KSI has officially announced that he will be leaving The Sidemen after nearly 13 years, bringing an end to one of the most successful partnerships in YouTube history.

The 32-year-old content creator, whose real name is Olajide Olatunji, confirmed the news in an emotional video shared with fans, explaining that the decision had taken months of consideration before finally being made.

Having been one of the founding members of The Sidemen when the group launched in 2013, KSI helped turn the collective into one of the biggest online entertainment brands in the world, with millions of subscribers, sold out events, streaming projects and multiple business ventures.

Opening up about the decision, KSI admitted it had not come easily. He said:

“This is honestly the hardest video I've ever had to make in my life.”

Explaining how long he had been wrestling with the choice, he added:

“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.”

KSI then confirmed his departure, saying:

“But after a lot of thought, I've decided that I will no longer be doing sidemen videos. Today, 31st of May, will be my final Sidemen video.”

He continued: “Even saying those words out loud doesn't feel real.”

Reflecting on the impact the group has had on his life, KSI described The Sidemen as far more than just a YouTube channel. He said:

“The Sidemen have been such a huge part of my life for over 12 to 13 years.”

“For almost half my life, this has been my second family. We have grown up together. We have travelled the world together.”

Looking back on everything the group achieved, KSI said:

“We built something that none of us ever thought was possible especially back then when we were making random videos together and playing GTA.”

He also reflected on some of the group's biggest milestones, including selling out arenas and stadiums, creating record-breaking content and expanding beyond YouTube into television and business. Despite the emotional nature of the announcement, KSI was keen to make clear that there had been no major fallout behind the scenes. He said:

“The truth is, nothing bad has happened. This decision is completely my own.”

According to KSI, the reality of balancing multiple careers eventually became too much. Over recent years, the star has expanded far beyond YouTube, building successful careers in music, boxing, television and business, while also becoming a judge on Britain's Got Talent. Explaining his reasoning, he said:

“Over the last few years, I’ve felt myself being pulled in more directions than ever before.”

“I’ve spent so long trying to be everything for everyone. Trying to be everywhere. Trying to do it all.”

He admitted that maintaining that pace had started to affect his personal life. KSI said he had “started losing the balance in my own life” and found it increasingly difficult to make time for family and loved ones.

Giving further insight into his decision, he explained:

“For now, I need to focus on myself, and I need to focus on fixing my work life balance, just so I can finally focus on my health, and finally make time to see my family and make time to see my partner.”

He also praised his fellow Sidemen members, Simon Minter, Josh Bradley, Vikram Barn, Tobi Brown, Ethan Payne and Harry Lewis, saying they deserved somebody who could fully commit to the group moving forward.

The Sidemen later released their own statement confirming KSI's departure. The group said they were “sad to share the news” and wished him the best for the future, while reassuring fans that they would continue creating content together.

The announcement immediately sent social media into meltdown, with thousands of fans struggling to believe that one of the group's most recognisable members was leaving. One person wrote:

“I just fell to my knees in Nando’s!!”

Another commented:

“The reason it doesn’t seem real is because in his YouTube video and posts about him leaving, there are ZERO comments from other creators and I feel they’d all be in comments wishing him well.”

While many viewers were emotional, others remained sceptical about whether the departure is genuine.

The Sidemen have built much of their success around elaborate pranks, surprise reveals and long-running jokes, leading some fans to question whether the announcement could be another carefully planned stunt.

Online discussion has been filled with theories suggesting the video could be linked to a challenge, a bet or an upcoming Sidemen storyline rather than a permanent exit. Some fans also pointed to the group's long-running history of misleading audiences for entertainment purposes, arguing that the lack of major public reactions from creators and collaborators has only fuelled speculation.

Others have questioned whether a departure of this scale would have been announced differently, with some suggesting they expected all seven members to appear together if the split was truly permanent.

Despite the theories, multiple reports have stated that representatives for KSI confirmed the announcement was genuine following widespread speculation online.

Whether fans fully accept that remains another matter. For many viewers, KSI and The Sidemen have been inseparable for more than a decade, making the idea of one existing without the other difficult to imagine. For now, supporters will be watching closely to see what comes next, and whether this really is the end of an era or simply the beginning of a completely new chapter.