KSI Leaves The Sidemen After 13 Years

One of the most familiar faces on YouTube is stepping away from the group that made him famous. KSI — real name Olajide Olatunji — has announced he is leaving The Sidemen, the UK collective he has been part of for more than a decade. Here's exactly what he said, how the rest of the group reacted, and what it means going forward.

What KSI actually said

The announcement came in a video posted straight to his channel, where he speaks to an audience of well over 18 million subscribers. In it, KSI explained that the last few years had pulled him in a lot of different directions at once, and that he felt it was time to move on. Crucially, he framed it as a personal choice rather than the result of any conflict.

He was keen to shut down speculation before it started, making clear that nothing had gone wrong behind the scenes and thanking the other six members directly. For anyone expecting a dramatic fallout, the tone was the opposite — measured, grateful, and final.

"The decision is completely my own" — KSI made a point of stressing this was his call, not the result of a rift.

Wait — was the video even real?

As soon as the clip went live, a chunk of the internet did what it always does and asked whether the whole thing was a stunt or some kind of edit. That skepticism didn't last long. The video was verified as genuine, and the remaining members of The Sidemen removed any lingering doubt by posting a statement of their own.

They admitted the news had taken them by surprise and said they were sad to see him go, while reassuring fans that the group isn't going anywhere. They also teased that there's plenty already in the pipeline — a clear signal that The Sidemen intend to carry on as a six-piece.

Why this is a bigger deal than it looks

The Sidemen aren't just another YouTube channel. Between the seven of them they've built one of the largest creator audiences on the planet — somewhere around 140 million subscribers — across more than ten years of content. KSI has long been the most recognisable name in that line-up, so losing him changes the shape of the group in a way few other departures could.

It's also worth remembering how far his profile now stretches beyond YouTube. He's sat on the judging panel for ITV's Britain's Got Talent, headlined crossover boxing events, built out several businesses, and bought a minority stake in football club Dagenham & Redbridge. The collective itself has been creeping toward mainstream TV too, with multiple seasons of its Inside reality format — including a US edition — landing on Netflix.

So what happens next?

For KSI, the move looks less like an exit and more like a reshuffle of priorities — clearing space for the growing list of things he's juggling outside the group. For The Sidemen, the message from their statement is that the show goes on, with new projects already lined up.

The group has also been expanding its slate, with a four-part culinary competition series set for a staggered rollout across streaming and YouTube — notably one project KSI isn't attached to, which in hindsight reads like an early hint of the direction he was heading.

KSI Lucky Wheel: The Casino Scam Using His Name

In recent months, aggressive adverts featuring KSI have been spreading across the internet, promoting something called “KSI Lucky Wheel” — a spinning wheel that supposedly offers huge cash prizes, free spins, and massive welcome bonuses.

These ads claim that KSI has his own promo code or even his own casino game. This is completely fake.

How is it connected to casinos?

“KSI Lucky Wheel” is a classic affiliate marketing scam used by shady online casinos. They create fake videos using KSI’s face and voice to drive traffic to their gambling sites. When someone signs up and deposits money, the scammers earn a commission.

Why is it fake?

KSI has never launched or endorsed any “Lucky Wheel” casino game. These videos are edited from old clips where he spun a wheel during fun challenges with his friends. For a full breakdown, read our investigation: Is KSI Lucky Wheel a Scam?

Why is this used all over the world?

KSI has one of the largest and most engaged young male audiences online. Scammers exploit his name and popularity because his fans are more likely to trust and click on content featuring him. Celebrity impersonation scams like this became extremely common in 2025–2026.

For more evidence and detailed analysis of how the scam operates, see: Full Investigation: KSI Lucky Wheel Scam

“If you see KSI promising easy money from a spinning wheel — it’s almost certainly a scam.”

KSI does not promote any gambling products. He only announces his real projects on his official channels.

Reporting on KSI's departure was first detailed by Deadline. Read the original report at Deadline. This page is an independent summary written by our editorial team.