KSI Ousted from YouTube Partnership Program After Controversial Livestream Statements
LONDON, ENGLAND — YouTube has officially terminated its partnership agreement with British creator Olajide Olatunji, widely known as KSI, effective immediately, after a series of statements made during a recent livestream were deemed to have violated the platform’s community guidelines.
The decision follows a review of a broadcast on Thursday evening where KSI allegedly made offensive remarks targeting a rival content creator, sparking widespread backlash among viewers and industry peers. Sources familiar with the matter indicate that while KSI has issued a public apology, YouTube cited a pattern of non-compliance with its harassment policies as the primary reason for the removal.
A YouTube spokesperson confirmed the termination in a formal statement, emphasizing that all partners are held to strict standards of conduct. KSI, who boasts over 24 million subscribers, had been a member of the YouTube Partner Program since 2012, generating substantial revenue from ad placements and Super Chat donations.
Reaction from the online community has been divided, with some fans expressing support for the creator, while others have applauded the platform for enforcing its rules. KSI has not yet indicated whether he will appeal the decision or pivot to alternative streaming platforms. The removal is set to impact scheduled content releases and sponsorship deals already in place for the upcoming quarter.