It was 2013, and if you were anywhere near a computer screen, you knew who Ray William Johnson was. He was basically the king of the internet. His show =3 (Equals Three) was pulling in numbers that traditional TV networks would have killed for. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he started appearing everywhere with a witty, sharp, and talented creator named Anna Akana.
They were the ultimate YouTube power couple before "power couples" were even a formalized thing on the platform.
But then, as quickly as it started, it was over. The breakup didn't just end a romance; it shifted the trajectory of two massive careers. Honestly, looking back at Ray William Johnson and Anna Akana now, the story is a lot more complicated than just two people deciding to go their separate ways.
The Rise of the Runaway Machine
Most people remember them for the vlogs, but they were actually building a mini-empire. They co-owned a production company initially called Runaway Planet, which they had to rename to Runaway Machine because of trademark issues. It wasn't just a vanity project. They were actually making things.
✨ Don't miss: Mamma Mia San Fran: Why This Show Still Packs Houses Decades Later
One of their biggest swings was Riley Rewind. It was a high-concept web series about a girl who could travel back in time to try and prevent a classmate's suicide. Anna wrote it and starred in it; Ray produced it. For 2013 YouTube, this was incredibly ambitious. It wasn't just a guy talking into a webcam anymore. It was real cinematography and heavy themes.
They also had a podcast called Runaway Thoughts. If you go back and listen to those old episodes, you can hear the chemistry. They would answer fan questions—often preceded by the word "penis" because, well, it was the early 2010s—and talk about everything from philosophy to relationships. It felt authentic. Like you were sitting in the room with them.
Why Ray William Johnson and Anna Akana Called It Quits
The announcement came in mid-2014, though they actually split in May of that year. Ray posted a long message on Facebook—back when people still used Facebook for big life updates—saying the relationship had simply run its course. He tried to keep it classy. He called them "adults" and said there was no "juicy story" to tell.
Anna’s post was a bit more... Anna. She famously wrote: "as you may have heard, Ray and I broke up. Back to plan A; marry my soul mate and wait for them to die."
For a long time, fans took that at face value. Two busy people, lots of work stress, and a high-profile life just didn't mix. But as the years went by, Anna started opening up more about her past relationships in her stand-up and her videos.
The "Trophy" Narrative and Real Struggles
In later interviews and social media posts, Anna hinted that things weren't as rosy as they looked in those glossy vlogs. She once mentioned in a video titled Single, Not Ready to Mingle that she felt like she was constantly in a string of relationships and needed to find herself.
More tellingly, there have been Reddit threads and deep dives where fans pointed out Anna’s comments about not wanting to be a "trophy." There were also more serious allegations mentioned in passing during live streams about past partners—not naming Ray specifically, but describing restrictive environments where she wasn't "allowed" to wear heels or was yelled at for singing. Whether these were about Ray or a different ex remains a point of speculation among fans, but the timing of her "vow of silence" on her dating life certainly suggested she was processing something heavy.
Ray, for his part, mostly moved on to his next phase of content, eventually finding massive success again on TikTok and Instagram with his "short-form storytelling" style.
Life After the Breakup
It's actually kind of wild how well they both did after the split. Usually, when a "YouTube couple" breaks up, one person’s views crater. That didn't happen here.
- Anna Akana became a legitimate Hollywood actress. You’ve seen her in Ant-Man, Big City Greens, and A Million Little Things. She also became a massive advocate for mental health, using her sister’s tragic passing as a catalyst to help others.
- Ray William Johnson did what everyone said was impossible: he survived quitting =3. He transitioned from being "the guy who reacts to videos" to a legitimate storyteller and producer. He’s currently one of the most-followed people on TikTok, proving he wasn't just a flash in the pan.
What We Can Learn from the Runaway Machine Era
The saga of Ray William Johnson and Anna Akana is a time capsule of an era when YouTube was moving from "hobby" to "business." It shows that even when you have a shared vision and a production company, the pressure of a public-facing relationship can be a silent killer.
If you're looking for the "hidden" lesson here, it's about identity. Anna spent years being "Ray's girlfriend" in the eyes of millions. Her career since then has been a masterclass in reclaiming a narrative. She didn't let the breakup define her; she let it refine her.
If you're curious about where they are now, Ray is currently married to Kelly Landis, and Anna continues to produce some of the most thought-provoking content on the web while killing it in traditional acting. They don't interact publicly anymore. No messy Twitter feuds, no "exposed" videos. Just two people who grew up and moved on.
For anyone navigating a career transition or a high-stakes breakup, the takeaway is simple: your best work might still be ahead of you, even if the "power couple" status is behind you. Focus on the projects that make you feel like a creator, not just a partner.
To see how much the platform has changed since their heyday, you can compare Ray's current TikTok strategy—which focuses on rapid-fire true crime and weird history—with the long-form, sketch-heavy style Anna still champions on her YouTube channel. It's a fascinating look at two different ways to stay relevant in an ever-changing digital landscape.