Popular YouTuber KSI, real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, has taken a step back from social media following backlash for using racial slurs.
A clip from his now-deleted YouTube video showed the rapper playing a word game with his friends when he coined the offending word, which has since been removed.
Several prominent members of the affected community commented on how offensive the word choice was, given its derogatory connotations.
Read on to learn more.
KSI Uses Racial Pejorative Terms
MEGA
Over the weekend, KSI, co-founder and member of YouTube group Sidemen, formed the word “P**i” on camera while playing a game. He took part in a video inspired by the UK game show “Countdown”, where contestants test their vocabulary. To play the game, they choose between two piles of tiles, one containing vowels and the other consonants.
Well @ksi you are not a funny man you cannot say “P*ki” in any context
This lot will do anything for content?pic.twitter.com/qrotwIkobr
— Kini???? (@lcfckini) April 2, 2023
Within 30 seconds, players have to form the longest word using nine letters. KSI tried to do this when he coined a derogatory term commonly used to refer to people of South Asian descent in the UK. Although he claimed he meant it with no malice, the word was dropped.
Other Sidemen members seem to find the use of the term amusing, as they laugh out loud at KSI’s choice of words in the video. The controversial clip offended many viewers, especially those of Pakistani origin and other brown-skinned people.
Angry South Asian Community
MEGA
The video sparked widespread criticism on social media, particularly from some prominent members of the South Asian community. DJ Bobby Friction, who experienced racial slurs and physical violence as a child, was deeply upset by KSI’s behavior.
Inside tweets, she criticized the YouTuber for being insensitive and called out others in the video for laughing along. He then shows the usual normalization of dehumanizing brown people. Friction wrote, “So upset that @KSI (the guy my kids love) did this & thought it was funny.”
Actor, producer and BAFTA nominee Guz Khan also took to Twitter to express his displeasure. In a series tweets, he stated that many Pakistanis could trouble KSI and anyone else who found the video funny. He hoped the “dead seconds joke” was worth the backlash it might bring.
KSI Apologizes And The Video Is Removed
MEGA
In response to the criticism, KSI removed the offending video from Sidemen’s YouTube channel and apologized on Twitter. He admitted that there was no excuse for his behavior and that he was not immune to making mistakes.
In a recent Sidemen video, the tweet read, “I want to apologize for saying racial slurs. There’s no reason, no matter the circumstances, I shouldn’t have said that, and I’m sorry. I always say to my audience that they should not worship me or put me on a pedestal because I am human.”
The “Patience” rapper added, “I’m not perfect, I’m going to mess up in life, and lately I’ve been messing up a lot. So I have decided to take a break from social media.”
There are various reactions to KSI’s apology
MEGA
KSI’s apology was met with mixed reviews from fans who shared their reservations under the tweet. While some accepted the statement, others claimed he was unrepentant. One comment read, “No one worships you my man. You don’t have to be God to understand that racism is not ok. You live in the UK and should know the consequences of saying that word.”
Another Twitter user encouraged the rapper by telling him to “take time to reflect and focus on the upcoming boxing match” he has. The fan added, “Everyone goes through lows and highs.” However, one user responded to this comment by pointing out KSI’s negligence. Their comment read, “So saying a racial slur on camera and not bothering to make sure it’s been edited now qualifies as excusable “low”, right?”
Another stated that Americans do not have any opinion on whether the video is offensive. them recorded, “Given the full context, especially in the UK, it’s a terrible insult to use, and everyone involved knows it.” Other fans are concerned with the rapper’s decision to stay away from social media for the time being. one write, “It seems like most people aren’t that upset about it. I still understand why you want to rest.”
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
