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KSI has left YouTube collective the Sidemen

Krdo · · 664 words · By CNN Newssource
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KSI has left YouTube collective the Sidemen By Lianne Kolirin, CNN London (CNN) — Content creator KSI has left the Sidemen after more than a decade with the massively popular YouTubers.

Claims checked 10
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center75%
Right25%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

KSI has left YouTube collective the Sidemen By Lianne Kolirin, CNN London (CNN) — Content creator KSI has left the Sidemen after more than a decade with the massively popular YouTubers.

Why it matters

In a video posted on his own YouTube channel, KSI, 32, told his 18.4 million subscribers about his departure.

Common ground

Describing it as the “hardest video I’ve ever had to make in my life,” he said: “I’ve gone back and forth on this decision for a very long time.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://krdo.com/news/2026/06/01/ksi-has-left-youtube-collective-the-sidemen/

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 6
verified Verified By Reference 2
help Insufficient Evidence 2
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Claim 1: “In 2023, Forbes estimated KSI to be worth $23.9 million”
CORROBORATED
Yahoo and other web search results explicitly state that Forbes estimated KSI's net worth at $23.9 million in 2023.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Olajide Olayinka Williams "JJ" Olatunji ( born 19 June 1993), known professionally as KSI, is a British influencer, musician, and former professional boxer. He is a co-founder and former member of You…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KSI
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of Misfits Boxing champions, showing every champion recognized by Misfits Boxing and MF Pro since 2022.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Misfits_Boxing_champio…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Misfits Boxing (MFB) or simply Misfits, is a sports promotion company based in London, England. The promotion was founded in 2022 by English internet personality KSI alongside Mams Taylor, Kalle Sauer…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misfits_Boxing
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
Claim 2: “the hugely popular, seven-person collective”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and other web sources confirm the Sidemen is a British collective consisting of seven core members.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Sidemen (SDMN) are a British collective consisting of YouTubers, social media influencers and internet personalities Miniminter, Zerkaa, Vikkstar123, ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidemen
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Sidemen are a British YouTube collective formed in 2013, consisting of seven core members who create diverse content including gaming videos, ...
https://www.scribd.com/document/957886877/Who-Are-The-Sideme…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Apr 21, 2025 · Seven British creators, originally known for chaotic video game clips and prank videos. But what they've built is way bigger than that.
https://www.enteropengardens.com/p/sidemen-is-the-new-united…
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Claim 3: “That journey has included appearing on stage in sold-out stadiums, making shows for Netflix and staging celebrity soccer matches”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the group has organized charity football matches (Wikipedia, Instagram, and news articles) and produced Netflix shows and sold out stadiums (Instagram).
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Beyond their YouTube content, the Sidemen have expanded into various business ventures. They launched Sidemen Clothing in 2014, followed by the restaurant chain ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidemen
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jun 3, 2026 ... Sidemen have also organized charity football matches since 2016 ... Together they've sold out stadiums, broken records, made Netflix shows ...
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZH8aS-MuAi/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Apr 19, 2026 ... The Sidemen Charity Match, organized by KSI and the popular Sidemen group, aims to raise funds for various charities while offering fans a ...
https://www.tiktok.com/@adamthecco/video/7630423354402606338
help
Claim 4: “KSI, which stands for “knowledge, strength, integrity,””
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm or deny the meaning of the acronym KSI.
help
Claim 5: “it appears that KSI did not share the news with his fellow Sidemen in advance, as they said in an Instagram post that it “came as a surprise to us.””
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding an Instagram post from the Sidemen stating they were surprised by the departure.
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Claim 6: “According to their agent’s website, they have a combined audience of 47 million across their YouTube channels and social platforms.”
CORROBORATED
The claim is directly confirmed by the agent's website (Upload Talent Agency) and reported by The Seattle Medium.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The group produce videos of various challenges, sketches, and video game commentaries across their YouTube channels, which have a combined total of over 155 ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidemen
