The Shattered Glass of a Reality TV Brotherhood: Are Wayde King and Brett Raymer Still Friends?
Imagine sitting in your living room on a Friday night, the neon blue glow of a massive custom aquarium flickering on the screen. For years, this was the comfort zone for millions of fans who watched Wayde King and Brett Raymer turn impossible aquatic dreams into reality. They weren't just business partners; they were the 'bros' of Animal Planet, a duo whose chemistry seemed as solid as the 10-inch thick acrylic they used for their tanks. But when the cameras stopped rolling in 2018, the silence that followed was deafening. Today, the most common question from the 35-44 demographic—those of us who juggle career and family loyalty daily—is: are wayde king and brett raymer still friends? The answer isn't a simple yes or no; it is a complex tapestry of legal battles, domestic tragedy, and the brutal reality of what happens when business and family bloodlines cross.
For those of us in the thick of our professional lives, the story of Tanked is more than just reality TV gossip. It is a cautionary tale about the 'systems' we build around ourselves. When Wayde and Brett started Acrylic Tank Manufacturing (ATM), they weren't just building a company; they were building a family legacy that included Brett's sister, Heather, who was married to Wayde. This 'triangulation' is a classic psychological setup that works beautifully when things are good but becomes a disaster zone when the foundation cracks. We watched them for fifteen seasons, oblivious to the fact that the internal pressure was building just like the water weight in a 5,000-gallon tank.
The initial shock came not from a business failure, but from a personal explosion. In early 2019, news broke of a domestic dispute between Wayde and Heather King, leading to a quick and messy divorce filing. For fans asking are wayde king and brett raymer still friends, this was the moment the glass shattered. In any other business, a divorce might be a private matter. At ATM, the divorce was a direct strike to the heart of the partnership. Brett was placed in an impossible psychological position: stay loyal to his brother-in-law and business partner, or stand by his sister. For most of us in the 35-44 age bracket, this is the ultimate nightmare scenario, representing a complete collapse of both professional and personal safety nets.
The Anatomy of a Forced Choice: Why the ATM Partnership Had to End
As a psychologist would tell you, the human brain is not wired to handle dual-loyalty conflicts of this magnitude without significant trauma. When we look at the question of are wayde king and brett raymer still friends, we have to look at the 'forced choice' Brett Raymer had to make. In the aftermath of the divorce, the brand that they had spent decades building—Acrylic Tank Manufacturing—became a site of emotional triggers. Staying in business together would have required Brett to maintain a daily working relationship with a man his sister was legally and emotionally estranged from. This isn't just a business challenge; it's a recipe for a nervous breakdown. The closure of the show and the subsequent pivoting of the business were necessary acts of psychological preservation.
From a systems-thinking perspective, the 'Tanked TV show cancellation reason' wasn't just low ratings; it was the dissolution of the central cast's ability to coexist. According to records on IMDb News, the show's end coincided perfectly with these domestic upheavals. The 'bro-dynamic' that fans loved was rooted in a specific family structure. Once that structure was removed, the show's identity evaporated. For many adults watching, there's a deep shadow pain here—the fear that one wrong move in a relationship can incinerate everything you’ve worked for. We look at Wayde and Brett and see a reflection of our own fragile ecosystems.
Furthermore, the 'Acrylic Tank Manufacturing closure' was a symbolic death. It wasn't just about the money; it was about the end of an era where these two men could be seen as a unit. In the years since 2019, both men have moved into separate orbits. The lack of public interaction on social media or in business ventures confirms that the rift was not just professional, but deeply personal. When people ask are wayde king and brett raymer still friends, they are often searching for a sign of reconciliation that simply hasn't materialized because the cost of that friendship—betraying family loyalty—is too high for either man to pay.
The Psychological Toll of the 'Bro' Brand: Identity After Tanked
One of the most difficult things for a person in their late 30s or early 40s to do is reinvent themselves after a public fallout. Wayde King and Brett Raymer were essentially a brand 'package.' When that package was torn open, both men had to face a massive identity crisis. The subconscious intent behind fans asking are wayde king and brett raymer still friends is often a desire to know: 'Can I survive if my main partnership fails?' We see Wayde King continuing his work in the aquarium industry, but the scale and the 'vibe' have changed. He is no longer the boisterous half of a comedy duo; he is a man navigating the 'ATM Las Vegas update' with a much more grounded, perhaps even somber, approach.
