KSI's departure from the Sidemen has been surrounded by controversy after friends of the YouTube star revealed that he had informed the group of his plans to leave a month before they publicly claimed the news came as a surprise. The social media personality, whose real name is Olajide William Olatunji, known to fans as JJ, announced his exit in a heartfelt 12-minute video paying tribute to the group.

The Sidemen responded with a statement stating that the news surprised them, which friends of KSI assert fueled online abuse against him. However, those same friends claim that KSI had informed the group of his intentions in April, and they described the group's handling of the situation as a total classless act. According to them, KSI made every effort to manage the situation privately and respectfully behind the scenes while continuing to fulfill his Sidemen commitments.

The Sidemen later released a second statement five days later clarifying that they knew of his planned exit but were caught off guard by the timing of his decision to reveal the news. They said: "Unfortunately JJ released the news before we had agreed on a mutual way of letting our audience know." But a friend claimed that KSI was forced to confirm his departure after details leaked while the group was at Soccer Aid. KSI reportedly felt left with little choice but to address it publicly before the story escalated further. The friend stated: "KSI always wanted fans to hear it directly from him in his own words, but once a suspiciously well-timed newspaper story started emerging while the boys were at Soccer Aid, he felt backed into a corner. He wasn’t going to let fans find out through leaks and headlines instead of from him personally."

KSI had expressed that the filming schedule had become overwhelming both physically and mentally, with over a third of his time dedicated to the group. He proposed reducing his involvement and appearing in videos every two weeks, but those discussions were quickly shut down. It is claimed that his desire to leave sparked anger from some members, who sent a torrent of furious messages.

In their statement, the Sidemen claimed they would have loved the opportunity to give KSI a proper send-off with a farewell video and time for everyone to process the news. However, a pal asserted: "KSI had been largely frozen out in the weeks leading up to his final appearance with no farewell ever proposed by the boys." The friend added: "KSI absolutely wanted a proper farewell and recognized how important that moment would have been for the fans after more than a decade together. He cared deeply about ending this chapter properly and positively. Despite tensions within the group with some members angry and still struggling to accept KSI’s decision, he continued to show up professionally and respectfully. The Paris match was one example where tensions were visibly apparent, ultimately resulting in KSI having to stay in a different hotel away from the boys. There were situations behind the scenes far more uncomfortable than what people saw publicly, but KSI still turned up, fulfilled his commitments and to this day has never once publicly criticized the group. It therefore remains unclear how the farewell video 'he deserved' would realistically have been possible under those circumstances."

The friend also claimed that other members of the group have spoken openly in the past about wanting to step away, and those conversations were handled very differently. They allege that the group would often make KSI feel guilty for prioritizing his own life. The pal elaborated: "For years KSI operated at an intensity very few people could realistically sustain. Between 10-hour Sidemen shoots, Netflix shows, boxing, television, music and constant public pressure, he reached a point where he realized how much he struggled to put his all into everything and hated disappointing the boys who would often make him feel guilty for making his own life a priority. He’s grinded hard for years to make content with the boys while doing all the other crazy things in his life. He deserves more time with family, loved ones and the freedom to enjoy creating content again without constantly feeling tied to obligation or expectation."

KSI was already one of the most prominent creators in the country long before the Sidemen became what they are today. The pal said: "He remains hugely ambitious, hugely creative and incredibly excited for this next chapter of his career. This wasn’t a decision made out of ego or resentment, it came from years of pressure, exhaustion and trying to balance impossible demands. He’s disappointed that the reality of that has been publicly downplayed through strategic statements which have ultimately generated online hate towards him."

The friend also raised doubts about whether the group prioritized protecting the Sidemen brand over protecting a friend of more than a decade. They pointed to an instance where the group mocked KSI as a "loser" after his controversial boxing defeat to Tommy Fury in a video. The pal said: "The boys put a loser sign above KSI’s head, after losing a fight he put his life into, which really affected him and was passed off as banter. Some of the boys were clearly pleased with the result because it would mean he would spend more time doing Sidemen videos for them."

Meanwhile, Tobi, one of the Sidemen, publicly defended KSI during a livestream, condemning the abhorrent racial abuse and death threats directed towards KSI and his team while also shedding light on the reality behind the scenes. Addressing the online backlash, he said: "I’ve seen a lot of negativity towards JJ and members of his team and first of all, you know what I’m going to say about sending abuse to people. F all of that, stop being dheads bro, you don’t have to abuse people to get your point across. You don’t have to send people death threats or racial abuse to get your point across. People need to really understand what it is like to be in the Sidemen."

Tobi offered a rare insight into how consuming the Sidemen schedule had become, explaining that every shoot required all seven members to align their calendars. "Three days of Sidemen shoot is not the same as three days of Britain’s Got Talent," he said. "It revolves around the Sidemen calendar." He also admitted that the decision had weighed heavily on KSI for a long time and was not made lightly. "He struggled with it for a long time," Tobi revealed, before adding: "At the end, he had to make the decision. That will now allow him to have his family at the center of everything and put shoots around things. You see him do like 200 million shoots, just know that he’s built that around his family and he has nothing else to devote his time to and he’s going to be his full driven KSI that we all know and love."

The Sidemen themselves have hinted at differing opinions behind the scenes about KSI’s exit. They said: "It was difficult for us to address the situation and has taken some time, because we’re a group and not an individual. We don’t have a spokesperson as such and each of our opinions and feelings differ, which is why we’re using this shared statement."

KSI's career spans boxing, music, acting, and content creation. He first gained fame as a FIFA YouTuber before co-founding the Sidemen in 2013. Over the years, he has amassed millions of subscribers across multiple channels, released chart-topping music, fought in high-profile boxing matches (including bouts against Logan Paul and Tommy Fury), and appeared in Netflix documentaries. His decision to step away from the Sidemen marks a significant shift in the online entertainment landscape, as he moves toward a more independent path focused on family and personal projects.

The controversy surrounding his exit highlights the pressures faced by content creators who manage multiple ventures simultaneously. The Sidemen brand, which includes merchandise, charity matches, and a production company, has been built on the collective efforts of its seven members. However, individual ambitions have sometimes clashed with the group's demands. KSI's departure could signal a new era for both him and the Sidemen, as they navigate the challenges of maintaining their brand while respecting individual members' needs.

Source: Daily Mirror News