KSI has announced his departure from the YouTube collective Sidemen, confirmed by a spokesperson. Fans are speculating about the reasons behind his exit and what it means for the future of the group.
Key points
KSI announced he is leaving the Sidemen
A spokesperson confirmed the news
Sidemen has over 23 million YouTube subscribers
Fans are speculating about the reasons for his departure
Some believe it may be linked to Arsenal's Champions League loss
Mentioned in this story
KSISidemenArsenalParis Saint-Germain
Champions League
KSI has caused a stir after announcing he is leaving the YouTube collective Sidemen, with fans wondering what comes next for the social media stars.
Some are questioning whether the news is a hoax or a forfeit for Arsenal fan KSI after the north London football club missed out on the Champions League title to Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.
In 2021, the star - real name Olajide William Olatunji or JJ to friends and family - also apologised for using "transgender slurs", saying he "honestly didn't even know they were slurs. I know now though".
The group - which also consists of Simon Minter, Josh Bradley, Vikram Barn, Tobi Brown, Ethan Payne and Harry Lewis - has become known for doing a host of challenges, gaming commentary and sketches.
They were also the highest placed UK gamers in a global rich list in 2024, coming joint 21st with £50m.
KSI, who has more than 18m subscribers to his personal YouTube channel, has been building up his portfolio outside of content creation for years.
The 32-year-old began dabbling in the music world back in the 2010s, but his work really picked up steam in 2020 when his debut album Dissimulation shot to number two in the UK charts.
Q&A
Why is KSI leaving the Sidemen?
KSI's departure from the Sidemen has been confirmed by a spokesperson, but the specific reasons for his exit have not been detailed.
What impact has the Sidemen had on YouTube?
The Sidemen have significantly influenced the YouTube creator space in the UK, amassing over 23 million subscribers since their formation in 2013.
Are fans believing KSI's departure is a hoax?
Some fans are questioning whether KSI's announcement is a hoax or related to his disappointment over Arsenal's performance in the Champions League.
What are the future plans for KSI after leaving Sidemen?
Details about KSI's future plans after leaving the Sidemen have not been disclosed yet.
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His follow-up, All Over The Place, finally secured him the top spot in 2021.
He also spent a few years in the boxing ring, including bouts with fellow YouTuber-turned-boxer Logan Paul and Love Island star Tommy Fury.
Paul and KSI later moved from being boxing foes to energy drink partners as they joined to promote Prime Hydration, which became an online sensation and had fans queuing up to get their hands on it.
To add to his side quests, KSI recently bought a minority stake in Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club and is a judge on Britain's Got Talent.
PR and marketing expert Megan Dorian tells Newsbeat that while the Sidemen have been developing their presence for years and are "no doubt worth millions", she believes KSI leaving the group will "probably open up more opportunities" for him.
"There may be a clause [in contracts] where he can't do certain opportunities because other members of the Sidemen are in it," Dorian says.
"Or it might be that certain brands don't want to be a part of the Sidemen, they will just want KSI individually, and they don't want that association as such for different reasons."
She also notes there are "always going to be risks" in going solo, likening it to a music star leaving a band, but feels he and his team will likely have "future-proofed" the decision with opportunities lined-up.
Dorian, who is the founder of Orange PR and Marketing, does think some Sidemen fans might feel "there is something potentially missing from their videos" now.
"They've been going for so long that they are someone that they feel connected to, it's a friendship group," she says.
However, she says the buzz around the announcement does have an upside for the collective as they are "effectively getting millions and millions of pounds worth of marketing".
A statement shared by the Sidemen following KSI's announcement on YouTube said the news "came as a surprise" to them but that they wished him "all the best with his future endeavours".
It added that the collective has "lots of exciting stuff planned that we can't wait to share".
Despite KSI's departure, fan Watson doesn't think too much will change for the Sidemen as there have been periods when he hasn't featured in videos and says they have previously claimed "they would never bring in another Sideman".
Both Dorian and Watson feel it's important for their brand that the Sidemen don't move away from what's worked.
"They've built relationships with their fans from being really authentic," Dorian adds.
"If they change themselves too much, they risk alienating the fans that have come to know and love them as they are."
As for the social media star, Watson wonders if he'll still draw in as many YouTube viewers or if some fans will feel like he has "snaked" his fellow Sidemen.
He suspects KSI's got "big plans" in the works, potentially "making more brands" or "getting a TV show".
Whatever is in store for him next, Watson says he "definitely will" be tuning in, and it's likely many other fans will be following suit.
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