Social media star and Britain’s Got Talent judge KSI has announced that he is leaving the Sidemen after 13 years, marking the end of one of the most successful partnerships in YouTube history.

KSI, whose real name is Olajide Olatunji, revealed the decision in an emotional video posted on YouTube, saying it had been one of the most difficult choices of his career.

“This is honestly the hardest video I’ve ever had to make in my life,” he told fans.

“I’ve gone back and forth on this decision for a very long time. I’ve spent months trying to figure out what the right thing to do is.

“But after a lot of thought, I’ve decided that I will no longer be doing Sidemen videos. Today, 31 May, will be my final Sidemen video.”

KSI has been a member of the Sidemen since 2013, helping transform the group from a collection of friends making gaming videos into one of the world’s biggest online entertainment brands. The collective’s main YouTube channel has amassed more than 23 million subscribers, while its members have a combined audience of more than 140 million subscribers across their platforms.

Reflecting on the group’s early years, KSI said he never imagined the scale of success they would achieve.

“We built something that none of us ever thought was possible, especially back then when we were making random videos together and playing GTA,” he said.

The content creator stressed that his departure was not linked to any disagreement within the group.

“Nothing bad has happened. This decision is completely my own,” he explained.

KSI said increasing commitments outside the Sidemen had made it difficult to continue giving the group his full attention.

“Over the last few years, I’ve felt myself being pulled in a lot of directions more than ever before. Between everything else in my life, I feel like I’ve been running at full speed, at 100mph.”

He also thanked fellow Sidemen members Simon Minter, Josh Bradley, Vikram Barn, Tobi Brown, Ethan Payne and Harry Lewis, saying they deserved someone who could commit fully to the group’s activities.

In a statement posted on social media, the Sidemen said they were saddened by the news and admitted the decision had come unexpectedly.

“We had an amazing time on this journey with him and we wish him all the best with his future endeavours,” the group said.

“This came as a surprise to us and we know it will be an adjustment for you, but we’ve got lots of exciting stuff planned that we can’t wait to share.”

Since its formation, the Sidemen have become one of the most influential creator groups on the internet. Their videos, ranging from travel challenges and comedy content to dating shows and charity football matches, have attracted hundreds of millions of views worldwide.

The group has also expanded into business ventures including food, clothing and beverage brands, while their annual charity football events have raised millions of pounds for charitable causes.

Marcia Lucas, the acclaimed film editor whose work helped shape the original Star Wars, has died at the age of 80.

According to her family, Lucas passed away from metastatic cancer at her home in Rancho Mirage, California, on Wednesday, surrounded by loved ones.

In a statement released on Friday, her family paid tribute to her legacy, describing her as “a force” and “a true trailblazer for women in film.” They added that she was “one of the most influential editors in cinematic history” whose work helped redefine the possibilities of film editing.

Lucas won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing for the original Star Wars film in 1977—later retitled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope—sharing the honour with fellow editors Richard Chew and Paul Hirsch.

While much of her contribution occurred behind the scenes, film historians and fans have long credited her with helping to bring emotional depth, pacing and narrative clarity to the groundbreaking science-fiction saga created by George Lucas.

George Lucas himself acknowledged her role in assembling the film’s climactic Death Star battle sequence, one of the most memorable moments in cinema history. He explained that the challenge involved organising vast amounts of footage while weaving a compelling story into the action.

Born Marcia Griffin in Modesto, California, in 1945, she began her career as a film librarian before establishing herself as one of Hollywood’s most respected editors.

After marrying George Lucas in 1969, she worked on several of his early projects, including THX 1138 and American Graffiti, earning an Academy Award nomination for her editing work on the latter.

Beyond her collaborations with Lucas, she worked with acclaimed director Martin Scorsese on several notable films during the 1970s, including Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Taxi Driver and New York, New York.

She later returned to the Star Wars franchise, contributing to The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, helping shape what would become one of cinema’s most influential trilogies.

Marcia and George Lucas adopted a daughter, Amanda, in 1981. The couple divorced in 1983 after 14 years of marriage. She later married Tom Rodrigues, with whom she had a second daughter, Amy.

Her contributions to film editing and storytelling continue to be celebrated by filmmakers and audiences worldwide, and her work remains deeply embedded in the legacy of Star Wars and modern cinema.

BTS dominated the American Music Awards, taking home some of the night’s biggest honours as Black Eyed Peas reunited during the ceremony.

The K-pop superstars secured the event’s top award, further cementing their global success following their return from a nearly four-year hiatus earlier this year and a world tour reportedly worth around $1bn.

BTS also won song of the summer for their single Swim and were named best male K-pop artist.

Their label partners Katseye picked up the new artist of the year award.

Meanwhile, Golden — the breakout track from the animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters — was named song of the year.

Sabrina Carpenter enjoyed a successful evening after winning album of the year for Man’s Best Friend. She also claimed awards for best female pop artist and best pop album.

Justin Bieber was named best male pop artist.

BTS beat a strong field in the top artist category, including Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga.

The group also overcame competition from artists such as Harry Styles, Tame Impala and PinkPantheress in the song category.

Despite entering the awards with eight nominations, Taylor Swift — the artist with the most AMA wins in history — left the ceremony without an award.