KSI has stunned fans by announcing that he is leaving The Sidemen, the hugely successful YouTube group he helped turn into one of the biggest creator collectives in the UK.
The YouTuber, boxer, musician and entrepreneur, whose real name is Olajide Olatunji, shared the update in a video titled “I’m leaving the Sidemen” on his main YouTube channel, which has more than 18 million subscribers. The announcement lands after 13 years with the group and immediately sparked a wave of reaction from longtime viewers.
KSI leaving The Sidemen after 13 years
In the video, KSI said he has been “pulled in a lot of directions” over the past few years, pointing to the packed schedule that has come with his many business and entertainment ventures. While The Sidemen remains one of the most popular groups on YouTube, KSI has also been juggling music, boxing, Prime Hydration, Misfits Boxing, solo content and other projects.
For fans who have followed him since the early FIFA days, the news feels like a major shift. KSI has been part of The Sidemen’s identity from the beginning, appearing alongside Miniminter, Zerkaa, TBJZL, Behzinga, Vikkstar123 and W2S as the group grew from gaming videos into challenge shows, travel specials, charity events and full-scale branded ventures.
Why is KSI leaving The Sidemen?
KSI framed the decision as a personal one, explaining that his career has become increasingly difficult to balance. He suggested that the move was not driven by one dramatic incident, but by the reality of trying to keep up with several demanding commitments at once.
That explanation will not surprise many close followers. In recent years, KSI has spent long stretches training for boxing events, promoting music releases, managing business deals and appearing across multiple channels and platforms. The Sidemen’s main channel, meanwhile, has maintained an intense production rhythm, with long-form Sunday uploads becoming a core part of the group’s brand.
Even without behind-the-scenes details, the workload alone makes the announcement feel believable. The Sidemen is no longer just a group of friends filming casual videos. It is a media operation with major sponsors, merch drops, food brands and millions of weekly viewers.
What does this mean for The Sidemen?
For now, the biggest question is what KSI’s exit means for future Sidemen videos. The group has successfully built a format where every member brings a different energy, and KSI’s chaotic humor, competitiveness and star power have often been central to its biggest moments.
Still, The Sidemen has grown far beyond any single member. The channel’s audience tunes in for the group dynamic, the production scale and the familiar mix of friendship, teasing and big-budget ideas. If KSI steps away fully, the remaining members still have one of the strongest brands on YouTube.
There is also the possibility that fans may still see KSI in occasional appearances, depending on how final the move becomes in practice. Creator groups often change shape over time, and a step back does not always mean a clean break from every future project.
Fans react to KSI’s Sidemen announcement
The reaction online has been immediate, with fans sharing shock, nostalgia and plenty of speculation. For many viewers, The Sidemen has been a constant for more than a decade, so the idea of KSI leaving marks the end of a familiar era.
Whether this becomes a permanent farewell or a new chapter with fewer appearances, KSI’s announcement is already one of the biggest YouTube stories of the year. After 13 years, his place in The Sidemen’s history is secure, but fans will now be watching closely to see what comes next for both KSI and the group.
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