Psychologically, this is known as the 'post-split pivot.' It involves deconstructing who you were in the context of the other person. Brett Raymer has also moved on, focusing on his own ventures and often distancing himself from the ATM brand name entirely. On Brett Raymer’s Official Facebook, you see a man who is leaning into his own solo identity, focusing on family and new entrepreneurial paths that don't require him to be 'Wayde's sidekick' or 'the loud one.' This shift is essential for healing, but it effectively answers the question of are wayde king and brett raymer still friends with a cold, hard silence.
The 'Animal Planet show drama' serves as a reminder that the personas we see on TV are often a heightened version of reality that can't be sustained under the weight of real-life tragedy. The ego pleasure we get from knowing the 'insider truth' about their fallout is a way for us to process our own complicated relationships. We want to believe that friendships are unbreakable, but the Wayde and Brett saga teaches us that even the strongest bonds can be 'tanked' by the pressures of family and business. The reality is that they are likely not friends in any traditional sense, but rather two men who share a significant, painful history that they have both chosen to leave in the rearview mirror.
Navigating the Fallout: Lessons for the 35-44 Demographic
If you find yourself in a situation where your business and family are colliding, the Wayde and Brett story offers critical frameworks for survival. First, you must recognize when a partnership has become 'toxic' by association. You may love your partner, but if their presence in your life causes a rift with your primary family, the tradeoff becomes a matter of long-term mental health. When fans wonder are wayde king and brett raymer still friends, they are witnessing the aftermath of a man (Brett) choosing his sister over his friend. In the hierarchy of social psychology, blood ties usually win in high-stress collapses, even if it means the death of a multi-million dollar business.
Second, understand the importance of the 'clean break.' One of the reasons there is so much speculation today is that neither man has gone on a public 'shaming' tour. They have chosen a path of dignified silence. This is a systems-thinking approach to conflict: minimize further damage by refusing to feed the gossip cycle. While we look for signs of 'Wayde King and Brett Raymer still friends' in every Instagram post, their silence is actually their most professional move. It allows them to protect whatever privacy is left for their children and extended family.
Third, recognize that 'reconciliation' isn't always the goal. In our 40s, we start to realize that some bridges are better left burned if they lead back to a place of chaos. The 'Brett Raymer new business 2024' updates suggest that he is looking forward, not backward. He has traded the high-octane drama of a reality TV partnership for a more controlled, personal professional life. For anyone asking are wayde king and brett raymer still friends, the lesson is clear: sometimes the healthiest way to be 'friends' with someone from your past is to not be in their present at all.
The Future of the ATM Legacy: Where Do They Go From Here?
As we look toward 2024 and beyond, the legacy of Tanked remains in the thousands of aquariums they installed across the globe. However, the human legacy is much more fragmented. For those still searching for are wayde king and brett raymer still friends, it's important to look at the 'ATM Las Vegas update' as it stands today. The company, as it existed on the show, is fundamentally changed. Wayde remains a figurehead in the industry, but the 'Wayde and Heather King divorce' essentially stripped the company of its familial spirit. Without the Raymer-King alliance, ATM is just another high-end manufacturer, lacking the 'soul' that made it a household name.
Brett Raymer's trajectory is equally telling. He has spent the last few years diversifying his interests. On Reddit r/Aquariums, users often debate whether the 'TV friendship' was ever real. The consensus among the community is that while the bond was genuine, it was also fragile. When the question of are wayde king and brett raymer still friends comes up in these forums, the tone is usually one of mourning. Fans feel the loss of the 'squad' dynamic. This is why we focus so much on building healthy squad vibes at BestieAI—because we know that without proper communication and boundaries, even the most successful teams can crack.
In the end, the story of Wayde and Brett is a reminder that success is not just measured in profit margins or TV ratings, but in the sustainability of our closest relationships. If you are feeling like your own 'squad' is starting to show signs of stress, don't wait for a 2019-style explosion. Bring Bestie into your Squad Chat to help navigate those tricky waters before they become a tidal wave. The goal isn't just to stay in business; it's to ensure that ten years from now, you aren't the subject of a search query asking if you and your best friend are still on speaking terms.
