The Simon & Martina Situation | What happened?

[@lozzythecoolone]

I haven’t watched their content in maybe 7 or 8 years, and how everything’s gone down is just wild and really sad.

[@aayushpurswani9630]

Same, I still have fond memories of watching their tldrs and their eat your sushi episodes.

[@JohnSoh]

Yes, I haven't seen their content in a while but checked in bc kdramas are on a tear on netflix but terrible to hear about it. Marriage is a lifelong commitment so divorce is always a tragedy to hear bc it's never clean.

[@Diana-cd8ox]

@Low Bro Um, you do realize that knowing how they ended, might change perspective?

[@kylemylo3776]

@@aayushpurswani9630 I have no idea what happened who, if anyone has done something wrong, i just know i used to watch their videos of food eating in Japan and they looked so happy and healthy and fun and everyone commented that they were the perfect relationship, and now i see them broken up and Simon looking like is having serious issues both mental and physical, and the way he talks shows he changed in a way and he is having some mental health issues. And it just breaks my heart

[@SaphiraTheMongoose]

@@Diana-cd8ox how did they end? I just found out about this and started watching their kpop music Mondays in 2011 and it's really upsetting

[@alyssayi9260]

Just some quick insight on what was mentioned about Simon and Martina playing games and the loser having a punishment. This is a very common thing that’s done in Korean culture. When playing games with groups of people, there’s always a “punishment” for the loser. Usually something super low stakes and slightly unpleasant to raise the competition when playing the game. I feel like they probably carried that over to the channel as a reflection of the many years they spent in Korea interacting with natives. It didn’t strike me as strange the way that they played games, because of that cultural aspect but I get why it might not be pleasant to punish your partner when playing games with each other, especially outside of a group setting.

[@harunoono6103]

same here I didn’t see nothing wrong with that too , it’s not like their about to eat dog shit , it’s something light punishment,

[@juukyuchan]

Also Simon always was very supportive of Martina and vice versa (at least on camera) they did a lot to help each other

[@jnm2088]

Nah, been living in Korea for years and I have never been subjected to this. The only time is drinking games but it’s like take a shot, not like eat that disgusting thing right there. Unless you’re like 20. Any Korean with a job over 25 would side eye the shit out of you if u tried that.

[@harunoono6103]

@@jnm2088 side eye for a drink ? A drink that’s not even nasty it’s just not ur fav .

[@WaffleAssasinX3]

@@jnm2088 I never even lived in Korea and that type of fooling around is done anywhere. It's a fun thing to do, some people may not look at it that way but as a Hispanic it's just fun way to joke around and get some laughs because it's something two people find enjoyable. I feel like people are reading too much into it.

[@duckydae]

It’s so sad seeing them now, considering their old content, especially as a viewer that started watching them back when *music mondays* were still a thing, i’d dip in and out of their videos whilst they lived in japan, then years later i saw they’d moved back to canada. anyways, i’m glad martina is thriving and still passionate about making tonally the same content (as it’s probably hard, considering it was an experience that was so personal to simon and herself).

[@yaminogame7805]

holy shit music mondays. I was there too.

[@skarlettza3940]

i love their FAPFAP series, i really miss their old videos, but Martina has her own channel, KingKogi where she has a travel guide of japan!!!

[@MarshallCross]

Same! I've been a fan of EYK since 2010 when they were still teaching in Korea, but I stopped following them when they moved to Japan (in 2016?). The thing that bothers me the most is that, as of now (January 2023), Martina is the one who decided to leave EYK (announced in Dec 2022). I think this is incredibly unfair. She explained the reasons in her last video ("Goodbye from Martina") and I totally get it, but it's just very unfair that it was her who had to leave instead of Simon. Why does Simon get to stay and earn money with the EYK IP while he was the one that stopped contributing for the last 2 years? Martina was the one who kept the whole thing going, and if you look at her new channel King Kogi, it still has the same vibe, while Simon obviously changed a lot and is now only posting super long and boring book reviews and esoteric videos about "emotions". He completely ignores the core concepts of EYK and it seems like he's just exploiting the money out of a KZbin channel with over 1.3 (now 1.2) million subs. I guess you can live a pretty comfortable life with just doing that, and he's totally milking the hell out of it now. I really wish he could read this 😅 And if he believes in all those things that he's preaching, in good and bad energy, in karma, then he'll get what he deserves. Sorry, but that was such a stab in the back.

[@skarlettza3940]

@@MarshallCross I wasn't around for the whole Simon and Martina drama, but ive always been a fan of Martina. her energy and enthusiasm is crucial to making a channel grow and reach a lot of people. I've watched simons videos and they should not be put under the EYK studios name. I really don't know what exactly happened so I can't say anything, but Simon has changed a lot and I mean, good for him, but he's going to be hurting in the long road.

[@MarshallCross]

@@skarlettza3940 I agree. I also think it's unfair that he, as the (now) sole owner of EYK, gets to decide what really happened. Martina doesn't really have a chance to explain anything. I just wish they would have archived EYK and both would have agreed to leave it be. But while Martina moved on, Simon started coming back and his recent videos are completely missing the point of EYK. He seems to have forgotten how KZbin works. People will unsubscribe if he suddenly changes the topic of a channel. It's a dumpster fire.

[@charlie2.048]

Quick comment: EDS is not degenerative. Our joints don't dissolve. Basically, the issue is that our genes code for defective collage which results in our joints being laxer than regular people's which can cause frequent subluxations and dislocations because our tendons don't really do the jobs they should be doing. Depending on the subtype of EDS, you can also have varying degrees of skin, organ, and artery involvement.

[@EchoGillette]

I was just being hyperbolic 😅

[@charlie2.048]

@@EchoGillette Ah. Whoops sorry. I am bad at identifying hyperbole and sarcasm and am used to people mistaking EDS for a degenerative disorder.

[@secretlybees]

I wonder if people are getting degenerative and progressive illness confused. Most like, non-chronic-illness people I meet don't have as much medical understanding as those who do and get a lot of terminology mixed up.

[@Yume03]

Thank you for explaining, now I understand a bit more about EDS 😊

[@kana7613]

There are different types of Eds

[@AliFinNoble]

I watched their channel for years beginning when they were still in Korea making WTF videos. During that time I was diagnosed with EDS like Martina. I found so much love and support on their channel and in their community. When they stopped posting and then all of a sudden started posting again but separate it was sad, when their posts became sour towards each other it was heartbreaking. I hope they both find peace and happiness. I’m also really happy Martina is posting more often again

[@Saphara]

I kinda wish, in 1 video, they would have said they were splitting up and announced their separate channels and called it a day. It's a bit bitter to see the squabbling in the last videos they had.

[@alekspendragon9255]

@@Saphara from what i saw martina really tried to make a video about it when they first got to canada and went MIA and after that tried to make an instagram post about it too but im guessing simon didnt want to full on have them say they were divorcing because his instagram posts really riled up fans since they were often extremely dramatic and were a huge shift from how he portrayed himself in videos, such as the infamous one of him implying not being able to handle existing anymore because he couldnt handle taking care of martina anymore. im guessing she only disclosed a small amount of information in that video exactly because of that and didn't want another blow up to happen especially since theyre often commentated on in Asian news channels due to how much content they made out there w big celebrities. she only mentioned that they were distancing themselves but weren't fully divorced and that it was a difficult time they were trying to figure out together while simon didn't really make any statements about it and his first post after that update was just about his new dog rather than addressing anything and just kinda ignoring everything that people were trying to ask about.

[@yaminogame7805]

Build a ladder really helped me with depression.

[@michca2112]

I felt exactly the same. I had watched them since 2012 and it felt like watching two good friends separate. I wish them both well and I am loving Martina's new content.

[@novrinkov0053]

it's crazy I'm sick of people's arbitrary judgments and gossip. Only they themselves know the truth. Everything you guys gossip about is your one-sided prediction. Don't worry about other people's lives, do your own thing. Why do Westerners and South east Asian try so hard to get into other people's lives? you guys are not their best friend or family. you'll forget this topic in 5 minutes anyway lol

[@Br44n5m]

Don't know who either of those people are but I greatly appreciate a minimally biased and very clear run-down of what's happening. May their lives become separately stable

[@grayonthewater]

I wouldn’t say this is minimally biased, but I’m also a long time fan of EYK and I kept up with their whole situation as it unfolded and I wouldn’t expect any other type of fan to really understand, which is why I think it’s unnecessary for her to make a video about it considering she greatly misrepresented Martina’s claim of narcissist abuse

[@sylvanianmole]

@@grayonthewater please expand on martinas claims! i have no idea about it

[@slackjaw2643]

Wow you’re late

[@PinkandPurpleBullets]

@@grayonthewater Yeahh I agree.. just watched his video and I think things are kind misrepresented on this video...

