what happened to ben kissel
Ben Kissel was removed from Last Podcast on the Left in 2023 after public allegations of domestic abuse and emotional mistreatment by an ex-partner; he has since denied the accusations, left the network, and moved on to new shows and projects.
Quick Scoop: What happened to Ben Kissel?
From breakout podcaster to controversy
Ben Kissel became widely known as a co‑host of Last Podcast on the Left , a true‑crime and dark‑history show that built a large, devoted audience over the 2010s and early 2020s.
He also appeared on Roundtable of Gentlemen , hosted the political show Abe Lincoln’s Top Hat , and did TV commentary spots, which helped make him a familiar voice in comedy and political podcast circles.
The abuse allegations and exit from LPOTL
In September 2023, Kissel’s ex‑girlfriend (publicly identified as Taylor Moon) posted on social media accusing him of physical domestic abuse and emotional mistreatment.
After those posts spread through Reddit and other forums, the Last Podcast on the Left team announced that Kissel would be taking a temporary absence, and not long after confirmed that he was permanently leaving the show and the Last Podcast Network.
Many forum threads and Reddit discussions focus on questions like “who knew what, and when,” “how much is confirmed vs alleged,” and “how do you separate art from the creator,” with a mix of support, anger, and skepticism toward both Kissel and the accusers.
Kissel has publicly denied the allegations, and some of the original posts by his ex were later deleted, which has fueled ongoing debate and speculation in fan communities.
The remaining co‑hosts stated that he was entering therapy and focusing on his mental and physical health as part of stepping away.
What he’s been doing since
After leaving Last Podcast on the Left , Kissel shifted focus to solo and new collaborative projects.
Key post‑LPOTL activities include:
- Launching a new podcast project under the “Ben Kissel Channel” banner.
- Developing and then premiering the OK Bud! (also styled OK! BUD) podcast with co‑hosts Jerii Aquino and Kyle Ploof in early 2025.
- Continuing to produce political commentary content in the form of the Ben Kissel Politics podcast, which has episodes running into late 2025 and early 2026.
So as of early 2026, Ben Kissel is still active as a podcaster, but he is no longer associated with Last Podcast on the Left and is working on separate comedy and politics shows.
Timeline at a glance (HTML table)
| Year | What happened to Ben Kissel? |
|---|---|
| Pre‑2023 | Co‑host of Last Podcast on the Left, appears on Roundtable of Gentlemen, hosts Abe Lincoln's Top Hat, and does TV/radio commentary. | [1]
| Sept–Oct 2023 | Ex‑girlfriend posts allegations of abuse; LPOTL announces his absence, then that he will not return; network cuts ties while he seeks therapy for mental and physical health. | [8][2][1]
| 2024 | Announces work on a new project called the Ben Kissel Channel and a new show concept. | [9][1]
| Jan 2025 | New show evolves into the OK Bud! podcast with Jerii Aquino and Kyle Ploof, which premieres that month. | [9][1]
| Late 2025–Early 2026 | Continues releasing episodes of Ben Kissel Politics, discussing weekly political news. | [3][5][7]
How forums and fans are talking about it
Across Reddit and other forums, you’ll see a few main viewpoints:
- People who believe the accuser and feel betrayed by Kissel, often deciding to stop consuming his work.
- People who defend Kissel, emphasizing that the allegations are contested, some posts were deleted, and no court case has been widely reported.
- People trying to stay in the middle, acknowledging the seriousness of the claims while also admitting they can’t verify everything and choosing individually whether to keep listening.
Because so much of the controversy lives in personal statements and social media posts rather than court documents, different communities have come to very different conclusions about “what really happened,” and that disagreement is still very active online.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.