KSI quits Sidemen after 13 years

KSI has left the Sidemen, the YouTube collective he helped found more than a decade ago, in a move that marks one of the most significant shake-ups in British creator history.

The creator, whose real name is Olajide Olatunji, announced his departure in a video published on YouTube on yesterday, saying the decision was "completely my own" and had come as a result of being pulled in "a lot more directions than ever before". He said increasing commitments across his career had left him struggling to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

"This is honestly the hardest video I've ever had to make in my life," Olatunji said. "Somewhere along the way, I started losing the balance of my own life. I need to focus on fixing my work-life balance. I need to focus on my health and finally make time to see my family and make time to see my partner."

During the 11-minute video, Olatunji thanked each member of the group individually, describing the Sidemen as his "second family" and reflecting on their journey from uploading gaming videos to selling out arenas and stadiums. 

He also paid tribute to the production staff who helped build the collective over the past decade, while stressing that there had been no fallout behind the scenes. 

"The truth is, nothing bad has happened. This decision is completely my own," he said.

Many fans initially refused to believe the announcement, with several comments on the video dismissing it as a stunt. 

In a statement, the Sidemen said the news "came as a surprise" and acknowledged it would be "an adjustment" for the group. 

"We had an amazing time on this journey with him and we wish him all the best with his future endeavours," the collective said. "We're still committed to creating the best content, events and shows that we can for you all."

Founded in 2013, the Sidemen have grown from a group of gaming creators into one of Britain's most successful creator businesses. The collective's main YouTube channel has more than 23 million subscribers, while its members have built audiences reaching well over 100 million people across their individual platforms. 

Beyond content, the group has expanded into merchandise, food and drink brands, live events and long-form entertainment, becoming one of the clearest examples of how creator collectives can evolve into fully-fledged media businesses and launched Sidemen Productions earlier this year.

KSI meanwhile has continued to build his profile independently in recent years, most recently appearing as a judge on ITV's Britain's Got Talent and acquiring a minority stake in sixth-tier football club Dagenham & Redbridge, which will be chronicled in a docuseries debuting on his YouTube channel this summer.