KSI faces backlash for using racial slur in new YouTube video
The rapper and YouTube creator has since apologised to fans
Rapper and YouTube star KSI, real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, has apologised to fans after using a racial slur in a recent YouTube video.
KSI made the comment during a video in which he and fellow YouTube group The Sidemen played a game of Countdown, and were tasked with making up a word out of nine letters. The artist used a derogatory word for people of South Asian origin.
As a result, both the rapper and his video team received backlash online, some from those in the music industry. “The word p*ki is NOT okay nor funny, was called one many times a child," Chloé Robinson said in a tweet.
“This slur is, especially as someone who is British, gross - as are the rest of you on this video laughing.”
“Disgusting,” said Funk Butcher on Twitter earlier today. “KSI and everyone laughing got to be issuing apologies for this. No one should ever be using the P word at all.”
In response to the backlash, KSI issued an apology and told fans that he would be stepping away from social media for a spell. “I wanna apologise for saying a racial slur in a recent Sidemen video,” he said.
“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.”
“I’m not perfect, I’m gonna mess up in life, and lately I’ve been messing up a lot,” he said. “So I’ve decided I’m gonna just take a break from social media for a while.”
The video in question has been taken down from YouTube. The Sidemen also apologised from the group’s main account, stating that they are “truly ashamed” and “stand against racism and discrimination” of any kind.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Editorial Assistant, follow her on Twitter