What's next for social media stars KSI and the Sidemen?

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. What's next for KSI and the Sidemen? 28 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleNaomi ClarkeandManish Pandey , NewsbeatPA MediaKSI shocked fans after announcing his departure from the SidemenKSI has caused a stir after announcing he is leaving the YouTube collective Sidemen, with fans wondering what comes next for the social media stars. Some are questioning whether the news is a hoax or a forfeit for Arsenal fan KSI after the north London football club missed out on the Champions League title to Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.

A spokesperson for KSI has confirmed he is really leaving the group, which has grown to more than 23 million YouTube subscribers since first forming in 2013. Sidemen fan Adam Watson tells Newsbeat he was "absolutely gutted" to hear the news, but he "could definitely see it coming". The 25-year-old, who has been watching "since day one", says the Sidemen have had "such a massive influence" on the YouTube creator space in the UK.

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"You always hear different YouTubers that are up-and-coming saying the Sidemen were the ones that they looked up to growing up," Watson says. "Especially with KSI, he's sort of been there since day one, for a lot of different people they've always grown up wanting to be like . "His time with the group has not been without controversy, and in 2023 he visited a mosque and apologised for using a racial slur in a YouTube video.

In 2021, the star - real name Olajide William Olatunji or JJ to friends and family - also apologised for using "transgender slurs", saying he "honestly didn't even know they were slurs. The SidemenThe Sidemen have sold out charity football matches at Wembley StadiumThe group - which also consists of Simon Minter, Josh Bradley, Vikram Barn, Tobi Brown, Ethan Payne and Harry Lewis - has become known for doing a host of challenges, gaming commentary and sketches. In recent years, the Sidemen have expanded into the streaming world with the second instalment of their reality series, Inside, debuting on Netflix.

They were also the highest placed UK gamers in a global rich list in 2024, coming joint 21st with £50m. KSI's side questsKSI, who has more than 18m subscribers to his personal YouTube channel, has been building up his portfolio outside of content creation for years. The 32-year-old began dabbling in the music world back in the 2010s, but his work really picked up steam in 2020 when his debut album Dissimulation shot to number two in the UK charts.

His follow-up, All Over The Place, finally secured him the top spot in 2021. He also spent a few years in the boxing ring, including bouts with fellow YouTuber-turned-boxer Logan Paul and Love Island star Tommy Fury. Paul and KSI later moved from being boxing foes to energy drink partners as they joined to promote Prime Hydration, which became an online sensation and had fans queuing up to get their hands on it.

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