KSI announces he is ‘leaving Sidemen’ in emotional statement

KSI has announced he's leaving the Sidemen as he posted a video to YouTube saying today (31 May) would be his final video with them.

The group have been one of the big dogs of YouTube for several years and KSI, real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, has been one of their most famous faces.

He's gone on to be in all sorts of things himself but in a video he released today titled 'I'm leaving the Sidemen' he announced he was doing exactly that.

He said: "This is honestly the hardest video I’ve ever had to make in my life.

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

KSI has announced he's moving on without the Sidemen (Joe Maher/Getty Images)

"Even saying these words out loud, it just just doesn't feel real. The Sidemen have been such a huge part of my life. For over 12, 13 years, for almost half my life, the Sidemen have been my second family.

"We've grown up together. We've travelled the world together. We built something that none of us ever thought was possible."

Listing several of their achievements and nothing they've come a long way since the days when they 'were making random videos together and playing GTA', he praised the 'incredible journey' they'd had together.

However, all good things must come to an end and KSI went on to explain why he was leaving, reassuring fans it was nothing bad going on behind the scenes.

"The truth is nothing bad has happened. This decision is completely my own," he explained.

"Over the last few years, I felt myself being pulled in a lot of directions than than than ever before. Between everything else in my life, I feel like I've been running at full speed at 100 miles an hour.

He said it was 'nothing bad', just that he's being pulled in so many directions and needs more time for himself and his family (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

"I spent so long trying to be everything for everyone, trying to be everywhere, trying to do it all, trying not to let anyone down. But somewhere along somewhere along the way, I started losing the balance of my own life.

"I found it hard to make enough time for myself. I found it hard I definitely found it hard to find time for my family. I found it hard to make time for the people I love. And I realized that something has to change. The Sidemen deserves someone who can give 100 percent.

"And right now I know I can't do that. It just wouldn't be fair on the boys, it wouldn't be fair to you and it wouldn't be fair to myself.

"Walking away from something you love is it's it's painful. Trust me, this has not been easy. But deep down, deep down, I know it's the right thing to do.

"Those boys help shape who I am today. And I hope in some small way that I shaped who they became too."

He paid tribute to his friends and told his fans he'd see them 'in a bit'.

LADbible Group have contacted KSI and the Sidemen for further comment.