[@oregonduc]

@@grayonthewater exactly. She even stated in the video she is inclined to believe Martina more because she can relate to her situation. Then I’m the video she covers the missteps of Simon which I agree he seems to have tilted off the edge but she doesn’t really discuss Martina’s missteps besides giving the crumbs to the eventual news of divorce. Martina made some posts which was in poor taste too and just added more gasoline to the fire which was a shit show.

[@Philosopanda]

This was very well put and respectful, thank you for that Echo. For me the biggest red flag about their relationship was after Spudgy died. Simon was way too ready to move on and get another dog, while Martina was very visibly not ready. Then when they announced the were going back to Canada, I actually thought it was nice that they'd be staying separately with their respective families. They hadn't seen them in years, and Martina had just lost her dad. Plus with covid I figured it'd be a bit safer for everyone too. I wasn't surprised when Simon got a new dog, what was more surprising was how Simon looked. He looked like a shell of himself, talking differently and everything. In retrospect everything happening at once must have really been hitting him hard. I'm not taking sides here, but Martina was always more open with her emotions with us, while Simon was always more reserved. I think mistakes were made on both sides, but I just wish everyone happiness, and to put this all behind us now.

[@astromiau2433]

also getting the new dog and naming him almost the same as spudgy was so wrong, I really hope both of them can heal

[@consciouscommunity3897]

I agree with all of this! Watched for 10 years.

[@tikusblue]

@@astromiau2433 Why do you feel that it's wrong? I keep seeing people say this, and it's not something I personally would do but I don't see an issue with it. Maybe naming the dog similarly, was his way of keeping Spudgy's memory alive. And there isn't really a timeline on when you can get a new dog. Getting a new dog doesn't mean you're not still grieving or don't miss your old dog.

[@peeblespebbles5689]

​@@tikusblue I think people need time to heal. You're not really ready for a new experience, you just want to fill the void that your old pet left behind - you may end up resenting the new animal because it behaves differently from the one that passed. Grief can make people do things they wouldn't normally. This isn't an absolute truth, and doesn't happen in 100% of cases, but can be something to consider.

[@rebeccameyer6612]

@@peeblespebbles5689 all people are different. I do get cats quickly after. I'm devastated, and I am filling a void. But it's a void of needing to take care of something and companionship. And I don't compare, just miss the previous one. Just gotta know yourself and how you will take it.

[@syyl.ro823]

i havent watched the whole video yet, but this situation honestly broke my heart because i loved their channel so much, but im glad that they are trying to be happier apart and living separate lives now. just slightly makes me sad because i miss their content.

[@crypt1camoeba22]

They both are still making content, I personally don’t like Simon’s but I do really enjoy Martina’s ! She’s back living in Japan

[@underthegardenwall]

I hope Simon makes a comeback on KZbin one day. I'd totally support him.

[@Memequeen89]

I remember a long time ago when they posted their how we met video and their draw my life videos (back when those were big) and Simon basically described how he was kinda completed by Martina. Like he described being robbed by his friends in high school and immersed himself into depressing English literature in college and was let out of his shell by Martina who was super hot and bubbly. It’s both good and bad for that dynamic because now that they’ve separated he looks like a shell of a human trying to figure out to do. I hope the best for both of them.

[@cherishoneal9108]

Simon-by the looks of the past videos- used to seem fun. He looks like a shell of his former self.

[@Bwa]

Same as me when my dream girl broke me last year. I feels Simons pain.

[@underthegardenwall]

To be fair, Martina was the one whose personality changed a lot over the years. I remember back in 2013, she was more "sweet," mild-mannered, and a better listener, but now she's a lot louder, slighty abrasive, not as good a listener imo. Which is fair, b/c even now I think she's still a lovely person, but I noticed around 2014 Simon getting more and more put off by her new personality, hence why I think he fell out of love with her as early as 2018. And after 2018, he seems to have embraced toxic positivity ("I'm depressed af, but I'm going to pretend life's amazing") to keep himself in denial over his unhappiness, hence why that "guru personality" emerged. I don't think Simon is "shell" of his former self, I just think he's been suppressing his feelings for years before they divorced. In that, as a caretaker who's gone through the exact same phases as Simon, I think his personality change makes complete sense. I could see the guy had fallen out of love even before 2018, he was depressed, and thus used different coping mechanisms to push through. For people who haven't been in that place, they won't understand.

[@redleeks6253]

​@@underthegardenwall He was the lesser guy in the relationship. Come on. Eatyourkimchi was Martina and he was an appendix, we can see by her new channel 'king kogi' that everything was and is Martina. Simon didnt care much about asia and its culture, he followed Martina. Martina was the brain of the channel and he felt down that when they were interviewed about editing and the content creation he actually had to let it show that it was Martina doing. Martina started herself feeling down and depressed with the evolution of her illness that makes her live in constant pain and having to wear walking aids. Simon, as a typical man, couldn't handle him being the one to look over his sick wife and actually having to take the lead. While his wife was struggling with illness he decided to lose weight and 'get hot' so he can purse new relationships. He has now a new personality of the hipsters who are into yoga and spirituality found in Europe. He now lives in Lisbon and i came across his tinder profile. He's ridiculous, really

[@underthegardenwall]

@@redleeks6253 "Get hot" lol? The way you speak in absolutes makes you sound like a 12-year-old.

[@fiery_scream]

idk how Echo feels about it, but I'd be absolutely down for more story/commentary vids when she feels like making them. I had no clue who EYS/EYK was before this vid but it was still incredibly interesting to listen to lol.

[@vallentinac9513]

Same here

[@NevTheDeranged]

As a fellow young divorcee, can confirm that "that was the beforetimes" is absolutely my attitude. People ask me about it and it's like, I don't know, it basically happened to someone else, so *shrug*

[@eternumdroida]

This. I always felt somebody else was there. Not me. Felt like using a costume. And when I was with friends I could put this costume to rest.

[@commercialgirl24]

Same, separated here going in to divorce. It almost feels like I was watching a movie with me in it. I don't even know that woman anymore 😕.

[@NevTheDeranged]

You know what's wild, my ex came up to me at a party a few years after we split, and I honest to god didn't recognize her for a second. Like my brain had just packed all those memories into a box and stuck it in the attic to gather dust.

[@NevTheDeranged]

@Low Bro look therapy is expensive, and I'm poor, ok? Mind your business.

[@phenomenalwoman6111]

@@NevTheDeranged AMEN!

[@zinja0830]

I’m surprised to see a channel I sub to talking about this. I’ve been following the channel since 2009ish. It was such a heartbreaking situation to witness. I’ve seen lots of divorces amongst loved ones in my time, and each one totally sucks.

[@ambrite]

I used to watch their videos back in the early 2010s, I'm surprised you didn't mentioned how they used to hide their relationship. From memory they didn't want to be a 'couple's channel', so people speculated if they were in a relationship, or besties, or siblings, and I'm pretty sure a lot of people thought Simon was Martina's gay BFF haha. They eventually put out a video clarifying the situation, but they always had an odd dynamic to me.

[@RoCkbunny769]

See, looking back, I definitely ignored the weird vibes(mainly coming from Simon), but you’re right. He always seems restrained, and sometimes embarrassed by the affection he’d receive. But he reminds me of my ex when he drops his “public” mask of being friendly, so I’m probably projecting😅.

