KSI confirmed on Tuesday that he is stepping away from the Sidemen, the British YouTube collective he helped build into one of the most-watched creator groups on the planet. The news hit hard. He knew it would.
In a personal written statement posted to his Instagram, the content creator, rapper, and boxer didn’t hold back. He was direct. “Writing this is just sad,” he wrote. “I’m sad. Of course I’m sad.”
The Sidemen started from Skype calls. That’s where the whole thing began. Young British YouTubers talking on a screen, building something none of them could have fully imagined. Over the years the group grew into a genuine institution, with millions of subscribers and a fanbase that grew up watching them. They put on charity events that raised real money for causes around the world. KSI was its loudest personality and, for a lot of viewers, the entry point into everything.
KSI, born Olajide Olatunji, has been at the center of that story since the beginning. He’s one of the founding members and its most recognisable name internationally. His solo career has taken him into music and professional boxing. He’s scored UK chart entries and built a legitimate boxing record. The Sidemen, though, were always the foundation. Until now.
His departure marks a significant shift. The Sidemen have operated as a group since the early 2010s, and KSI has been its most visible member throughout. Losing him changes the dynamic. The others will carry on, but the equation is different now.
His statement was clear about the reason. “You know how I am, so you know that I have to do this for my sanity,” he wrote. He was talking directly to the other members. He knew the news would land differently for each of them. Some might be angry. Some might not be ready to accept it. “It’s ok, I’ll always be here for you,” he added. “I always have been here for you.”
He spent real time looking back. Years of content. The charity work. The moments that made people happy around the world. “And I don’t regret any of it,” he wrote. “I had the time of my life.” He was clear on one more thing: “I love these guys, and they will always be my friends for life.”
The post drew over 301,000 likes, a response that speaks to how much this group matters to the people who grew up with it.
To his fellow members, KSI had one clear message: don’t treat it like an ending. “Don’t see this as the end, see this as a new era or a new beginning,” he wrote. He reminded them their audience is still there and that they’ve made great content without him before.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DZHOI9ZjPRp/
The sign-off was classic KSI. He circled back to those original Skype calls and a nod to trains, then closed with “I love you guys” and a heart emoji.
No official response from the other Sidemen members has come yet. Fan reaction has been fast and emotional. For the generation that grew up watching these guys, this announcement feels like more than a YouTube reshuffle. It feels like the end of something real.
The Sidemen story continues. KSI’s chapter inside it has quietly closed.
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