Sidemen

The Sidemen are a British YouTube group consisting of internet personalities KSI, Miniminter, Zerkaa, TBJZL, Behzinga, Vikkstar123, and W2S. The group produce videos of various challenges, sketches, and video game commentaries across their YouTube channels, which have a combined total of over 138 million subscribers as of October 2022.[2][4]

For other uses, see Sideman (disambiguation).
Sidemen
Top to bottom from left column: Barn, Brown; Olatunji, Minter, Lewis; Payne, and Bradley.
Personal information
Born
  • Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji (KSI)
  • (1993-06-19) 19 June 1993
  • Simon Minter (Miniminter)
  • (1992-09-07) 7 September 1992
  • Joshua Bradley (Zerkaa)
  • (1992-09-04) 4 September 1992
  • Tobit John Brown (TBJZL)
  • (1993-04-08) 8 April 1993
  • Ethan Payne (Behzinga)
  • (1995-06-20) 20 June 1995
  • Vikram Singh Barn (Vikkstar123)
  • (1995-08-02) 2 August 1995
  • Harry Lewis (W2S)
  • (1996-11-24) 24 November 1996
OriginLondon, England[1]
OccupationYouTubers
Websitesidemen.com
YouTube information
ChannelsSidemen
MoreSidemen
SidemenReacts
SidemenShorts
Associated channels
Years active2013–present
Genres
Subscribers138.7 million (combined)[lower-alpha 1][2]
Total views37.9 billion (combined)[lower-alpha 1][2]
Associated actsJme[3]
100,000 subscribers2016, 2018, 2020, 2021
1,000,000 subscribers2016, 2018, 2020, 2021
10,000,000 subscribers2020
Last updated: 14 October 2022

Members
The Sidemen and others playing a game of FIFA in 2014

The group has the following members:[5]

  • Olajide "JJ" Olatunji – known online as KSI (2013–present)
  • Simon Minter – known online as Miniminter (2013–present)
  • Joshua Bradley – known online as Zerkaa (2013–present)
  • Tobit "Tobi" Brown – known online as Tobjizzle or TBJZL (2013–present)
  • Ethan Payne – known online as Behzinga (2013–present)
  • Vikram "Vik" Barn – known online as Vikkstar123 (2013–present)
  • Harry Lewis – known online as Wroetoshaw or W2S (2014–present)

History

Some of the members knew each other before the group was formed. Bradley and Brown both attended Bexley Grammar School in London and Olatunji and Minter both attended Berkhamsted School in Hertfordshire.[5]

The group originates from a Rockstar Games Social Club group made on 19 October 2013 in Grand Theft Auto Online, called "The Ultimate Sidemen", which included all the members except for Lewis. In January 2014, Bradley met Lewis while at a FIFA gaming event in New York City and invited him to join the group.[5] Describing the group name, Minter said in a video that "A sideman is basically someone's bitch who just follows them around [...] I was basically JJ's bitch that followed him around."[1]

In February 2014, Olatunji, Minter, Bradley, and Barn moved into a house together near London, which they referred to as the "Sidemen House",[5][6][7] which allowed them to collaborate more often.[8]

On 1 December 2020, the group's eponymous YouTube channel surpassed 10 million subscribers. Each member of the group was awarded their own Diamond Play Button by YouTube to mark their milestone.[9]

YouTube content

The group has five YouTube channels, Sidemen, MoreSidemen, SidemenReacts, SidemenShorts and Sidemen en Español across which it publishes a variety of videos including challenges, sketches and video game commentaries.[10][11][12]

As of October 2022, the Sidemen channel has over 16.9 million subscribers and 4.4 billion views,[13] MoreSidemen has over 7 million subscribers and 2.8 billion views,[14] SidemenReacts has over 4.8 million subscribers and 1.7 billion views,[15] and SidemenShorts has over 1.8 million subscribers and 1 billion views.[16]

On 18 June 2018, the group released a web television series titled The Sidemen Show, available exclusively on YouTube Premium.[17] It comprises seven 30-minute episodes filmed around the world alongside a number of celebrity guests.[18][19]

In March 2020, the Sidemen released a twenty-minute YouTube video titled "#StayHome". The video featured the Sidemen and more than one hundred other YouTube video creators and other celebrities raising awareness of the UK's "stay at home" campaign which aimed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the UK.[20][21] All of the advertising revenue generated from the video was donated to the NHS.[22]