[@lm659]

Honestly, I believed they loved each other dearly, but if you've followed them for awhile you could tell there was a lot of codependency, especially for Simon. And you could tell he wasn't mentally prepared to be her care taker full time. Their mental health got pretty bad in Japan. I remember some pretty nasty rumors about Simon cheating, but that's here say. I don't think Simon was trying to blow money. Nor do I think he's trying to be taken seriously. Dude just looks lost and having a hard time figuring out who Simon is outside of his branding and relationship. I think he's trying to find his own interests, which is why it won't relate to their content. I actually think it's good for him to separate from the brand, as truthfully, Martina ran the brand. But I do agree he's never been good with the public so he's made some bad moves. But in his defense he probably felt like Martina was turning the fans against him with her comments and wanted to clear the air. But that's stuff he should talk with her about. You can tell there's a lot of miscommunication

[@milkandspice1074]

@Lesley I noticed that too. She is doing a lot on her own.

[@rinthecatdumpling]

I agree with this so much. Also to the other comments he was trying being that they were married and he probably wanted to pick up his half by being more dependable being he was dependent on her too. It was a marriage so there was nothing wrong with him wanting to bull up to support his wife but what probably happened is they got into a bunch of argument about their independence and how to unify while also standing on their own which probably caused conflict between them and Simon being dependent on Martina somewhere along the way lost the sense of self he had trying to do something he didn’t understand for himself.

[@cree_VI]

i remember Simon said, that he is shy introvert

[@hilmir]

tldr - he felt trapped. and that her condition eventually became his life too. this explains why he literally changed himself when he was done. he wanted to get as far away from the person the relationship made him be.

[@cashmerepajamas6761]

I like this comment, it's sensible. I feel bad for the guy, all the hate he got and I think his video about his side of the story was pretty diplomatic. Sad how quickly love turns to hate, and I don't think it's right for anyone to diagnose someone else's mental illness without a professional to corroborate it

[@cathryndiane]

What tipped the community off prior to their separate videos on EYS, they had posted some off-putting Instagram posts. I wanna say Martina's was first, speaking about her EDS and depression. Not long after, Simon posted about struggling with being a caretaker and looking for resources for spouses in his position. Then began their hiatus* This might be a little off-- I'm basing this solely off of memory and am not sure if either posts are still there. *Edits to correct my mistakes in info

[@auberginebear]

The hiatus was only about 6 months, they released a few videos before the global lockdowns happened, but Martina has spoken about her depression and EDS multiple times, what really tipped people off was the Simon video you mentioned.

[@cathryndiane]

@@auberginebear I was incorrect on the timing, thank you. Yes, Martina had spoken about her EDS before. I meant more of there being a correlation between the two posts rather than them being individual strange occurrences.

[@heyyou9267]

I remember that. When I saw those posts I thought, 'yeah I know these two are really open but this is a bit much.' I definitely thought it was a sign something was going on.

[@caleighrosebud]

I didn’t think anything of it but now that you mention it… 👀

[@Rose_from_UK]

Totally spot on. As someone who went through divorce, the biggest shock is how much the communication dynamic can devolve down to angry and base levels very quickly

[@SammieSpeaks]

this whole situation has been on my mind for so long and wanted someone to talk about it. I'm glad you did.

[@lauraydimitri]

same

[@jourdyn414]

Saaaammmmeeeee....also would love some insight to what's going on with Toxic Tears and Jake Monroe

[@uptownflavor]

Simon definitely had a nervous breakdown. I really hope he is getting counseling and therapy regularly. When you look at the old videos and compare them to this new Simon you see two different people. It’s really very sad. I thought he was there to support Martina through her disease but yeah, something inside him broke.

[@underthegardenwall]

I agree. During the last years in Japan when he started being like "Life's amazing, this is why" and dedicating himself so hardcore to exercise and meditation, I knew deep in my gut there was some intense turmoil going on inside of him. Toxic positivity, exercise, and mediation were EXACTLY the things I clung to when I was stuck between a rock and a hard place where I had no solution aside from throwing away everything I loved, and that guilt broke me down so hardcore. And in the case of Simon, I think he fell out of love with Martina by around 2018, but was guilty about leaving her in her condition, and I think that's why he suppressed his unhappiness so long before they divorced. Again, I went through this exact same guilt b/t choosing the one I loved vs my own happiness, and I can tell you, that guilt is CRIPPLING. I just saw so many signs in Simon early on that he felt trapped in that same dilemma. Again, I've been there, and I feel truly bad for Simon. The signs were there as early as before 2018, so fans attacking him for having a "personality change" kinda pisses me off. Dude was supressing his feelings like crazy, and probably out of consideration for Martina - why can't we give him credit for that?

[@Moi_81]

I stopped watching a long time ago. I recently saw him in a post and Holy shit I didn't recognize him.

[@queserasera87]

@@underthegardenwall Really well put, and I agree - that makes the most sense.

[@ddacoe0]

@@queserasera87 yeah, there can be many reasons for personality change. I think it's a bit odd that people feel so comfortable diagnosing him based off of so little information.

[@queserasera87]

@@ddacoe0 Yes, exactly, and I'm really disturbed by how he's been villainized.

I've been a follower of EYK since KPop Mondays, it's been a tough situation for both Matrina and Simon. I think they definitely deserve their own privacy from now on! Some fans have been speculating like crazy and taking sides. I think your video was very fair to both sides and you didn't dramatize any element of the story! I'd love to see more of this content from you! ☺️👍

[@toxictraitor4512]

Gotta admit, I was terrified going into this video because "tea videos" have scalded me in the past. However, I think that everything was well said and you were super respectful! I'm so glad! One side note though, Martina wasn't just concerned about Meemers getting covid. He had or was developing crystals and any act owner whose cat had had them knows how bad news bears that is for a little kitty. Their vet reccomended that he stay put instead of travelling too much.

[@alekspendragon9255]

not only that but simon often traveled, went out, had people over, and had two energetic dogs which is all pretty stress inducing for an elderly cat. her decision to keep meemers with her mom was very carefully thoughtout and not out of spite or anything like people try to make it out to be. then he made up false advise that a "vet" gave him that you could even find from simple google searches were completely wrong :( the whole thing put such a bad taste in my mouth

[@PalitoSelvatico]

On his video 4 months ago he talked about it and its kinda bullshit, the cat always had that sickness and they moved him all over the world anyways, simon doesn't live far, the cat gets along with the dog she never saw them interact, simon took care of it and now I believe she left it and her mom takes care of it. So stupid.

[@AlyssaTaylor9]

Absolutely. My own kitty died from urinary crystals, he kept blocking to the point where is kidneys were so damaged the vet said he wouldn't survive surgery... and he was living the LEAST STRESSFUL life possible for a cat. No traveling, no new people, no new animals, endless supply of the same foods, sleeping in the same spot 80% of the day, and he still died. I had never heard of the condition before his first block so when I first noticed him acting funny I thought just had a tummy ache.

[@meeks4756]

I followed Simon and Martina for many years. It wasn't just that they posted fun videos about Japan. They also posted very personal videos letting people in to their private lives, and telling their audience how much they loved and valued them. So when they suddenly started telling their audience that their private lives were none of anybody's business, it was very shocking and somewhat hurtful. I think it's understandable how a lot of people were very invested in their relationship. We don't know exactly what happened in their marriage, nor should we ask those questions. But they also hold some of the blame for encouraging their audience to become so invested in them. I for one have no interest in following Simon's content, but I do still follow and enjoy Martina, and I wish them both all the best. I hope that the EYKS channel becomes an archive, and they each go their own way with separate channels. I'm sure having a joint channel is a complication in their divorce proceedings. It seemed to me that as long as Martina was posting her own content to the channel, then Simon was benefiting financially from her hard work and creativity, which I don't think is fair to her.

[@PackRatGirl]

This this this! Thank you for putting it better than I could. They always did longform content that went in depth about mental issues and struggles, and then suddenly it felt like we were cut out. It truly isn't our business but at the same time it hurt.

[@SaffyJK]

Martina in recent videoshas stated that only videos they post individually go towards each other's cut, and that their joint videos are split between them.

[@iEGeek]

It was such a drastic and odd change from when they moved back to Canada, but I feel like this all happened before they moved. They were such a great couple channel, but when they just cut off everyone off, it was so jarring and suspicious. It just got messy from there on.

[@TheSilverGarnet]

Nailed the first half. They alienated their audience once they went silent and everything was “none of your business!” Their business model was, unfortunately their relationship.

[@tmfields2011]

Having a joint channel must be trying. Martina just posted a great musical video in japan... on point with what they used to do in Korea. Then Simon posted this book club post... from portugal... I'm guessing to get some traffic to go to his personal social media. I see he's not doing terrible. It just didn't fit in w their other content. Seemed... odd...

