KSI has apologised for a now-deleted racial slur on his Sidemen’s YouTube channel during a preview event for his forthcoming boxing match with Joe Fournier.
In the now-deleted clip with his YouTube comedy group The Sidemen, he created a four-letter derogatory word for people of South Asian origin during a Countdown-style game.
KSI seemed subdued during the most recent preview for the bout, hosted by sports treamer DAZN, but took time out to apologise for causing “hurt and disappointment,” adding that he’d engaged in “very early conversations with some people from South Asian communities.”
On Tuesday night, KSI was spotted at the Al-Hikam Institute Mosque in Bradford. Videos of KSI meeting those at the mosque have proved popular on social media, with the Imam heard describing the visit as “part of learning”.
Some have praised KSI for quickly taking accountability for his actions:
this is why everyone likes KSI, I have never seen an influencer this big always take accountability for his actions, he doesn’t shy away from criticism, even makes videos listening to criticism and does the right thing, good guy https://t.co/4UtrrLFSU9
— Rupak (@Rup4kC) April 4, 2023
Perhaps understandably, others were less immediately forgiving:
These influencers reel you guys back in so simply — Uwais Arshad (@ArshadUwais) April 5, 2023
The YouTuber-turned-boxer had announced he was taking a social media break when he first tweeted an apology on Monday:
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…
— ksi (@KSI) April 3, 2023
In March 2021, KSI apologised for previously using “transgender slurs”, saying he “honestly didn’t even know they were slurs. I know now though.”