In April 2023, the Sidemen garnered controversy when KSI said the racial slur "Paki" in a Sidemen Sunday video published on 2 April; a parody of the British game show Countdown.[23][24] The Sidemen group were criticised on Twitter after a clip of KSI speaking the slur went viral,[23] including criticisms from DJ and presenter Bobby Friction and comedian Guz Khan among others.[25][24] Hours later, KSI tweeted an apology for the slur[26] and announced that he would be taking a break from social media.[25][27][23] The Sidemen Twitter account also released a statement the following day apologising for the slur, with the statement reading, "We stand against racism and discrimination of any kind and we failed to do that."[28][27] The full video in question has since been privatised.[25] In an interview held before the 2023 Sidemen Charity Match, Barn told the BBC regarding the slur that the group had "very serious meetings" about the acceptability of what they joke about, saying, "We had to acknowledge that things are different to when we first all started platforms and the world has changed as a place. We saw it as a lesson and moved on from there and I think people were very understanding of that and allowed us to carry on doing what we're doing with a better sense of responsibility."[29]

Other projects
Side+
XIX Vodka

Since 2014, the group has sold and distributed Sidemen Clothing merchandise.[30][10] On 15 July 2023, they opened their first physical store in the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent.[31][32][33]

On 18 October 2016, the group released a book titled Sidemen: The Book, published by Coronet Books, and embarked on a UK-wide promotional tour.[34][35] A number one best-seller in the UK, the book sold 26,436 copies within the first three days of its release.[36][37]

In 2021, the Sidemen launched a subscription service known as Side+.[38] They also launched a restaurant chain known as Sides, and a vodka known as XIX Vodka.[39][38]

Charity football matches
Main article: List of Sidemen Charity Matches

The Sidemen Charity Match is an annual football friendly match run by the Sidemen to raise money for various charitable causes. They have been held since 2016, barring a four-year hiatus between the third and fourth matches. In all matches so far, the group's seven members and various affiliated YouTubers competed as the Sidemen Football Club, while various other YouTubers competed as the YouTube Allstars. The first match, on 3 June 2016, was held at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, raising over £110,000 for the Saints Foundation.[40][41]

Discography
List of singles with selected chart positions and year released
Title Year Peak chart positions
UK
[42]		 UK
R&B
[43]		 UK
Ind.
[44]		 IRE
[45]		 NZ
Hot
[46]		 SCO
[47]
"Merry Merry Christmas"
(featuring Jme & LayZ)		 2019 ——————
"The Gift"[48]
(featuring S-X)		 774011—2726
"This or That" 2022 ——23—14—
"Christmas Drillings"
(featuring Jme)		 3—2257—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Publications
  • The Sidemen (18 October 2016). Sidemen: The Book. Coronet Books. ISBN 978-1473648166.

Awards and nominations
Award Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
British Book Awards 2017 Non-Fiction: Lifestyle Book of the Year Sidemen: The Book Nominated [49]
Shorty Awards 2019 Best YouTube Ensemble Sidemen Nominated [50]
Name of publication, year the record was awarded, name of the record, and the name of the record holder
Publication Year World record Record holder R. Status Ref.
Guinness World Records 2023 Most viewers for a charity sports match live stream on YouTube Sidemen Record [51]

Notes
  1. Includes the Sidemen's five group channels and fifteen of their individual channels which host Sidemen content.

