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Sidemen (YouTube group)
Sidemen | |||||||||||||
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![]() The Sidemen on their book tour in 2016. From left to right, behind couch: Harry Lewis, JJ Olatunji, Ethan Payne, and Simon Minter; on couch (aside from the fan third from left): Vik Barn, Tobi Brown, and Josh Bradley. | |||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||
Origin | London, United Kingdom [1] | ||||||||||||
Occupation | YouTubers | ||||||||||||
Website | sidemen | ||||||||||||
YouTube information | |||||||||||||
Channels | Sidemen MoreSidemen SidemenReacts SidemenShorts | ||||||||||||
Created by |
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Years active | 2013–present | ||||||||||||
Genre | |||||||||||||
Subscribers | 128.1 million (combined)[a][2] | ||||||||||||
Total views | 32.5 billion (combined)[a][2] | ||||||||||||
Network | |||||||||||||
Associated acts | Jme[5] | ||||||||||||
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Updated: 23 October 2021 |
The Sidemen is a British YouTube group consisting of Internet personalities KSI, Miniminter, Zerkaa, TBJZL, Behzinga, Vikkstar123 and W2S. The group is best known for producing videos of various challenges, sketches and video game commentaries across their multiple YouTube channels, which have a combined total of over 128 million subscribers as of October 2021.[2][6]
Members
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Miniminter_playing_FIFA.png/260px-Miniminter_playing_FIFA.png)
The group has the following members:[7]
- Olajide "JJ" Olatunji – known online as KSI (2013–present)
- Simon Minter – known online as Miniminter (2013–present)
- Joshua "Josh" 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
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by . (November 2021) |
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.[8]
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.[8] 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",[8][9][10] which allowed them to collaborate more often.[11]
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.[12]
YouTube content
The group has four YouTube channels, Sidemen, MoreSidemen, SidemenReacts and SidemenShorts across which it publishes a variety of videos including challenges, sketches and video game commentaries.[13][14][15]
As of September 2021, the Sidemen channel has over 13.4 million subscribers and 3.1 billion views,[16] MoreSidemen has over 5.7 million subscribers and 1.9 billion views,[17] SidemenReacts has over 3.6 million subscribers and 835 million views,[18] and SidemenShorts has over 1.3 million subscribers and 330 million views.[19]
On 18 June 2018, the group released a web television series titled The Sidemen Show, available exclusively on YouTube Premium.[20] It comprises seven 30-minute episodes filmed around the world alongside a number of celebrity guests.[21][22]
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.[23][24] All of the advertising revenue generated from the video was donated to the NHS.[25]
Other projects
Since 2014, the group has sold and distributed Sidemen Clothing merchandise.[26][13]
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.[27][28] A number one best-seller in the UK, the book sold 26,436 copies within the first three days of its release.[29][30]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Sidemen_Charity_Football_Match_2018.png/220px-Sidemen_Charity_Football_Match_2018.png)
The group has hosted three football events to raise money for various charitable causes. The first match, in 2016, was held at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, raising over £110,000 for the Saints Foundation.[31][32] The second and third matches were held at The Valley Stadium, London, raising £210,000 for the NSPCC and the Charlton Athletic Community Trust,[33][34] and £65,747 for the Young Minds Trust and the Charlton Athletic Community Trust,[35] respectively.
In 2021, the Sidemen launched a subscription service known as Side+.[36] They also launched a restaurant chain known as Sides, and a vodka known as XIX Vodka.[37]
Discography
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [38] |
UK R&B [39] |
UK Ind. [40] |
NZ Hot [41] |
SCO [42] | ||
"The Gift"[43] (featuring S-X) |
2019 | 77 | 40 | 11 | 27 | 26 |
Publications
- The Sidemen (18 October 2016). Sidemen: The Book. Coronet Books. ISBN 978-1473648166.
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | British Book Awards | Non-Fiction: Lifestyle Book of the Year | Sidemen: The Book | Nominated | [44] |
2019 | Shorty Awards | Best YouTube Ensemble | Sidemen | Nominated | [45] |
Notes
References
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ a b c See:
- "Sidemen's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "MoreSidemen's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "SidemenReacts's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "SidemenShorts's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "KSI's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "JJ Olatunji's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "Miniminter's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "MM7Games's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "Zerkaa's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "ZerkaaPlays's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "TBJZL's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "TBJZLPlays's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "Behzinga's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "Beh2inga's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "Vikkstar123's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "VikkstarPlays's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "Vikkstar123HD's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "W2S's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- "W2SPlays's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 31 May 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ "Talent". Omnia Media. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- ^ "Sidemen". OP Talent. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Billen, Andrew (23 October 2021). "Who are the Sidemen? How KSI and friends amassed 123 million followers". The Times. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ "Sidemen Clothing Limited – Overview". Companies House. 30 December 2014. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ a b c The Sidemen (18 October 2016). Sidemen: The Book. Coronet Books. pp. 52–57. ISBN 978-1473648166.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Savic, Nikola (2 December 2020). "YouTuber's The Sidemen celebrate 10 million subscriber milestone". Ginx.
- ^ a b Andrews, Farah. "Insomnia Dubai: YouTube stars Sidemen coming to gaming convention". The National. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Sidemen's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ "MoreSidemen's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ "SidemenReacts's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ "SidemenShorts's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "YouTube commissions Blue Ant's Sidemen Show". RealScreen. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original on 7 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
- ^ "Coronavirus: YouTube stars urge fans to stay at home". BBC News. 29 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Coronavirus: YouTube stars and celebrities rally together to urge fans to 'stay home'". Daily Mirror. 29 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- ^ "Sidemen Clothing Limited – Overview". Companies House. 30 December 2014. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "The Valley to host charity football match featuring famous YouTubers". Charlton Athletic F.C. 12 March 2017. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ Charlton Athletic FC [@CAFCofficial] (25 July 2017). "