[@dnr8993]

Martina posted 9 months ago about her leaving the channel and that it should be an archive, then Simon started posting his weird content. Makes me so angry, he can’t gain a following on his own so he had to pilfer their joint account.

[@sspiker]

Agreed, if nothing else Simon should have been mindful of the community that supported him. I would have more likely to follow him to his new channel if he left that one alone, but he didn't.

[@Demonsta]

​@@sspikerconsidering the nature of social media careers, this has always seemed like very weird entitlement from the community to me. This is like a couple having a car that they share and when divorcing, they fight because one of them wants to drop it at the junkyard because there's too many memories, while the other wants to keep driving it. The community agrees about the memories and doesn't care that one side already has a new car while the other side can't afford to buy one right away. (Martina was confident in gaining the community's sympathies and creating right away while Simon wanted time to work on himself before posting new content, meaning no income basically) I love Martina but she made and deleted a lot of weird comments IMPLYING Simon had abused her, never actually owning those statements as far as I know but just letting the implications fester. She really turned the community against him before he could even recover from the divorce which seemed so out of character for her, but obviously there were hurt feelings on both sides, I just wish people would stop pretending they know everything based on statements which were deleted by the same person who posted them.

[@YTsucks300]

Aww. I'm sad about the weird college thing, but I'm glad you are making progress.

[@sdafergu]

Just a small correction about Simon: his podcast was not behind a paywall. It was available for free. Didn't do his patreon so I'm not sure what was available behind the pay wall, but there was stuff available for free.

[@EchoGillette]

I guess I just couldn't find it then, because when I tried to listen to it (while they were doing it) I couldn't access it without joining their Patreon

[@sdafergu]

@@EchoGillette Yeah he took them all down when he stopped doing the podcast.

[@ringoisacandyapple]

They started eat your kimchi because their parents were worried about them since they lived on different continents. It was a way for their family to know that they were OK

[@Mimiroo]

I was apart of their “nasties” community since k-pop music mondays and a little bit before they adopted Spudgy. I related so much over the years to Martina’s mental health, chronic pain struggles and her goofy weeby interests. I loved watching their vlogs, food, travel and mental health content. It was heartbreaking to see all this go down and see them take indirect snipes at each other online.

[@Skullberries]

They actually started their vlogs initially to show their families back home what it was like to live in Korea! They started to get in to K-pop and other popular forms of media within their vlogs as a way to relate to their students and get them to have a better relationship w/ them. Since, unfortunately xenophobia is a thing and our cultures aren't always so similar. Its really unfortunate what happened between them and how ugly the degradation of marriage/relationships with people you once have been incredibly intimate with can be.

[@Skullberries]

But to add on it - TBF Martina has every right to vent on her personal platform about what is happening just like he has every right to vent on his. . no matter how awful it is. It is just from Simon, I 100% get the vibe of a narcissist ( my father is one, so I grew up with dealing with one for 30+ years and seeing how it has affected my mother.) Especially when he is looking for a bunch of self-help things like meditation, extreme dietary changes, and the like; saying that Martina is the bad one/making the scene when it came to the health of their remaining pet and he did no wrong. Like with out a doubt - helping or supporting a partner with a physical and mental disability like EDS and the depression that can come from it is difficult but tbf we didn't see him actively pursue support groups or therapy. + being told rather out of the blue that their lives weren't our business even tho they made it peoples business is just red flag. And sure having parasocial relationships w/ them from their videos is sad and a no no but at the same time - don't want it don't encourage or cultivate it with your content. I also wanted to speculate on how quickly he got a new female 'friend' with all the same interests + having his own home versus living at home w/ his parents makes me believe deep down that he cheated/planned to move on quickly. Also w/ the hawaii trip he took - not only was it mid pandemic, but the native populace there has been asking people NOT TO FUCKING GO? OR VACATION THERE. or move there looking for their purported 'paradise' which Simon mentioned he wanted to do. Its incredibly disrespectful on every sense of the term and in context of what is happening between them. For now I am going to give Martina my support because Simon just...........has become icky.

[@stonecake313]

I feel bad for both of them having to go through a divorce while also struggling with long term mental health/physical health issues. I don’t think Simon is a bad guy, but he seems to be handling moving forward with the business poorly. I wish them both the best

[@raycheesy1]

I was scared to watch this because I was a long time fan of eatyourkimchi, but I feel like you did a good job of objectively looking at the situation. Man I hate seeing their faces on tea videos though...

[@keekermojo]

I didn't even realize any of this happened. I used to watch them almost daily while I was in middle school, admiring their personalities, relationship, and brightly colored dog. Honestly. No matter how depressing this sounds, the older I get, the more I keep seeing that love doesn't exist and everyone is very sad deep down

[@helly0705]

In my experience, love exists but it isn't all encompassing and it isn't forever. People evolve and sometimes that means growing apart.

[@linavilaa]

Love is commitment. It only lasts if both people are committed, regardless of any feelings involved at the moment, and regardless of whether the object of that love even deserves it at the moment. You love someone even in their bad days, when they are moody and nasty, and you still care about their feelings and give them their space and forgiveness. Love is to care about other and it’s beautiful but not easy.

[@hexq4]

You sound like Charlie from perks of being a wallflower (don't mean it as a diss)

[@RazanIsMe]

Omg same Them getting a divorce chipped a big part of my belief in true love I was in school when I started watching them Now I understand things might not be how they look

[@mittag983]

Love isn't eternal because it's not what we want it to be and that's because I will never love someone because no one will love me like I do love people.

[@astellus]

Thank you for putting that into perspective within the framework of your past experiences. I've been watching EYK for close on to a decade and was quite sad when things started changing. You've articulated my uneasy feelings surrounding why I don't completely trust this new version of Simon. Yes, it's all speculation, but you're right. The feeling I get when watching his stuff now is just...sad. So I've stopped. I wish them both well in the future. Also, quite odd, but comments are turned off for Simon's channel and the video he left on the EYK page featuring his first book club episode. (want to point out that I only checked after watching this video out of curiosity because I LOVE the BookTube community and was wondering how different his spin on that type of content would be.)

[@sabriohm5088]

I think Simon has built an entire personality based on being Martina's husband and caretaker, he oftenly speaks in self depracating ways disguised as humor and it has taken a toll on him. He finally found something he relates to, in meditation, books and selfcare, but his following don't seem to care. I think he's having a really rough time and the community shouldn't be antagonizing him without knowing what actually went on.

[@SilverAlaunt]

Sadly, as someone who was watching their content in the midst of things, Simon did a lot that set a good number of community members against him. Namely, deleting any comment that was supportive of Martina in any way, even those wishing her well or sharing links to her King Kogi channel (those were literally a here’s a url to her channel) and then any subsequent comment either asking why their comment was deleted or calling him out for it. Pretty much the only comments that were remaining were those ones that were putting Simon in a halo and Angel wings. Yes, it’s good that he found something for himself and just himself, but he didn’t need to walk over a good portion of his community to do it.

[@KikiTheHobbit]

@@SilverAlaunt whattt? i didnt even know that

[@selty]

@@SilverAlaunt Honestly he revealed himself as a huge jerk pretty quickly. Fans were willing to enjoy both of them as creators and he showed his true colours. I'm beyond happy that Martina got out of that - he seems borderline abusive reading between the lines. Changing your personality for your partners is a red flag for a manipulative person, as well.

[@okayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy]

Haven't watched them since the EatYourKimchi days, hate so see they've gone through something this upsetting but I wish them both (and their cat) the best. I've been wondering how they've been doing, so thanks for the very concise, minimally biased update.

[@caleighrosebud]

Meemers is living with Marinas mom. They really bonded during covid times and Martina didn’t want to move him again since he’s an old man. 💗

[@naofaith_scri]

EYS/EYK used to be my comfort channel in the past but forgot about them later on because I rarely turn on notification on KZbin. I'm glad that you're covering this topic and being most rational about it without diving into like some of tea. Good video, Echo.

[@samanthagonzalez9983]

I'm early and sooooo very confused bc apparently I've missed PLENTY of Echo's life. Like, last I knew she was a forest witch and now there's a partner??!!! Also, loved the tea, holy molly!!