References
  1. "KSI: how the YouTube millionaire, who beat Logan Paul in a celebrity boxing rematch, made his name". Business Insider. South China Morning Post. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  2. See:
  3. Wynter, Courtney (30 March 2020). "Jme Joins Sidemen For A Hilarious Virtual Rap Battle". GRM Daily. Archived from the original on 31 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  4. Billen, Andrew (23 October 2021). "Who are the Sidemen? How KSI and friends amassed 123 million followers". The Times. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  5. The Sidemen (18 October 2016). Sidemen: The Book. Coronet Books. ISBN 978-1473648166.
  6. Shaw, Dougal (19 April 2020). "Coronavirus: UK's first 'TikTok house' opens during outbreak". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  7. "TikTok UK house: Who's in it and what do you need to know?". Newsround. 20 April 2020. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  8. Reiner, Andrew (30 April 2015). "An Interview With YouTube Sensation Vikkstar123". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 10 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  9. Savic, Nikola (2 December 2020). "YouTuber's The Sidemen celebrate 10 million subscriber milestone". Ginx.
  10. Andrews, Farah (11 September 2019). "Insomnia Dubai: YouTube stars Sidemen coming to gaming convention". The National. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  11. "YouTube stars The Sidemen at Insomnia Dubai Gaming Festival". Gulf News. 10 September 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  12. Dodgson, Lindsay. "Then And Now: How 30 of the world's most famous YouTubers have changed since their first videos". Insider. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  13. "Sidemen's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  14. "MoreSidemen's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  15. "SidemenReacts's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  16. "SidemenShorts's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  17. Clarke, Stewart (4 June 2018). "YouTube Orders 'The Sidemen Show' Original Premium Series". Variety. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  18. White, Peter (2 June 2018). "'The Sidemen Show': YouTube Debuts First Trailer & Dates Premium Reality Challenge Format". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  19. "YouTube commissions Blue Ant's Sidemen Show". RealScreen. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original on 7 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  20. "Coronavirus: YouTube stars urge fans to stay at home". BBC News. 29 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  21. "KSI and Saffron Barker urge fans to stay inside as YouTube stars band together during coronavirus crisis". Metro. 29 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  22. "Coronavirus: YouTube stars and celebrities rally together to urge fans to 'stay home'". Daily Mirror. 29 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  23. "KSI apologises for racial slur in Sidemen YouTube video". BBC. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  24. Blistein, Jon (3 April 2023). "'I've Been Messing Up A Lot': British Rapper KSI Apologizes for Using Racist Slur". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  25. Kanter, Jake (3 April 2023). "KSI Apologizes, Deletes YouTube Video & Plans Social Media Break After Racial Slur Sparks Outrage". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  26. KSI [@KSI] (2 April 2023). "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 [sic] not perfect, I'm gonna mess up in life, and lately I've been messing up a lot" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 April 2023 – via Twitter.
  27. Gach, Ethan (3 April 2023). "Popular YouTuber KSI And The Sidemen Apologize For Racial Slur Joke". Kotaku. G/O Media. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  28. Sidemen [@Sidemen] (3 April 2023). "[Image featuring a statement that begins with, 'During yesterday's 'Sidemen Sunday' a racial slur was said during the video.']" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 April 2023 – via Twitter.
  29. Rackham, Annabel (8 September 2023). "The Sidemen: Our YouTube content lets you escape". BBC.com. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  30. "Sidemen Clothing Limited – Overview". Companies House. 30 December 2014. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  31. Hill, Eloise (14 July 2023). "YouTube giant Sidemen launches first ever retail store". Retail Gazette. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  32. Beevers, Angela (17 July 2023). "Sidemen chooses Bluewater for first Sidemen Clothing store". The Retail Bulletin. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  33. Honey, Sam (14 July 2023). "First look inside YouTube stars Sidemen's first ever clothes store ahead of Bluewater opening". Kent Live. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  34. Cowdrey, Katherine (2 June 2016). "'YouTube royalty' The Sidemen to Coronet". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  35. Barr, Gordon (22 September 2016). "YouTube sensations The Sidemen come to Newcastle". Chronicle Live. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  36. Dillon, Poppy (26 October 2016). "The Sidemen's Debut Book Tops Charts". TenEighty. Archived from the original on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  37. Flood, Alison (26 October 2016). "YouTube stars the Sidemen are frontrunners in race for Christmas books No 1". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  38. "Who are the Sidemen? How KSI and friends amassed 123 million followers". The Times. 23 October 2021. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  39. Tabahriti, Sam (13 March 2022). "A fried chicken restaurant run by 7 YouTubers has opened its first branch after initially operating as a ghost kitchen. See inside". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  40. Castro, Danilo (25 August 2018). "KSI Net Worth: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". heavy.com. Heavy Inc. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  41. Rimell, William (4 June 2016). "Charity football match Sidemen FC v YouTube Allstars at St Mary's in Southampton raised more than £100,000 for the Saints foundation". dailyecho.co.uk. Southern Daily Echo. Archived from the original on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  42. "UK Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. 26 December 2019. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  43. "UK R&B Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. 26 December 2019.
  44. Peaks of Sidemen's singles on the UK Independent Singles Chart:
  45. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50 (23 December 2022 – 29 December 2022)". Official Charts Company. 23 December 2022. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  46. Peaks on the NZ Hot Singles Chart:
  47. "Scottish Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. 26 December 2019.
  48. "The Gift – Single by Sidemen on Apple Music". Apple Music. 15 December 2019. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  49. "Hachette and Penguin Random House lead British Book Awards Books of the Year shortlists". The Bookseller. 15 March 2017. Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  50. "Michelle Obama, Noah Centineo, Marie Kondo, John Mulaney Win 2019 Shorty Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. 5 May 2019. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  51. Punt, Dominic (18 August 2023). "Jack Sucks At Life crashes Sidemen's London HQ to celebrate charity match record". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
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