All of KSI’s controversies as the internet star apologises for racial slur in Sidemen Youtube video

KSI has apologised and said he will take a step back from social media after making a racial slur in a Sidemen YouTube video. The 29-year-old UK internet star was the source of internet debate after he said the word ‘p*k*’ in the video which featured other members of the group of content creators and YouTubers.

KSI, whose real name is Olajide William Olatunji, has apologised since it became clear many were upset with his comments. The derogatory term is considered extremely offensive to those perceived to be from South-Asian heritage - particularly those from Pakistan.

The slur was made in a YouTube video where the group were playing a Countdown challenge. The video has since been removed.

In his apology, KSI said: “I wanna apologise for saying a racial slur in a recent Sidemen video. There’s no excuse, no matter the circumstances, I shouldn’t have said it and I’m sorry. 

“I’ve always said to my audience that they shouldn’t worship me or put me on a pedestal because I’m human. Im not perfect, I’m gonna mess up in life, and lately I’ve been messing up a lot. 

“So I’ve decided I’m gonna just take a break from social media for a while.”

But it’s the first time KSI has found himself in hot water.

Back in 2013, Microsoft severed all ties with KSI after he was infamously caught up in a scandal involving his alleged inappropriate behaviour towards women at a Eurogamer Xbox One launch event in London in 2012.

A Microsoft spokesperson said at the time: “This does not represent Microsoft's endorsement of KSI's personal views, and we are not planning on working with KSI in the future."

KSI addressed the controversy in his 2015 autobiography titled ‘I Am A Bastard”.

In other since removed content from his earlier years, KSI was known to produce content with a ‘r*pe face’ theme which resurfaced when these allegations came to light.

In 2020 he admitted that he was “not proud” of some of the content he made in the past.

Also, although he has strongly denied the claims, KSI issued an apology in 2021 after he was accused of being transphobic.

After being accused of using transphobic slurs, he said he was unaware the t-word was “bad” to use when describing trans people.