[@ChianneAurora]

I just finished this video and this was the most respectful “tea” thanks for sharing.

[@alyssamo7993]

I genuinely didn’t think I would hear someone talk about their situation and it would go in the archives but I’m so glad to hear you talk about it. Especially the way you did because it just makes it so much clearer, thank you🙏🏽

[@lanapugh]

Martina is chasing her passions and what makes her happy. Simon is chasing a dollar.

[@faunivore9485]

Simon is chasing his passions/interests as well, and is trying to monetize them just like Martina is. The difference is their audience doesn’t care about his interests (psychology, Buddhism, etc) and they’re not as easy to monetize (unlike food/travel/cultural stuff, where businesses will pay for promotion). For some reason his attempts to make $$ come off as scammy, while Martina’s do not.

[@SuperAllAboutYou]

Ive watched EYK for years, Simon has always talked about books and about philosophy here and there over the years. Its a bummer they weren't the couple I thought they were, but I dont mind them doing their own channels...but leave the viewers out of their drama, the world is toxic enough right now. I personally have zero interest in Simons channel though.

[@lanapugh]

@@faunivore9485 you nailed it for me. Simon just comes off as scammy and insincere. Martina just seems to be trying to continue doing her thing.

[@lanapugh]

@@SuperAllAboutYou I’ve watched them for years as well. I’ve been watching them since they were in Korea. They’re implosion was sad and how Simon handled things was poor as he constantly went on the offensive and deleted comments from anyone that criticized him. I’ve tried to watch his videos to give him the benefit of the doubt but he just feels so fake and forced.

[@klc7275]

I watched their channel way back in 2009-12. Didn’t realize they were getting divorced. That makes me really sad, but I hope this is good for both of them.

[@pavloverboy]

No idea who Simon and Martina are, but I'm glad you're treating their situation with respect. I especially like what you said about them not being our friends, because a lot of people tend to forget that.

[@kadeschaos]

thank you for talking about this! I haven't watched them for a WHILE, so I was confused about what happened when I found their videos again.

[@jennyperea3268]

To people being creeped out by Simon starting a book club we forget he was an English major (and introvert) and we English majors are SUPER book nerds 🙈 ❤️ the only thing I’d like to see in his new channel would be more of him podcasting it rather than stock footage 🤔🙌

[@underthegardenwall]

Same. I'd watch his content if he made it a bit more snappy and in-person.

[@redleeks6253]

Martina was also an english major. That's how they met

[@TheNormalAsian]

Thanks for talking about this. It's been hard finding a video talking about this. Being a fan of them as well for 9 years that's was a crazy roller coaster to see.

[@battosai9592]

First red flag for me was the video they made about not being soulmates. Their relationship sounded very exhausting. When relationships in my opinion should be about loving being with one another.

[@caleighrosebud]

I can’t remember if it was in that video or not where they mention going to couples counseling too.

[@Uyangauya]

@@caleighrosebud nothing wrong with going to counseling though, doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong w the relationship. If anything, more couples should be going to counseling to better communication skills and treat it as preventative method.

[@SeraphinaThorbes06]

They made that video because people would idolise their relationship and that's not healthy. I think it was fairly measured response and not necessarily an indicator of trouble.

[@CiaoColeG]

I followed Simon and Martina for about 10 years, binging the food adventure videos, the TLDRs, kinda fell off then watched again pretty frequently when they moved to Japan. Their divorce hurt my heart. I remember vowing to not to care anymore about social media couples or families and to consider that all of them will probably divorce. I know, how dramatic!! Then Simon started behaving like a completely new person and that was even worse than the divorce. What person were we watching for 10 years? I'm all for growth and change but everything about the way he speaks, his body language, and the weight loss is deeply unsettling. He is not okay and I hope he is in counseling, not just relying on self help books and meditation.I remember thinking he was emotionally fragile and possibly too dependent on the marriage, from some comments he made over the years, but the full manifestation and end of that is jarring. But I can see how Martina has changed too. She is taking more risks with her music and editing, she is more serious and reflective, but her core quirkiness, love of food, and sense of humor is still there. So, I'm on the King Kogi train, and also hope Simon also finds healing and success.

[@bombygriz]

My thoughts exactly.

[@alekspendragon9255]

i feel like he mightve fallen into one of the meditation pyramid scheme cults because ever since he started posting about that he got into weed/shrooms as his therapy rather than getting REAL help and you can visibly see where things started to make a difference in his attitude and appearance and response towards the audience and his content since it's all kinda the same as those mlms or self help gurus and all of it is blocked behind a paywall

[@yaminogame7805]

@@alekspendragon9255 oh man I remember that...I think honestly it probably played a part in their breaking up..it was pretty far out in left field from what we know of Simon based on content. He was often into working out and being healthy, but I don't recall him being so into the whole meditation scheme..I really used to like him at the start, but then his personality shifted *so* dramatically it was a little alarming and jarring.

[@alekspendragon9255]

@@yaminogame7805 exactly it was well known that he enjoyed working out but working out and meditation/mental health guru schemes have a hugeeee difference and I feel like that was the biggest giveaway since he completely changed who he was as a person to promote this lifestyle and brand but ofc it was behind a paywall. I really loved their dynamic but the fact that martina's also tried to speak about how he mistreated her makes me so sad because she had to silently suffer while making their videos and having everyone tell her that her relationship was amazing and everyones goals when in reality she wasn't even being treated very well.

[@Lily_faith227]

@@alekspendragon9255 THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I AM ON MARTINA'S SIDE.

[@codekoda8700]

I've learned so much new information in this video. Man echo is a strong person she's inspirational

[@taylermiller5736]

I didn’t know she was married at one point

[@theredwriter253]

I've watched them for a few years now. Loved their content. And during that whole thing I never picked sides. I've been with my husband for 17 years and have been separated for a month and unhappy for over two years. Sometimes you just grow into different people. And as amicable as the separation starts, it inevitably turns sour. You remember situations differently and the accusations start. Then you start divorce proceedings and once the Attorney's get involved it gets from bad to dumpster fire real quick. Because when you sit down and tell them why the split happened you just sit back while the Attorney's duke it out like pitbulls. And you just sit there with all the anger and animosity remembering how all of this started. How you realized this wasn't working any more, how you were unhappy and when you both realized you were now toxic for one another and decided to part ways and keeps things amicable. And now it's turned into this and you hate it. Divorce is hard, painful, and heartbreaking. No one should get in the middle of a situation that is not their own. I'm glad to see both of them doing their own thing now. Martina is back at it and thriving. Simon seems like he is definitely on his own journey and I wish him well. Thinking back on the last year of content before the split he was getting very deep, introspective and talking about books he was reading and what he learned from it. So I don't really think this is out of no where for him. And I don't think his content should come as a surprise. I do think he needs to find a happy medium when talking about these books though cause an hour conversation with stock footage in the background is sometimes hard to follow completely. Specially when time for reading these books is in short supply for many people, myself included. I'd like to make the effort for one or more of the books he's going to cover. However the 10 hour shifts and being a full time mom takes priority >.> Anyway, got away from the point. Good job on the video, presenting facts and a quick rundown of what happened without taking sides or sensationalizing for views on someone else's misfortune like I saw some other channels do.

[@underthegardenwall]

I agree. I saw Simon using meditation and exercise a lot to help him with his inner turmoil, and people give him flak for that which I find despicable. Hopefully Simon will find it in himself to do videos again - I really enjoyed listening to him.

[@MalkavianGhoul]

I was shocked seeing you talking about them. I didn't know you watched them. I had found them through other couples in Japan vloggers I was watching at the time. I got very attached to Martina super fast. I foound out I also have a form of EDS and so I very much grew more attached to her. She helped me wth my chronic pain and struggles. The build a ladder really made a impact of what I was going through personally. I enjoyed them both together and when the serperation happened it was rocky I felt bad for both of them. I wanted both of them to do well but I was still drawn more to Martina and what she was posting seperately. Nothing Simon was posting was of my interest at all and I just couldnt find myself enjoying his content and while it is stupid to say I felt like a kid who picked a parent in the divorce and ultimately I picked Martina because she still brings me joy. I hope they both can heal and find their own paths that make them happy.

[@yaso4936]

as a 30 something year old woman to another, thank you for making such a well thought out and clear video, I pretty much 100% share the same sentiments as you.

