

(Warning: contains language some viewers may find offensive)

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"Liza broke up with me because she felt like we've been distant because we've been so busy," David added.

"As much as I hate to admit it, I was feeling it on my side too but I just don't have the balls to pull the trigger on that."

"We felt like we were living separate lives but neither of us was coming to terms with it," said Liza.

"So I decided we should break up. We didn't want to tell anybody because we were just so angry at the fact we distanced in the first place."

"We did nothing to each other to cause a break up.

"We have a lot of growth and development and learning and loving to do."

The American couple both insist they are best friends and that their break-up is amicable.

Could the split impact their career?

David and Liza have been described as the Posh and Becks of YouTube. But Tassilo Labuzinski, the founder of branding company Socially Powerful, says their separation should have little impact on their individual status or future earnings.

"I don't see the break-up being a negative thing for either of them," Tassilo tells Newsbeat. "I think it's oversimplified to say they are the Posh and Becks of the internet and they only come as a package."

He also believes fans of the pair's "tongue in cheek, quick and witty" content would be understanding if they got back together.

"The couple are free to take it any way they want," he adds. "They could make another video and say; 'Look, we've actually decided we love each other too much and we want to be together,' and that's going to get more attention.

"I don't think there's going to be a negative backlash on them in any form."

In early 2018, Newsbeat made a documentary about the pressures on YouTube couples to stay together.

Many fans of David and Liza have reacted with shock and upset to the news.

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