KSI Reassures Sidemen of His Enduring Presence Following Departure from YouTube Collective

YouTuber KSI has acknowledged that some of his former Sidemen companions are feeling "angry" and "upset" regarding his departure, urging them to maintain a positive outlook on their future. The digital influencer, known as Olajide William Olatunji to the public but JJ to his inner circle, revealed over the weekend that he is stepping away from the popular YouTube group.

In a video posted to YouTube that has garnered nearly three million views, KSI clarified that there were no internal conflicts driving his exit, emphasizing that the choice to leave was entirely his own. Following initial fan shock and rumors that the announcement might be a prank, the Britain’s Got Talent judge confirmed the reality of the situation and expressed his sorrow about leaving the collective.

Addressing the Sidemen directly in a statement posted to Instagram, KSI recognized the emotional impact of his decision. "I know you're all grieving in your own way because of my decision, but you knew it was coming for a while," he wrote. He continued, "And I know some of you are angry, some of you don't want to accept it, some of you might even hate me, and some of you are just upset. It's ok, I'll always be here for you."

As speculation mounts regarding the future of the social media stars, KSI encouraged the group to remain optimistic. "You have an audience that adore you. An audience that enjoy the content," he noted. "An audience that have grown with us. You're all very entertaining so don't think otherwise."

The Instagram post also featured a collection of photographs from their shared history. KSI admitted that reflecting on these memories was an emotional experience. "I had the time of my life. It's been such an awesome crazy journey," he said. "I love these guys, and they will always be my friends for life."

In his initial announcement, the 32-year-old recalled the group's humble beginnings, noting that he never anticipated their channel would attract tens of millions of viewers. He explained that his recent endeavors, which include professional boxing and holding a minority stake in Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club, have created significant demands on his time. "Over the last few years, I feel like I've been pulled in a lot of directions," he said. "Between everything else in my life, I feel like I've been running at full speed, at 100mph."

KSI expressed gratitude to each of the other Sidemen members—Simon Minter, Josh Bradley, Vikram Barn, Tobi Brown, Ethan Payne, and Harry Lewis—stating that they "deserve somebody who can give 100%."

In a prior statement, the Sidemen revealed they were taken aback by the news but wished KSI success in his future projects. "We've got lots of exciting stuff planned that we can't wait to share," the group added. As of now, none of the Sidemen members have publicly responded to KSI’s latest message.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-03 11:31:27 UTC