Youtuber KSI announced he will take a hiatus from social media after he was criticised for using a racist jibe in a recent spoof video.
KSI, the pseudonym of Olajide William Olatunji, 29, gained popularity as one of the Youtube group The Sidemen, whose comedy sketches and online challenges have earned them over 18million subscribers on their channel.
A recent Sidemen Sunday video saw the troupe of internet personalities take on a ‘Countdown challenge’ in which they attempt to come up with a nine-letter word like on the Channel 4 show.
KSI, whose team named themselves ‘N******’, struggled to come up with a word before offering one which caused offence – adding: ‘We need points and I don’t mean this maliciously.’
Fellow hosts Chunkz and Filly appeared open-mouthed as they laughed at KSI’s answer, while he jokingly said ‘sorry’.
Fellow hosts Chunkz and Filly appeared open-mouthed as they laughed at KSI’s answer, while he jokingly said ‘sorry’
KSI has since announced he will take a break from social media, while apologising for the language used in the video
What racial slur did KSI say?
Despite being only four letters long, KSI suggested ‘P***’ when attempting to come up with the longest word out of nine letters.
Other members of the Sidemen broke out into laughter as they continued playing their spoof version of Countdown.
The video prompted anger among fans when it was shared online, with health presenter Dr Ranj Singh branding it ‘simply unacceptable’.
BBC presenter Bobby Friction posted: ‘I had this racial slur thrown at me & got physical beats by racists for my entire childhood.
‘Genuinely upset that KSI (a guy my children love) did this & thought it was funny. The rest of them laughing can go f*** themselves too. People dehumanising brown people like it normal.’
Social media influencer Kavos wrote: ‘Fans are angry at KSI for saying “P***” in a sidemen video for “points”. Don’t think there’s any excuse to be saying that at all.’
Teacher and broadcaster Mehreen Baig said it was ‘horrifically disappointing from KSI and his crew’.
KSI, real name Olajide William Olatunji, 29, gained popularity as one of the Youtube group The Sidemen, whose comedy sketches and online challenges have earned them over 18million subscribers on their channel
She added: ‘So many of my students look up to these guys and they’re casually throwing around a word that has consistently been used to bully and attack South Asians.
‘This isn’t comedy.’
KSI – which stands for ‘Knowledge, Strength, Integrity’ – has taken to Twitter to apologise for the words used in the video, which has since been removed.
He said: ‘I wanna apologise for saying a racial slur in a recent Sidemen video.
‘There’s no excuse, no matter the circumstances, I shouldn’t have said it and I’m sorry. I’ve always said to my audience that they shouldn’t worship me or put me on a pedestal because I’m human.
‘I’m not perfect, I’m gonna mess up in life, and lately I’ve been messing up a lot.
‘So I’ve decided I’m gonna just take a break from social media for a while.’
A statement from The Sidemen posted on Twitter said: ‘During yesterday’s “Sidemen Sunday” a racial slur was said during the video.
‘We accept that it was completely unacceptable and inexcusable. The fact the incident was made light of on the show was wrong and compounded the hurt. We deeply regret this and would like to truly apologise.
‘We have reflected on this incident both collectively and individually and are truly ashamed that we let ourselves and you guys down in this way.’
KSI (right) pictured with American Youtuber Logan Paul in the dugout prior to a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks
The video was met with anger online, with many users describing their own experiences of having the racist slogan thrown at them
Olatunji, from Watford, describes himself as ‘one of the funniest, blackest guys on YouTube’. Olatunji made his name commentating on video games but went on to deliver comedy monologues and sketches that are often in very dubious taste.
That hasn’t held him back. Over the five years he’s been posting on YouTube, Olatunji has raked in around £600,000 more in earnings than David Cameron.
According to documents obtained by The Sunday People, KSI owns 12 flats and homes in big-money neighbourhoods through his property company Kilimanjaro Your Mum Ltd.
Figures published by Companies House reveal that £1.5 million in cash on new properties in the past year, and already boasted £8 million in housing stock.
The company also has £164,000 in generated income, and KSI’s other company The Throne Holdings has cash and assets of £2.9 million.
2013 sexism scandal
But this is not the first time the YouTuber has been forced to apologise.
In 2013, KSI was caught up in a sexism furore when he was heard making lewd comments to women at a gaming conference, asking about sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
He on woman what was her ‘favourite STI’, to which she reluctantly replied ‘chlamydia’. KSI then said: ‘Is that because you have it?’
Another part of the clip saw him quiz a woman about the size of her breasts, stating: ‘I can’t see them?’
The video was later removed from Youtube and KSI told the Guardian in 2020, ‘Obviously I’m not proud of it.’
Sidemen later posted a statement apologising for the ‘racial slur’ used in the show and insisted they were ‘truly ashamed that we let ourselves and you guys down in this way’
KSI accused of trivialising rape in 2015
KSI was also accused of trivialising sexual assault by making what was referred to as ‘rape faces’ in a series of his online videos.
