YouTuber and musician KSI, 31, has issued a warning to ITV Britain’s Got Talent fans as he prepares to appear as a guest judge on the 2025 series.
The iconic talent show will return to screens this weekend featuring the influencer whose real name is Olajide Olayinka Williams “JJ” Olatunji.
KSI will join the show’s original judges Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden as they reunite with Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli on the panel.
He brings a following of 23.9m subscribers on his main YouTube channel and 15.8m on his second – among other strings to his bow.
The 31-year-old leads a successful music career and has also made his name in the fight game – taking part in several high-profile influencer boxing matches.
Ahead of Britain’s Got Talent’s return, he has warned viewers to expect something different from him that they may not like.
KSI will join Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli on the judging panel
PA
KSI was adamant he was not going to “sugarcoat” his critiques.
“I’m from the YouTube world – I’m cut-throat and straightforward,” he told Radio Times.
Building his brand from a small gaming channel, KSI explained he had seen it all in terms of good and bad content – and would not shy away from making use of that intuition.
The 31-year-old admitted: “Some people aren’t going to like that.”
KSI warned fans about his “polarising” judging style
PA
Demonstrating his ruthless attitude, the YouTuber recalled a particularly woeful impressionist who came to audition.
The hopeful was almost in tears after hearing the feedback but this did nothing to dissuade KSI from continuing his brutally honest “polarising” critique.
“I know you travelled all this way, but that was bad, bro. I’m sorry man,” he recalled saying.
The 31-year-old explained his philosophy was never to be regarded as neutral by an audience.
“I want emotion. I want you to really love or really hate me,” he added.
However, KSI did concede that the jeers from audience members in response to his harsher barbs could be “intimidating”.
