YouTube’s most famous creator septet is becoming a sextet. In a video uploaded on May 31, KSI announced his departure from the Sidemen, ending his 13-year stint as a member of the U.K.-based crew.
KSI, whose real name is J.J. Olatunji, described his farewell address as “the hardest video I’ve ever had to make in my life.” He called the Sidemen a “second family” he has been part of for “almost half my life.” Despite developing tight-knit bonds with the other six members of the group, the 32-year-old London native decided that he needed to move on so that he could clear up more space on his packed schedule.
“I will no longer be doing Sidemen videos,” KSI said. “Today, 31st of May, will be my final Sidemen video. Even saying these words out loud, it just doesn’t feel real.”
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KSI made sure to clarify that “nothing bad has happened.” He is still friends with his longtime Sidemen buddies, and his farewell video includes personalized messages for Miniminter, Vikkstar123, Zerkaa, Tobi, Behzinga, and Wroetoshaw. To cap off his time with the group, KSI co-starred in a real-life Among Us recreation that depicts the ongoing camaraderie among the members of the beloved U.K. outfit.
If KSI is still so chummy with the other Sidemen, why is he leaving the group? The answer to that question relates to his growing list of business ventures, media appearances, and other projects.
KSI has been a guest judge on Britain’s Got Talent and has joined the ownership group for London-area soccer club Dagenham & Redbridge FC. As a recording artist, he received international attention with his song “The Thick Of It.” His long-term collaboration with Logan Paul has made him a notable name in the beverage aisle and the boxing ring.
After putting so many irons into the proverbial fire, KSI didn’t have much time left to shoot content alongside the Sidemen. For example, when the group filmed a cooking show that will be distributed across YouTube and Amazon Prime Video, KSI was unavailable to participate.
“Over the last few years, I felt myself being pulled in a lot of directions,” KSI said in his farewell video. “I feel like I’ve been running full speed, 100 miles per hour. I spent so long trying to be everything for everyone, trying to be everywhere, trying to do it all, trying not to let anyone down, but somewhere along the way, I started losing the balance of my own life.”
KSI will stay plenty busy during the next phase of his career. The future of the Sidemen, however, is a more interesting conundrum. It’s fair to say that KSI was the most famous Sidemen member; among the seven creators in the group, his personal YouTube channel has the highest subscriber count (18.4 million) and the highest lifetime view count (nearly five billion).
The Sidemen, however, have spent the past few years reducing their reliance on individual members. Through a global expansion plan and annual charity soccer matches, the group has evolved. It has gone beyond its roots as a British septet to become a sprawling lifestyle brand that brings together large swaths of the creator community while making moves in categories like sports, gaming, business, and food.
With that plan in place, the Sidemen can continue to thrive during their post-KSI era. Many fans will miss seeing KSI in Sidemen videos, but they won’t have to look too hard to keep tabs on him. After all, he always makes sure to keep himself in the thick of it.