[@carlymessick6311]

This feels like a really really nice lesson on relationships from a cool aunt

[@Cheri893]

I remember watching them back in 2008 when they were teaching in Korea. I watched them off and on since then. The divorce was a bit surprising. I hope they can move past the bitterness and move on.

[@cutestcorgi4194]

Very surprised to see you talk about this, but also kind of excited???

[@adriana516]

They grew apart. Lets not forget they got married really young, Simon himself has said that Martina was " his sunshine" because when they met he was basically a loner. He , seems to me, develop a dependency on her. He kept changing, kept pleasing her ideas of moving to different places and doing different things. At the same time Martina's EDS kept developing, side effect like Depression kept taking a toll on her and therefore their relationship. When they announced their divorce I understood, is hard for a partner of someone with chronic illness or mental issues. What I did not agree with was the video he made. Martina shared the post on IG because she was frustrated he was not taking Memmers health seriously resulting in a Vet visit ( he suffers from a type of stone ( kidney or bladder)) which is why she blowup, thats her baby...her only pet, not counting on the panini situation on herself and her mom, who she lived with, were in risk. They were a couple that I looked up to, so sad that they parted ways like this.

[@sisig_vids]

I haven't watched their videos since they left S.Korea and moved to Japan. From time to time, I have watched some videos when they lived in Japan but it doesn't seem the same as it were before. But watching Martina's new vids in her new channel makes me very happy for her and I subbed immediately.

[@tareginda]

10:14 reason is Simon made a vague IG post of “loss of the cat” yet refuse to answer community what happen to Meemers but deleting comments. EYK community have to go ask Martina instead which she answer truthfully in a comment under his post (cat is now safe in grandma house from hospitalized from stress of Simon huge dogs and long travel time from shared custody) However Simon went to deleted HER comment so Martina post same comment in her personal King Kogi where Simon cannot deleted. So that’s why Simon retaliate with his side of story , bringing a IG fight to KZbin audience. All Martina did was to answer the community questionwho are in the dark .

[@Ashragi]

I used to be an avid watcher of a channel called Simon and Martina, staring these 2 and digging into the archives i'm 99% sure was an old name for the Eatyourkimchi channel. I tried to pull it up for the first time in ages today and it was kinda whiplash to see it had exploded like this. Appreciate your thoughts. Thanks for filling me in!

[@juanitosay]

The most non surprising fact about this story is Simon being gay. That did not surprise me at all.

[@sirfelipejansen]

Same. Not surprised at all. Very sad how things came to this point… rly like them both.

[@adonaiyah2196]

He's gay?

[@redleeks6253]

Probably bisexual. Emotionally attracted to women and sexually attracted to men.

[@moistsquish]

What where'd u hear that

[@Cosmokittie89]

Yeah where did you hear that?

[@hallowyellrawr]

I have no side, I support both of them. But It just feels like people are dismissive of Simon entirely. "Old simon" is just a persona just like Martina is just a persona. We don't know them personally and we might never get the chance. But it's apparent Simon has a lot more emotional baggage that he can't seem to get across just for the simple fact that he has been made the bad guy before he could even speak on anything. Because things were meant to be private instead things were told breaking the initial agreement. But since Martina fed us even the smallest bit of information, everyone has decided to witch hunt Simon which i dont agree with. As someone who perfers to deal with things in private, I understand how suffocating the situation must feel for him too. I hope only the best for both of them.

[@theos943]

The moment when simon began working out so he could “get stronger so he could take care of Martina” things got WEIRD

[@irinasmirnoff]

Thiiiiiisssssss

[@underthegardenwall]

.....why?

[@EmmaAppleBerry]

Ikr. Thats really the first memorable off vibes i got from him. Besides like previous little bit snarky or sorta shitty bad day did they fight type vibes that you may get lightly here and there with every youtuber and especially the couples. But yeah its like he spiraled and got into this weird cult like fitness and health junkie mindset that many people who are already not fully mentally well can go into hard. First i srota thought oh no hes going to go like full cult like vegan become a body builder or suddenly become really about looks shallow influencer wise dress younger than he is sorta mid life crisis type deal AND probably go into this life coach cult eastern kinda buddhist practices of manifestation meditation etc like that realm of also close to eating disorder type mental instability and honestly even thought if he does go down that road hell resent martina for not being that way and even more so ascribe chronic illness with laziness or basically consider her to not be teying hard enough to get better when as someone who is a spoonie knows you just cant and honestly a family friend has MS and her husband was like this and they divorced after their kids moved out and he went off the rails and like married an asian immigrant woman like his daughters age and idk the whole thing has that fkd up vibe of men not being able to handle their shit and going off the deep end. Which in most cases ends with the woman dead or abused into divorce. Not saying thats what happened here but it has that vibe. I feel like men especially those without children which frankly was another red flag for me simon seemed like he wanted a family and martina seemed like she either couldnt or didnt want to for valid reasons but males who arent a central unit or the one being taken care of and like catered to tend to like lose themselves and just have no concept of healthy indentity and tend to either resent the partner and leave not knowing why their unhappy OR they have this jekyll hyde mentality where they just devolve until they arent even the same person because they dont have those i guess boundaries or concept of self that others have. And its even more important for men to have they really need a for lack of a better word firm backbone and confidence and capable feeling in their life that they can achieve as a provider protector course women do too to some degree but for men thats like what they base all their confidence identity emotional/mental health on because most cases they dont know how to express that otherwise. I think it was very obvious that simon was 100% martina and martina was more healthily balanced and simon didnt seem to have many things that were just simons or have guy friends or boys nights and so when he did get things that were just his that he could do and love he like fell into it hard with zero self control like a kid in a candy store for the first time. And when he realised it made him feel good and happy which freedom yes but exercise also does he sought more areas in life where he felt that or would add to that his only like perhaps a dog that was young and fit and healthy and he could run with and maybe just sporadically travel to whereever he wanted like somewhere hot (very hard for most spoonies) with lots of sand and outdoors and active people and swimming and hiking and therefore hawaii a place where as a giant tatooed causcasian man he would not only not stand out hed be looked at as normal cool goodlooking likeminded freedom etc idk i feel like when you look at it as a whole you cant understand it but when you look at simon and the fitness thing when he started to get identity outside martina and shared interests which were his only interests and the fitness thing which frankly physically is the one thing that martina could never do it was like the extreme end of the scale of interests and martina and his life previously. Well it starts to make a lot of sense and unravel and really feels like hes dealing with all the issues he never did before martina and then was so consumed with the idea of being loved and being in a relationship and sorta happily in denial took on all her stuff problems interests etc sorta escapism wise that when he finally reached out into the world without her and did things without her or werent things he could do with her it was almost epiphany like like he escaped his own self induced cult scenario he created and went wild with the freedom in a downward spiral no self control way that ended or perhaps peaked in a nervous type breakdown and all the shitty thing that were happening at the same time pandemic is not to be underestimated but death of a pet and being free of or not wanting to do the obligation of youtube and basically felt so smother or restricted that anything even good boundaries or restrictions became the enemy and he scrapped everyrhing and decided hed rather start with a blank slate and be 100% simon and obviously you cant be 100% about you in a relationship let alone a marriage nor should he have been 100% martina but yeah. In a sick sad way his behaviour makes sense. Hes basically going through what everyone does in puberty and early college years or what one does when they suppressed all that and finally explode around mid life crisis time. When theyre no longer a young adult and they have nothing to look forward to and theyve basically realised they arent happy and theyre stuck in a life they didnt actually want and never got to do what they did so they lose their minds. Anyway apologies for my ted talk its 3/4am when writing this and ive never tried to verbalise it all before. Course i can never truly know what went on and im sure theres more and perhaps even cheating or we just seperated or took a break and now hes immediately jumped into a relationshio with a college age person or something type deal who knows but even if he hadnt you can get why they both couldnt of been together anymore. He changed into a different person one that couldnt live that way anymore or be in a relationship where there wasnt equal energy or equal give and take. And frankly its for the best if hed stayed in that situation god knows what wouldve happened he doesnt seem like the violent kind but some people just snap.

[@redleeks6253]

​@@EmmaAppleBerry It's ok. He's settled in Lisbon and has a very elaborated tinder profile (i live in lisbon too) and he hangs with the yoga/spirituals/van type of guys that one can find in Lisbon while hanging with other expats.

