When you think of the word “loyalty,” what comes to mind? A well-trained dog’s relationship with its owner? A die-hard music lover traveling across the country just to see their favorite artist live? However you interpret the term, the core of loyalty centers on devotion. Loyalty requires trust—and, in many cases, a great deal of patience. But what happens when that patience begins to wear thin? When is it time to move on?
On Day 2 of Creator’s House, Kimberly Ndubizu, Frankie Bleau, Davey Bad, and J.C. Carter took the GU stage to unpack what loyalty means to them—and how that quality should never come at the expense of your identity. How do you know when a relationship, friendship, or partnership has run its course? Moderated by GU Content Editor Danielle Wright, the “Loyalty Isn’t a Life Sentence” panel offered raw, honest insight into letting go.
How do you recognize when a connection that once served you is now holding you back? Kicking off the conversation, the panelists were open about the hard truth of outgrowing relationships. “You kind of grow through relationships, and I think if there is a long period of stagnation—that’s an indicator,” Ndubizu shared. “When it’s time to grow, the space naturally forms for itself,” Bleau added, echoing a sentiment many in the audience seemed to understand deeply.
As a content creator, navigating real friendship can be even trickier. With virality, influence, and money sometimes taking center stage, how do you know who’s really for you? “It’s always good to have those friends who actually see you,” Bleau said. Carter, Creator of Hopeless Romantic Society, reflected on staying true to himself, explaining, “I didn’t want to go down any kind of road that would repeat patterns that I’d seen growing up that were kind of destructive and unhealthy.” For him, loyalty had to start from within.
Still, choosing to walk away—even when you know it’s the right thing—can come with a wave of guilt. “At times in life, you can’t link back up with certain people that you used to be in alignment with. Life is not linear,” Bad said. The Rich Little Brokegirls podcast founder also shared the emotional toll of letting go. “I’m so invested in my friendships. I think losing that person, not being able to support them anymore, and watching them flourish—that is so hard.”
By the end of the panel, one message rang clear: walking away doesn’t mean failure. It means growth. “Again, life isn’t linear. You can’t lose nothing but the plot,” Bad concluded with a nod of peace and perspective.