KSI quits Sidemen collective after 13 years

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. KSI quits Sidemen collective after 13 years9 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleGetty ImagesSocial media star and Britain's Got Talent judge KSI has announced he is leaving the YouTube collective Sidemen after 13 years. KSI, whose real name is Olajide Olatunji, has made football, comedy and challenge videos with the group - which has 23 million YouTube subscribers - since 2013. "This is honestly the hardest video I've ever had to make in my life," he said in an announcement on social media.

"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 will no longer be doing Sidemen videos.

The Details

Today, 31 May, will be my final Sidemen video. "KSI, who appeared in Saturday's final of ITV's Britain's Got Talent, said he remembered the group's early days, and that he had "no idea that tens of millions of people were going to be watching us on the channel". "Together we've done things I never thought were possible," he added.

KSI started making videos in 2008 and rose to fame as an online streamer. He has more than 18m subscribers to his personal YouTube channel. He is also a musician, former boxer and recently bought a minority stake in Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.