[@billylewis1151]

Imagine how unfair it would feel if you were accused of abuse and narcassism publicly when you are a public figure. It stuck out to me that instead of making a case for Simon being abusive or covertly naraccistic, she just made comments about it. There is no way to know, and the only thing Simon could do was come out and make a video about it. Also, their custody dispute of their cat seemed to be really unfair, because Martina's concerns ended up with Simon not having custody of their cat. I feel bad for the guy, and it almost seems like bullying to me after seeing the comments and Simon's video.

[@Domilyons]

Honestly, when this popped up in my recommended's, I was scared. I had never seen your content before so I thought this would play out like a trashy gossip video. But I was thankfully wrong! I am so sorry! It was not only done in the most tasteful way possible, it was respectful and still infromative. You used only what they themselves put into the universe and kept it objective. Good work!

[@StrawberryMad6]

I just want to mention that they were in couples counseling. I think it was mentioned a few times on live streams and they said they weren't going because something was wrong but because it helped them talk. Which always seemed weird to me so the divorce wasn't a big shock but still surprising.

[@onerandomnerdygirl2306]

I really appreciate you giving your opinion/perspective on something like this. I know this isn’t in your typical wheelhouse. Thank you

[@rynnerei2765]

used to watch their Kpop MV reactions waaay back in the day and i actually checked on their channel not too long ago but didn't really get what was going on so this video came at the best time for me. sad to hear about what actually happened tho.

[@ZoiePerahoritis]

I watched them for most of their career. saddened me to watch their split. But it is none of my business on what happened. I'm happy to see hem both happy again

[@BlerghMonster]

EYK was one of the first channels i subbed to on youtube, and i had watched their content for years. I didnt know what to think so after martinas announcement i noped out of everything and didnt even know simon made that video about 'his side'. Thank you for making this it was really respectful and it helped me get over avoiding all their content.

[@vanessaTheGrittyArtist]

I’d recommend checking out Martina’s channel. It’s lovely and she’s on a new journey in Japan💚

[@ladyneanna]

My sentiments exactly. A lot of tea videos like to clearly paint who is in the right and who is in the wrong, but it is never that simple. I wish both Simon and Martina the best. - A fellow Nasty.

[@janellemargot4376]

"If the love of your life wants you to look at a bird look at the f****** bird" 🤣

[@TheBlooPixie]

Yeah I think that when you do put yourself out there there are choices you have to make to do with your personal business that need to be made and stuck to and make them knowing that people get emotionally involved with you and your story. It can be hard. For everyone. But you're right it really is at the end of the day none of anyone's business the fact they shared anything with their community other than the news they were divorcing was way more than they needed to. Big Love hun xox Enjoy your sparkly festive thing xox

[@majestyjay6418]

It feels to me as if they both have trouble feeling empathy for one another, I could never understand ever acting that way towards my husband, no matter the circumstances. I feel sorry for both of them, and am very thankful that I will never experience all of the stress and heartache that they are going through.

[@denisesmeesh]

I have always said this and I stand by it. Simon started meditating and (confirmed by both) started using mind opening drugs. He’s not the same, he doesn’t talk the same.

[@naufrage0]

Yea… breaking news: divorce is traumatizing and people react in radically different ways.

[@anaisgonzalez4266]

Some people change when they get divorce my dad used to be so much talkative and smiling while saying hi to everyone, but after the divorce he hardly talked to anyone and was by himself most of times after that not smiling and talking like before he was always depressed

[@underthegardenwall]

Comments like yours makes me realize just how lacking in nuance people are. I saw signs of depression in Simon very early on (as early as 2017) and saw him suppressing his unhappiness all throughou their Japan videos, probably for the sake of Martina (since she's going through a lot herself), so comments like yours saying "He had a personality change, thus he's bad" speaks so much to your inexperience. And I speak from the perspective of a caretaker myself who went through INSANE personality changes b/c of my depression and guilt. I felt crippling guilt because I knew I wasn't happy or getting my own emotional needs met, yet I stlll felt immensely selfish for feeling that way when the other person was clearly struggling more. Thus, I resorted to exercise, meditation, and toxic positivity by appearing way more peaceful and optimistic, saying "Life's amazing!" Thus, the signs of depression that Simon went through is pretty common. The toxic positivity, the meditation, the exercise, constantly saying "This is how you find peace and happiness" whilst DROWNING in depression on the inside. So you all saying, "Simon's different" - how about, he's been suppressing his unhappiness, hmm? THAT'S the more accurate diagnosis.

[@nikosfilipino]

To the Nastys out there, if you really want to respect their privacy and don't want to take sides, THEN STOP SPECULATING AND TAKING SIDES. Just leave their relationship to themselves and stop speculating on who did who dirty. The past is the past and most of us are adults. Carry on with your lives and leave them to theirs.

[@299meena]

I honestly feel like I understand Simon a lot more in this situation. I used to be super bubbly and outgoing like he was but over the years and traumas I've really become much more introverted. Sometimes it's easier to block and delete than deal with the fact that people are sending you hate in an already bad situation. I see that both of them put so much into their marriage and their channel. Martina seemed to build a support system fast and early on which is amazing and that's why I think she's coping so well. Simon seems to be slowly finding himself and trying to build himself back up. I hope he's okay.

[@MysticalAmberMC]

I don't he acted like an ass and got what he deserves I have 0 sympathy for him.

[@underthegardenwall]

Same here. I'm a caretaker myself who struggled with the same things Simon did b/c it wasn't the physical things that was hard to me, it was the fact that my emotional needs weren't being met. I think Martina depended a lot on her fans to get her through, and in doing so kinda left Simon on the wayside despite the fact that he himself had to make adjustments and sacrifices for her, yet she very rarely acknowledged that in their videos (if at all). Hence why so many fans are saying, "He didn't do anything for her, she pushed through her EDS all by herself!" which I don't think is fair to Simon. In that, I do feel deeply for Simon. I also feel deeply for Martina, but I didn't fully love the way she weaponized her fanbase during the divorce when Simon is such an introvert and always valued his privacy, hence more prone to being misunderstood. I dunno, I feel bad for him, the way he's been vilified without really getting to tell his own story.

[@RingoRevolutionary]

whoa holy shit, this was such a nostalgia blast. i used to watch their stuff in like high school and i lost track of them and completely forgot they existed until now. damn... i hope they're both doing better now.

[@kelsiesparkles5859]

Thank you for this 🙏 so much heartbreak & confusion! I’ve watched & read it all but its just so good to hear it all talked out

[@kyivstuff]

I love Martina’s new channel! Her videos on King Kogi are like the old good content we know and love.

[@elrevolorio]

Yessss because Martina was the really de soul of all the seven years of videos that I watched of them...the music, the fun, the pets... Martina was de 70% of the joy. The divorse for me was very awful for all the community... and for me to... but if you se.. a lot of the community selection it's with Martina....

[@anana3322]

Spilling the tea AND being respectful while doing so, I loved it. Your assessment was so on point and the constant reminders that we don't know them, we are not their friends is so hugely important. Thank you for this video! And now to watch Sharla ^^

[@HERLEGASEA]

I watched them when they were eat your kimchi, they even interviewed kpop stars back then. As soon as they announced they were moving to Japan I felt this weird sense of dread and never watched them after. So sad to see what happened and to be honest, I feel like Martina deserves better. I unsubscribed finally but I'll support whatever Martina wants to do

[@leannyly]

Same here! I tried so hard to get into EYS but it just wasnt the same and I could never put my finger on it

[@aideenaventuras6219]

Thanks Echo, I was looking for something like this, I was on a personal instagram cleanse when everything happened and all the videos took me by surprise and I obviously did some research but everything seems to personal and yours is like the perfect middle ground

[@LuxCorMeum]

Watching this whole thing pan out has honestly been very jarring. As someone who has watched them for like idk...10+ years?? And their community and videos used to be my safe space and for it to turn this ugly? oh boy. I am fully aware that this isn't about me or anyone else in the community, but it felt like such a rude awakening? Because as some people here has already mentioned, they were always very open and personal with their community and valued the community and often spoke of us as their friends. Something which I genuinely felt as I met them on several occasions and talked to them online a lot and so on! It really did feel like we were just a bunch of friends. And all of it was built on positivity. So when all the dirty laundry was aired out, I feel pretty safe to say me and a lot of others were left shaken. This whole situation is very messy but I hope they find peace individually.