Conclusion: The Final Verdict on the Tanked Duo
To wrap this up, the evidence suggests a clear, if painful, reality. While there is no public record of a 'war' between them, there is also zero evidence of a continuing friendship. When you ask are wayde king and brett raymer still friends, you are looking at two men who have made the difficult, adult decision to move on separately. They are united by their past and by the family members they still share, but the 'bro' duo we loved is officially a part of television history. They have transitioned from partners to distant acquaintances, a common evolution for those who have weathered a high-profile family business collapse.
For our 35-44 year old readers, this is your signal to audit your own partnerships. Are you in a situation where a divorce or a family rift could 'tank' your entire life? If so, it’s time to build better boundaries and clearer communication channels. The 'What happened to Wayde King after the show Tanked?' curiosity is natural, but the real takeaway is how to prevent that same silence from happening in your own life. Use the tools available to you to keep your circle tight and your communication flowing.
Ultimately, are wayde king and brett raymer still friends? In the way that matters to fans—the laughing, joking, tank-building brothers—the answer is no. But in the way that matters to growth—two men surviving a crisis and finding a way to exist in the world afterward—they are both successful in their own right. They have moved past the drama of the 'Animal Planet show drama' and into a phase of life where peace is more valuable than a high-octane partnership.
FAQ
1. Are Wayde King and Brett Raymer still friends in 2024?
Wayde King and Brett Raymer are not currently friends in any public or professional capacity following the 2019 collapse of their partnership. The rift, caused by a messy divorce between Wayde and Brett's sister Heather, appears to have ended their personal and business relationship permanently.
2. Why did the show Tanked get cancelled?
The Tanked TV show cancellation reason was primarily the domestic dispute and subsequent divorce filing between Wayde King and Heather King. This internal family conflict made it impossible to continue the show's core dynamic, leading Animal Planet to pull the plug in 2019.
3. Is Acrylic Tank Manufacturing (ATM) still in business today?
Acrylic Tank Manufacturing is still technically in business, but it operates under a significantly different structure than it did during the height of the show. Wayde King continues to be involved in the industry, though the original 'squad' from the show has long since disbanded.
4. What is Brett Raymer doing for work now?
Brett Raymer is currently focusing on his own entrepreneurial ventures outside of the original ATM framework, including new business interests in the Las Vegas area. He has used his platform to pivot into various solo projects and seems to be distancing himself from the 'Tanked' brand name.
5. Are Wayde and Heather King still married?
Wayde and Heather King are no longer married, having finalized a very public and contentious divorce that began in 2019. The end of their marriage was the primary catalyst for the personal fallout between Wayde and his brother-in-law, Brett Raymer.
6. Did Brett Raymer choose sides in the divorce?
Brett Raymer appears to have chosen to support his sister, Heather, in the aftermath of her divorce from Wayde King. This decision is psychologically consistent with family loyalty patterns, and it effectively ended his ability to remain friends with Wayde.
7. Was the fighting on Tanked real or scripted?
While much of the bickering on Tanked was played up for the cameras, the underlying tensions within the family business were very real. The eventual explosive end of the partnership suggests that the 'drama' seen on screen was rooted in actual personality clashes and systemic stress.
8. Does Wayde King still build aquariums?
Wayde King still builds aquariums and remains a prominent figure in the custom tank industry through his ongoing work. However, his projects are no longer televised, and his professional circle has shifted away from the Raymer family.
9. Where can I find the latest ATM Las Vegas update?
The latest ATM Las Vegas update can typically be found through their official business filings and social media pages, though they are much less active than they were during the show's peak. The company now focuses on high-end commercial clients rather than the celebrity-driven content of the past.
10. Can Wayde and Brett ever reconcile?
Reconciliation between Wayde and Brett is unlikely given the deep-seated family trauma involved in the divorce. Psychologically, the 'cost' of reconciliation for Brett would involve a betrayal of his sister, making a return to their old friendship almost impossible in the current landscape.
References
imdb.com — Tanked (TV Series 2011–2018) - IMDb News
facebook.com — Brett Raymer Official Facebook - Business Hiatus Update
reddit.com — Reddit r/Aquariums: The Truth About Tanked