The clips showed the star in a host of different backdrops as he turned to the camera with an aggressive expression while giving off sexualised signals.
In another interview with a page 3 model, in which he asked about her sex life, KSI was heard to use the word ‘sl**’ to describe her in his voiceover.
The coalition group End Violence Against Women condemned the videos, which were removed, and told The Guardian: ‘Trivialising and minimising rape contributes to a culture where rape is not taken seriously.
‘YouTube, KSI’s advertisers and his publisher and other partners should consider whether they want to be associated with that kind of content.’
KSI, left, throws out the ceremonial first pitch as Logan Paul watches prior to a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks
KSI appeared to urinate over the hands of his fellow Sidemen hosts Josh and Ethan in one sketch
The Youtuber, rapper and boxer reportedly earns £2.9million ($4.5m) a year from his work on YouTube. But his pay will fluctuate as he is paid based on his activity, sponsorship and advertising revenue, rather than a salary from the video-hosting website.
Forbes listed KSI at No 5 in their ‘World’s Highest-Paid YouTube Stars’ list in 2015, but has since been overtaken by the Paul brothers, Logan and Jake.
And the British YouTuber isn’t shy about flaunting his wealth.
KSI moved into a £4.5million mansion in 2016 with three of his close friends, who were all part of ‘The Sidemen’, and splashed out on a Lamborghini Aventador back in 2014.
When KSI quit £23,000-a-year Berkhamsted School in Hertfordshire after AS-levels to become a YouTuber, his mum, who wanted him to be a doctor or lawyer, was furious.
‘My parents lived in Nigeria and worked hard to get to this country, and put all their effort into making sure I was able to go to private school. They’ve taken out loans. Been in enormous debt. You can understand how frustrating it was when I said, ‘Nah, I want to do YouTube,’ ‘ he said.
KSI (right) with the rest of the ‘Sidemen’ – who boast a collective social media following of over 50m and have gone from posting gaming videos filmed in their bedrooms to running multiple businesses
Yet his online following helped him became a successful boxer — bizarrely, YouTubers have a habit of challenging each other to boxing duels — and rap star, and he is now said to be worth £16 million.
KSI has more than 24 million subscribers on YouTube and 8.8 million followers on Twitter.
His boxing bouts with US YouTuber Logan Paul in August 2018 and November 2019 were among the most-watched events in the platform’s history.
In July 2021, his second album All Over The Place went to number one in the UK.
This is not the first time he has apologised for his language.
In March 2021 he apologised for using ‘transgender slurs’ in the past, telling his Twitter followers: ‘Honestly didn’t even know they were slurs. I know now though.’
KSI earned a worldwide following by uploading gaming videos filmed from his bedroom, and has since diversified to film more ‘vlogs’ and comedy videos.
He is also thought to own a production company called Ksiolajidebt Ltd which has cash reserves of near £1 million.
Rich: The web star boasts a net worth of £16 million, has invested his fortune wisely with a £10 million property empire, along with earning up to £250,000 for advertisements in his videos
Cashing in: KSI was also reportedly paid an eye-watering £700,000 for two boxing matches against rival ‘vlogger’ Logan Paul, which saw millions of fans tune in on pay-per-view
Moneymaker: He is also thought to own a production company called Ksiolajidebt Ltd which has cash reserves of near £1 million (pictured in March 2020)
The budding rapper is also thought to have earned up to £250,000 in advertising fees to promote products in his videos.
He has also released four EPs, and an album, Dissimulation.
KSI was also paid around £700,000 to go head-to-head with rival Logan, first in Manchester in 2018, and then Los Angeles the following year.
It’s thought the pair could earn millions in revenue thanks to fans watching via. pay-per-view online.
KSI isn’t shy about flaunting his wealth to his army of fans.
Big spender: He cleverly entices people to click on his videos with titles such as ‘spending over $200,000 on a watch’ and ‘Buying a 24k gold iPhone in Dubai’
Generous: But in addition to indulging in a life of luxury, he has also bought his parents’ house for them and promotes a slew of charitable causes (pictured in February 2020)
In fact, he cleverly entices people to click on his videos with titles such as ‘spending over $200,000 on a watch’ and ‘Buying a 24k gold iPhone in Dubai.’
One video also saw him purchase a £388,000 custom-made diamond-encrusted necklace.
Until recently, KSI lived in a £4.5 million mansion with his fellow Sidemen – a six-man group of prolific YouTubers who make videos together. The impressive build boasts a gym, indoor pool, cinema and sauna.
But in addition to indulging in a life of luxury, he has also bought his parents’ house for them and promotes a slew of charitable causes.
In 2020, fans also saw KSI appear on Celebrity Gogglebox alongside his pal, producer S-X.
Representatives of KSI have been contacted for comment.