KSI's decision to leave Sidemen was 'calculated' and leaves group 'questioning everything'
KSI's decision to leave Sidemen was 'calculated' and leaves group 'questioning everything'
Ellie HookMon, June 1, 2026 at 10:49 AM UTC
0
KSI announced his decision to leave The Sidemen -Credit:Getty Images (Getty Images)
Just hours after his appearance on Britain's Got Talent finale, judge KSI has announced his plans to leave YouTube phenomenon The Sidemen. He shared his "painful" choice in a heartfelt video, expressing gratitude to his fellow members for their "friendship."
The collective, which also includes online stars Vikram Singh Barn, Joshua Bradley, Simon Minter, Tobi Brown, Harry Lewis, and Ethan Payne, originally came together more than ten years ago and frequently uploaded gaming content.
They achieved massive popularity and expanded their output, which now draws millions of viewers. In 2024, they secured their own Netflix documentary chronicling their journey to prominence and online celebrity. Fans were left heartbroken over the decision.
• Donald Trump's new daughter-in-law has a 'life goal' that will terrify millions of Americans
• Fox News viewers tell Donald Trump 'enough' after 'sad' White House tour with Lara Trump
Following the news, PR expert Chad Teixeira weighed in on the situation. He told Mirror US, "KSI has spent years building a brand that stretches well beyond YouTube, so this looks like someone making a calculated decision about where his time and energy are best spent.
"At this level, the biggest career moves are usually about focus, longevity and protecting the bigger picture, not drama behind the scenes.”
KSI co-founded the YouTube group in 2013 -Credit:Sidemen
“I think fans will feel genuinely shocked at first because KSI is such a defining part of the Sidemen identity. Whenever someone so central to a group steps away, there’s naturally emotion and speculation. But audiences are far more understanding than they used to be. If this continues to be communicated with honesty and maturity, most fans will likely move from surprise to support, even if there’s disappointment in the short term.”
“Financially, people will immediately ask how much money he could lose, but I think the bigger question is what this decision creates space for. At KSI’s level, success is less about one income stream and more about where your time has the highest value.
"Stepping away from something hugely successful can sometimes be the move that allows an even bigger phase of growth, particularly when your personal brand is already so diversified," Chad went on to point out.
“The wider story here is what this says about creator culture and modern celebrity. We’re seeing major creators evolve into fully-fledged business and media brands, and that comes with difficult decisions around identity, time, and ambition.
"It also raises an interesting question for the Sidemen themselves: can the brand evolve and maintain momentum without one of its biggest personalities? If handled well, this doesn’t weaken either side; it simply marks the start of a new chapter," the PR expert concluded.
Advertisement
It comes as KSI confirmed that he would be formally departing the collective to focus on other ventures in an emotional video. The 32-year-old began, "This is honestly the hardest video I've ever had to make in my life. I've gone back and forth on this decision for a very long time. I've spent months trying to figure out what the right thing to do is.
"But after a lot of thought, I've decided that I'm no longer [going to] be doing sidemen videos. Today, 31st of May, will be my final Sidemen video. Even saying those words out loud doesn't feel real."
Reflecting on his tenure with the collective, he went on, "The Sidemen have been such a huge part of my life for over 12-13 years. For almost half my life, this Sidemen has been my second family. We've grown up together. We've travelled the world together. We built something that none of us ever thought was possible, especially back then when we were making random videos together and playing GTA.
"I still remember those early days with no idea that 10s of millions of people were going to be watching us on the channel. And somehow, that turned into an incredible journey. Together we've done things I never thought were possible.
"We've sold out arenas, we sold out stadiums. We've broken records. We've made Netflix shows, we've done a lot and we've shared so many good moments on YouTube and those moments will stay with me for the rest of my life.
They even landed their own Netflix show -Credit:Netflix
"We've been there for each other through some of the highest highs and lowest lows of our lives. I've watched these boys grow into incredible men. I've watched them grow into fathers. I've watched them grow into husbands. And I'm so incredibly grateful to experience that journey alongside them," KSI went on.
Addressing his reasons for departing, KSI - real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji - emphasized that "nothing bad had happened" and that the decision was "completely my own."
He admitted that he had started to "lose balance" in his life after being stretched in multiple directions and hoped to use his available time to concentrate on "the people I love."
"The Sidemen deserve somebody who can give 100%. And right now, I know I can't do that. It just wouldn't be fair to the boys. It wouldn't be fair to you. And it wouldn't be fair to myself. Walking away from something you love is painful.
"Trust me, it's not been easy. But deep down, I know it's the right thing to do. Those boys helped shape who I am today. And I hope in some small way I helped shape who they became, too."
He acknowledged his former colleagues and the behind-the-scenes team who contributed to their content, before concluding, "Thanks for giving the group a career beyond our wildest dreams. I hope you'll continue supporting the boys because they deserve it.
"They're still going to do amazing things, I know. They're still going to make incredible content. And I'll definitely be watching alongside all of you. But for now, I need to focus on myself, and I need to focus on fixing my work life balance, just so I can finally focus on my health, and finally make time to see my family and make time to see my partner."
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
