Britain’s Got Talent judge KSI quits YouTube collective Sidemen
By Casey Cooper-Fiske, Press Association Senior Entertainment Reporter
Social media star and Britain’s Got Talent judge KSI has announced he is leaving the YouTube collective Sidemen.
The 32-year-old, whose real name is Olajide Olatunji, has made football, comedy and challenge videos with the group since 2013, and his departure was confirmed to the Press Association by his representatives amid rumours the announcement may have been part of a bet.
In a post on YouTube, KSI said: “This is honestly the hardest video I’ve ever had to make in my life.
“I’ve gone back and forth on this decision for a very long time. I’ve spent months trying to figure out what the right thing to do is.
“But after a lot of thought, I’ve decided that I will no longer be doing sidemen videos. Today, 31st of May, will be my final Sidemen video.
“Even saying those words out loud doesn’t feel real. The Sidemen have been such a huge part of my life for over 12-13 years.
“For almost half my life, this Sidemen has been my second family. We’ve grown up together. We’ve travelled the world together.
“We built something that none of us ever thought was possible especially back then when we were making random videos together and playing GTA (Grand Theft Auto).”
The London-born star, who appeared in Saturday’s final of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, said he remembered the group’s early days on YouTube, and that he had “no idea that tens of millions of people were going to be watching us on the channel”.
He said: “Together we’ve done things I never thought were possible. We’ve sold out arenas, we sold out stadiums. We’ve broken records. We’ve made Netflix shows, we’ve done a lot and we’ve shared so many good moments on YouTube and those moments will stay with me for the rest of my life.
“We’ve been there for each other through some of the highest highs and lowest lows of our lives. I’ve watched these boys grow into incredible men. I’ve watched them grow into fathers. I’ve watched them grow into husbands. And I’m so incredibly grateful to experience that journey alongside them.
“The truth is, nothing bad has happened. This decision is completely my own. Over the last few years, I’ve felt myself being pulled in a lot of directions than ever before. Between everything else in my life, I feel like I’ve been running at full speed, at 100mph.”
He said he had been been “trying to be everything for everyone” and added he had “started losing the balance in my own life” as a result, finding it “hard to find time for my family”.
KSI went on to thank each of the group’s other members Simon Minter, Josh Bradley, Vikram Barn, Tobi Brown, Ethan Payne, and Harry Lewis, and said they “deserve somebody who can give 100%”.
He said: “I hope you’ll continue supporting the boys, because they deserve it. They’re still going to do amazing things, I know they’re still going to make incredible content, and I’ll definitely be watching alongside all of you.
“But for now, I need to focus on myself, and I need to focus on fixing my work-life balance, just so I can finally focus on my health, and finally make time to see my family and make time to see my partner.”
Along with making YouTube videos, the group has launched its own fried chicken chain, clothing, alcohol, and cereal.
KSI began his YouTube career in 2008, making videos of himself playing the Fifa video game, before moving on to making vlogs and comedy clips, later turning his hand to music, releasing two studio albums.