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jun 1, 2026 ... Until now, the Sidemen have delighted their ... have a combined audience of 47 million across their YouTube channels and social platforms.
https://seattlemedium.com/sidemen-loses-ksi-content/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Sidemen are the biggest UK Youtube Supergroup ... Across their YouTube channels and social platforms, they have a combined audience of 47 million.
https://www.uploadagency.com/talent/the-sidemen
verified
Claim 7: “Olajide “KSI” Olatunji — or JJ as he is also known — is a British gamer, vlogger, rapper and boxer.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and multiple web sources confirm Olajide 'JJ' Olatunji is a British influencer/gamer, musician/rapper, and former professional boxer.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Olajide Olayinka Williams "JJ" Olatunji ( born 19 June 1993), known professionally as KSI, is a British influencer, musician, and former professional boxer. He is a co-founder and former member of You…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KSI
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Lunchly (stylized in all caps) is a brand of snack kits created and marketed by Lunchly LLC. The brand is promoted and founded as a joint venture between internet personalities Olajide "KSI" Olatunji,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunchly
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Sidemen (SDMN) are a British collective consisting of YouTubers, social media influencers and internet personalities Miniminter, Zerkaa, Vikkstar123, TBJZL, Behzinga, Wroetoshaw, and formerly KSI.…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidemen
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 8: “Content creator KSI has left the Sidemen after more than a decade with the massively popular YouTubers.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent news sources (CP24, Yahoo, and The Seattle Medium) report that KSI has left the Sidemen. Additionally, Wikipedia explicitly lists him as a 'former member' of the group.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Creating hip-hop music as early as 2011, he first achieved commercial success with "Lamborghini" (featuring P Money) in 2015. His debut EP, Keep Up (2016), topped the UK R&B Albums Chart. He released …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KSI
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The discography of English YouTuber, musician and former professional boxer Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, known as KSI, consists of two studio albums, one collaboration album, four extended play…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KSI_discography
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — This is my main channel where I drop the bangers, from crazy challenges to mad videos that’ll actually make you laugh (hopefully). I’m uploading every Saturday and bi-weekly Tuesdays, so stick...
https://www.youtube.com/@ksi
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Claim 9: “KSI, 32, told his 18.4 million subscribers about his departure.”
CORROBORATED
CP24 and Yahoo both report that KSI, aged 32, told his 18.4 million subscribers about his departure in a YouTube video.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The discography of English YouTuber, musician and former professional boxer Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, known as KSI, consists of two studio albums, one collaboration album, four extended play…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KSI_discography
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Sidemen Charity Match is a recurring charity football match organised by British YouTube group the Sidemen. Founded in 2016, the event features two teams of influencers contesting a friendly match…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidemen_Charity_Match
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — YouTube Rewind (stylized as YouTube ЯEWIND) was an annual year-in-review web series that was produced by YouTube and Portal A Interactive from 2010 to 2019. The videos were summaries of each year's vi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube_Rewind
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 10: “listed him as the second top content creator of that year, overtaken only by MrBeast.”
CORROBORATED
Yahoo reports that Forbes ranked KSI as the second top content creator of 2023, behind MrBeast. This is further supported by Reddit discussions regarding the same Forbes list.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Olajide Olayinka Williams "JJ" Olatunji ( born 19 June 1993), known professionally as KSI, is a British influencer, musician, and former professional boxer. He is a co-founder and former member of You…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KSI
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Lunchly (stylized in all caps) is a brand of snack kits created and marketed by Lunchly LLC. The brand is promoted and founded as a joint venture between internet personalities Olajide "KSI" Olatunji,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunchly
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — James Stephen "Jimmy" Donaldson (born May 7, 1998), better known as MrBeast, is an American YouTuber, media personality, businessman, and philanthropist. He is the founder of Beast Industries, a congl…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MrBeast
+ 3 more evidence sources
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.