KSI has confirmed his departure from the Sidemen is genuine, following speculation that the announcement might be a prank. The 32-year-old, whose real name is Olajide Olatunji, took to Instagram on Monday to address fans and fellow group members, insisting his decision to leave the iconic YouTube collective is real.
The Sidemen, formed in 2013, consist of KSI, Simon Minter, Josh Bradley, Vikram Barn, Tobi Brown, Ethan Payne and Harry Lewis. They have amassed a massive global following through football, comedy and challenge videos. KSI's announcement over the weekend stunned fans, leading to widespread disbelief.
In his Instagram post, which has garnered over 760,000 likes, KSI wrote: 'I know this news has been hard to deal with. I know that some people don’t want to believe it. But it’s real. I will be leaving the Sidemen.' He described the decision as 'sad' but necessary for his mental health, adding: 'Don’t see this as the end, see this as a new era or a new beginning.'
KSI directly addressed his former group members, acknowledging their grief and urging them to 'be optimistic'. He expressed confidence in the group's future, stating: 'You’ve done this without me before and it was great.' None of the other six members have publicly commented on the post as of yet.
Fans reacted with shock and sadness, with one commenting: 'It’s actually happening,' and another writing: 'Well s**t…..it’s real.' A long-time follower added: 'Watch you from the very start. Its extremely sad to see you go and split but it was bound to happen I guess. Thank you.'