[@ChianneAurora]

I remember watching these guys wayyy back in the day.

[@j2174]

I suppose if you think Simon is bad at PR and that Martina is good at PR, then you must realise that she probably knows how to 'sway' people to her side more easily and efficiently. Those little comments, not on their main platform, are seeds. They sprout, and grow quickly. And its more difficult to place 'blame' onto her for it.

[@777LoveStory]

Plus one of her comments mentions that their marriage was a farce, he wasn't a good husband. It's really convenient to say after everything, but it means that she shares culpability in perpetrating a lie they sold to their viewers, that they monetized and benefited from... for more than a decade! Her sh!t stinks the same as everyone's. Plus she wouldn't give Meemers back, only to move Japan and leave him with her mom. Shady lady! I do agree with your assessment that she could easily be setting him up.

[@krislv9219]

Really good video, especially love the part about relationship dynamics and not wanting your partner to suffer. Thank you

[@allier1867]

i have so many gripes with how this went down from both of them to the audience (part of this one) but man... i feel like this could have been handled better to prevent more hurt

[@EyesRPrettyDarnAweso]

Thank you so much for this video. This is the first one I’ve watched of you, but this has really helped me put into perspective what has happened with their channel. It hurt as easily as when Jenna marbles retired. I loved their content and what it stood for. I took simon’s relationship advice into who I am as a person and I carried their joy for the simple things with me in my day to day life. And it hurt knowing it was over, but I’m proud to say I recognized it was none of my business and never said anything on their platforms. I haven’t still come to terms with it, but you really, really helped.

[@purpleghost106]

Perhaps it's worth knowing that thousands of people resonated with them like you did, and you don't have to give up anything that made you happier or helped you! Enjoying simple things in life is valuable in and of itself! Plus just remember that, of those veiwers there's lots of people still living their own joy; whether they're enjoyers of good food, adventure and travel, or just couples living and vibing together geekily, including couples where one person is disabled. :) (That last one is def a component of why I felt kin with them as it's a big thing for us disabled people to actually see another disabled person living happily married, even when we're married ourself! But I remind myself, we're far from uncommon and even if their journey together has ended, many others continue.)

[@usagifelton]

Finally someone is addressing the fact that Martina aired stuff first. Is Simon still wrong with how he handled things, yes- but too often when I see people "breaking down" what happened they leave out or downplay the fact that Martina broke the silence first, then people started harassing Simon and the other woman he was working with on his new podcast and so, feeling the need to defend himself, he made comments/videos. In the end I feel they were BOTH wrong, but people in this community (been watching them since they did Kpop videos) seem to be assigning ALL of the blame to Simon and acting like Martina either a) did nothing wrong, or b) what she did wasn't "that bad" so it's cool. Either way I unsubbed to the main channel, but I will watch Martina's vids if they look interesting, though I don't think I'll be subscribing, at least not at this point. Thanks for the video!

[@Rin_3773]

I’ve been watching them for almost 10 years now (absolutely crazy to me) and when I found out all this was happening, I had so many emotions. All I wish is the best for them. Personally I’m more into the content that Martina is putting together. I’ve learned a lot from watching there videos from when they were teaching in Korea to moving to Japan. I’ve also learned that I probably have a physical disability, so watching there videos and everything helped me a lot. And I also know more Korean food and Asian food then everyone I know 😅 I just hope for the best

[@amputeeee52]

Something about Martina getting a by in the public eye doesn't sit right with me... Martina DID publicly post about Simon on their shared verified Instagram where they have a pretty large following at over 240k repeatedly. This did lead to Simon getting hateful comments, which is actually not a new thing based on their commentary in various videos throughout the years. He would mention how he would be impacted by the negative comments repeatedly just in their normal everyday content so why wouldn't he react the same when he would see it again directed at him. He has seemingly deleted his podcast, his patreon site, and his new channel has just the one video....(the links on the video on EYK to these don't work at all) and this is why this whole situation doesn't sit well with me. The imbalance and accusations and outcomes don't add up. At the end of the day we don't know them, but based on how this all aired out first it just really doesn't feel right. Edit: Not trying to say one is right over the other, at the end of the day I do hope they both find happiness and peace. I'll miss their content but I know I'm not comfortable following either of them at this time separately.

[@j.j.3759]

IDK they seemed like a great couple up until they moved to Japan. I think Simon got overwhelmed by Martina's illness and the prospect of being a caregiver, and fell into some weird new age nonsense to cope. I had stopped watching their videos for a few years after moving to Germany, and then tried again whenever it was that Simon put out that video about his weight loss...and you could just tell right there that something was fundamentally different. Maybe people who followed them closely noticed before then, but for me it was really stark since I hadn't been watching them for a while. Very sad. Like I said, I thought they were like the only YT couple that seemed genuine.

[@Ghostofthegallow]

I'm like 40 seconds in and I feel like I've learned some information I never ment to

[@wolfgangyoung6309]

i was so sad watching them fall apart, such a huge part of me growing up on the internet. for my own mental health I'll just nope out .

[@acatstales]

This was really well done. I was nervous to click on it, but you did a really great respectful job. Great job

[@rainepanda]

I think sometimes when relationships fail there is always one of the people who realize how imbalanced the contribution to their relationship was. Seems like Simon didn't recognize how much Martina really did for their brand. He really couldn't reproduce that on his own.

[@Cccc123c33]

I remember Martina bitterly posting that he didn't want to make them and instead wanted to go back to university. So there's that too.

[@followmei4789]

@@Cccc123c33 so he wanted to go back to school, what’s wrong with that ?

[@rainepanda]

@@Cccc123c33 maybe they were really not on the same page for quite a while then

[@kana7613]

Martina aired plenty of dirty laundry through comments on Instagram his video he had every right to address everything she said

[@followmei4789]

She literally posted a comment just a bit ago being very passive aggressive to a fan.

[@OCEANbreezeDIA]

Finally somebody says it!

[@kana7613]

@@followmei4789 I don’t think you read what I said thoroughly

[@sirenatheodyssa]

That’s not quite what EDS is but the screenshot is enough to direct people to research on their own. Just as someone who has EDS as well.

[@morganbodhi9492]

i watched eyk/s since middle school but i was never totally aware of this situation because it made me a bit uncomfortable so it’s nice to hear about it from another familiar face

[@iEGeek]

I followed and was a fan of Simon and Martina for years, but things changed when they moved to Japan, things got weird from there. Then came the move to Canada and the separate videos. Simon’s change was one of the most jarring things that happened. I just stopped following them entirely when the personal pot shots happened.

[@TheSilverGarnet]

I feel like they got less fun once they got to Japan. Their reason to move to Japan was extremely traumatic and they bounced hard and fast from Korea. It’s like they powered through and suppressed the traumatic feelings without processing them.

[@peachysandie]

Omg I wasn't the only one that felt their Japan era was off! I still watched a lot of their Japan videos, quite a lot of them, but it always felt a bit off

[@iEGeek]

It felt like they were burnt out from putting so much high energy videos in Korea and they couldn’t keep up with that same level of energy in Japan with everything that went on for Martina. And content felt a little forced just to make the best of their available time in Japan. But yeah, it really felt like they just suppressed their feelings about it and tried to recreate EYK when they weren’t ready? Had they decided to stop filming for a while post EYK era, I think most fans would have been fine if they said they needed that break to recover.

[@BlackBerryTrees]

Hey friends! I’ve been watching them since their Korea days (probably tow the end) and was so excited when they announced their move to Japan. I am not active on their community on any other platforms, but for me I knew something was up when Simon started working out heavily and had a “year of transformation” or something like that. I know usually that happens when someone is in their worst possible mental health, so they focus on physical health to have something to control, but I’m really sad to see their mental health struggles ended in a divorce. I really wish the, both the best and I hope Simon finds his silly self in the future and that Martina truly finds a new sunshine to help her along in her daily ladder building endeavours 💕

[@DoublexTroublexinc]

This was a very respectful view of what’s going on ❤️ I’m glad you didn’t pick a side or pointed fingers but just explained what we know. I love these chatty moments with you ♥️