Still only in his twenties, British YouTuber KSI has taken his obsession with playing video
games and cultivated one of the most successful, lucrative, and multifaceted careers in the
digital era.
But along the way he's also attracted more than his share of controversy.
And with rumors swirling that he's quit the internet forever, here's a look at some facts
you may not know about KSI.
YouTube sensation
Since joining YouTube back in 2008, Olajide Olatunji has racked up over three billion
views while amassing well over 16 million subscribers.
After originally going by the handle JideJunior, he changed his name to KSI.
Though he's one of the most popular YouTubers in the world, he faces competition from an
unlikely source: his own brother Deji, who has earned over 8 million YouTube followers
of his own under the name ComedyShortsGamer.
In 2015, they were respectively ranked #1 and #2 on a list of the UK's Most Influential
YouTube Creators.
Talk about keeping it all in the family.
Big money
Like many YouTube stars, KSI faced challenges trying to launch his unconventional career,
especially from his parents, who were incensed when he dropped out of high school to become
a professional YouTuber.
KSI told The Telegraph, "They said this is the dumbest thing you have ever done, you
are going to throw your life away, why would you just want to play games, you can't make
money from games, it's stupid."
Nowadays, however, they've changed their tune and even appear in videos with him.
Guess that's what a $3 million net worth will do for you.
But KSI isn't taking anything for granted.
While he recently splurged on a Lamborghini that cost a reported 260,000 pounds, KSI says
he's very careful with his earnings.
"I guess I spend my money quite wisely…I am trying to make sure that I don't spend
on ridiculous things, so that after all this YouTube thing goes I'm not left there, like,
'Uh oh, I have nothing.'"
Charity case
As KSI's audience continues to grow and opportunities swing his way, he's well aware of the great
responsibility that comes with his abundant success, popularity, and recent fortunes.
That's why he gives back to his fans, to his community, and to his parents.
It's been reported that he paid off his parents' house, as he proudly told the Telegraph: "I
was able to pay for my parents' house which was really, really cool, it was the best thing
I could ever do for them.
They have looked after me so it was awesome for me to be able to look after them."
He's also contributed to several charities, raising over 100,000 pounds for the Saints
Foundation, which promotes "positive change and equal opportunity" for Britain's youth.
And he donated $10,000 to Macmillan Cancer Support, while raising thousands of pounds
for SpecialEffect, a foundation that works to promote inclusion, fun, and rehabilitation
by helping people with physical disabilities play video games through technological advances.
Branching out
KSI may have made his name as a YouTube gamer, but he's not resting on his laurels.
After posting a joke rap song to YouTube back in 2011, he was encouraged by rap star Sway
to develop his music more seriously.
That resulted in a 2015 Top 40 single in the UK, "Lamborghini."
And his latest single, "Jump Around", features Waka Flocka Flame and has earned over 8 million
views on Vevo.
And KSI has also taken up acting as a third career.
In 2016, he starred alongside South African YouTube star Caspar Lee in the direct-to-digital
release Laid in America, a comedy that aimed to harness the power of the YouTube community
to change how movies are made and distributed.
[Screams] "Silence!
You’re scaring Lazarus."
Plus, when he's not busy as a rapper and movie star, KSI has also branched out into writing.
His 2015 lifestyle guide I Am A Tool hit #23 on the UK bestseller list.
Watch out, Shakespeare!
But while all that looks pretty good for KSI, he hasn't been able to steer clear of some
shady situations...
Drowning in controversy
He may be incredibly popular, but KSI has gotten himself in hot water several times.
In 2012, Eurogamer reported that he was accused of allegedly sexually harassing women attending
the Eurogamer Expo in 2012.
In fact, KSI actually made a video documenting the harassment, which he proudly posted to
YouTube for all the world to see.
As a result, he ended up being banned from future Eurogamer events, and corporate sponsors
such as Microsoft cut ties with him.
KSI's business manager chalked it all up to a misunderstanding, saying that "KSI" is just
a character that Olatunji plays on YouTube, and doesn't reflect his actual values or beliefs.
That seemed like a stretch to many in the media given that KSI's longest and most popular
running joke is his so-called "R--- Face."
“You’re getting r----d today!”
And in a video with his Laid in America co-star Caspar Lee, KSI went into graphic detail about
his desire to have sex with Lee's sister, Theodora.
“I’m gonna explore her p----! [Laughing] Jesus!”
“That’s my sister.”
“I know.”
Theodora responded with a video called "Breaking the Silence," where she expressed her discomfort,
hurt, and embarrassment by being publicly objectified like this: "KSI talked about me
in a derogatory and sexist way…I'm ashamed of it.
His video happened to set a great example of society, where women are treated as objects,
put down by men, and spoken about in a derogatory way."
Both videos have since been taken down from their official sites, but the stain on KSI's
reputation remains.
Lesson learned?
According to The Guardian, many women's rights groups held KSI accountable.
Groups like End Violence Against Women have spoken at length about these issues by repeatedly
calling out his pattern of propagating sexism and trivializing victims of r--- and sexual
assault through his behavior and language.
For his part, KSI seems aware of how his actions are hurting his image, and he considers it
bad business.
He told The Telegraph, "KSI, if you want to talk business, is a brand, and I have to do
stuff to protect that brand now so it doesn't become tarnished and I am not seen as a hated
person, or in a bad light."
Well, at least we know he's learned one lesson: money talks.
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