Ned Fulmer and Wife Ariel ‘Not Focused’ on Divorcing After Cheating Scandal (Exclusive)

Ned Fulmer and his wife Ariel are separated but “not focused” on a legal divorce.

In 2022, Ned — famous online as one of the founding members of the popular YouTube series The Try Guys — and his wife Ariel’s marriage came under intense scrutiny when allegations came to light of Ned’s affair with an employee of his production company. He later admitted to the claims and was removed from The Try Guys, remaining out of the public eye for the next three years.

Earlier this week, Ned returned to the internet, releasing the debut episode of his new podcast Rock Bottom and sitting down for a candid interview with PEOPLE about his time away from the spotlight and his plans for what’s next.

In the episode, an open conversation between Ned and Ariel, the pair shared that they are no longer together romantically, live separately and are coparenting their two children, with Ariel calling Ned her “ex-husband.” 

“Ned and Ariel are separated, not divorced,” a spokesperson for Ned exclusively tells PEOPLE, addressing fan questions around the status of their marriage. 

“They are not focused on a piece of paper right now, but rather are prioritizing spending time together as a family and continuing to strengthen their parenting partnership,” the spokesperson continues.

Throughout the podcast episode, the pair constructed a timeline of events that led up to their separation, including how Ariel first learned of her husband’s affair and the moment she confronted him about the shocking news.

“I found out about your affair from the fans,” said Ariel. “I was so blindsided that somebody sent me a picture, and I couldn’t — it was like my brain couldn’t compute.”

Ned and Ariel also clarified where their relationship stands three years later.

“We are still friends, we have children together, we go on trips together,” revealed Ned. “There is a spectrum of being together-not together. There’s ways in which we’re together, but the way that everyone wants to know, like, ‘Are you still, like, an item? Are you still a couple?’ No.”

Added Ariel: “People ask me, ‘Do you forgive Ned for what he did?’ And the answer is no. Absolutely not. How can you forgive somebody for lying to you? For cheating on you. No. F— no.”

“I feel like forgiveness isn’t the goal at this point,” continued Ariel. “We’ve been together for a long time, and you are the father of my two beautiful children, and we know each other really well. We’ve worked through a lot of stuff, and the fact that I can be around you and still have a good time and enjoy spending time with you and enjoy spending time with my kids — I think that’s a win.”

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Speaking to PEOPLE earlier this week, Ned described why he stepped away from content creation in the immediate aftermath of his cheating scandal, as well as his reasoning for making his return.

“For a long time, I wanted nothing to do with social media or the internet,” said Ned. “I didn’t think it was particularly beneficial to my mental health.”

But as time went on — and as he and Ariel managed to build a “foundation of trust” in their newly platonic relationship — he started to have the itch to pick up a camera again, he continued.

“I started to want to create and miss making things,” he told PEOPLE. “I mean, I’m the type of person that’d be in a community theater show getting paid nothing. I just love it.”

His latest venture, Rock Bottom, is an interview series with others about their own lowest moments — those overcoming drug addiction, convicted gang leaders and even canceled social media personalities.

“It’s made me a lot more interested in other people’s challenging times,” Ned said of his last three years. “When someone does something that they’re really ashamed about or that is deeply traumatizing, life goes on. So what happens next?”