KSI left the Sidemen: what he said, what the group said
The May 31 video, the group's statement and what stays behind, from the channels to the charity matches.
The tea in 3
- KSI said in a May 31 YouTube video that his final Sidemen video was that day, calling it the hardest he's made.
- He said the decision was about balancing solo commitments, and that no drama or conflict was behind it.
- The Sidemen said it "came as a surprise" and that the exit "doesn't change anything for the rest of us."
KSI left the Sidemen on May 31, and he said so himself. In a YouTube video titled “I’m leaving the Sidemen”, posted hours after the Britain’s Got Talent final where he was a judge, he said it was his last video with the group, per Yahoo News UK.
What KSI said
This is honestly the hardest video I’ve ever had to make in my life.— KSI, YouTube, May 31
He also said: I will no longer be doing Sidemen videos.
He called the group a second family
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His reasons, as reported: balancing the Sidemen with his own growing commitments had become hard, and he felt pulled in many directions. He stated that no drama or conflict lay behind the decision. His representatives confirmed it to the BBC and Press Association after fans suspected a stunt.
What the Sidemen said
Per Capital XTRA, the group posted: We’re sad to share the news that JJ has decided not to continue as part of the Sidemen.
They added: This came as a surprise to us and we know it will be an adjustment for you.
And: This doesn’t change anything for the rest of us.
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What stays
Yahoo notes the remaining six members continue, though it was unclear if the group would change name or format. Their main channel has 23 million subscribers. KSI’s channels combine for over 44 million.
What happened next
Neither source says whether the Sidemen charity matches will change. Separately, KSI said on Oct 10 at a Misfits show that he is retiring from boxing and returning to Misfits as an executive.
The money side
Yahoo notes KSI’s biggest income source is his stake in Prime Hydration, which he co-founded with Logan Paul, and that UK sales reportedly fell by almost 50% in 2024. It also cites Forbes ranking him the second-highest-earning creator of 2023 at $24 million. None of the sources links the money to his exit, and KSI himself said it was about balance.
KSI joined in 2013 when the group formed. The Sidemen without him will test whether the group’s brand outlasts its biggest name.
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