YOUTUBE star KSI has visited a mosque to apologise after using the word ‘p***’ in one of his videos.
The influencer, real name Olajide William Olatunji, said there was “no excuse” for using the slur which he said deeply hurt South Asian communities.
RuckasKSI made the word ‘p***’ during a Countdown skit on Sidemen Sunday[/caption]
Getty Images – GettyKSI said there was ‘no excuse’ for using the slur which he said deeply hurt South Asian communities[/caption]
The incident came as the star took part in a ‘Countdown challenge’ stunt with a group of influencers called The Sidemen.
They were asked to come up with a nine-letter word just like the hit daytime English and maths quiz show.
The letters O,I,A,K,P,V,Z,U and B appeared on the screen during the Sidemen Sunday segment before KSI was asked to form a word.
He said: “We need points and I don’t mean this maliciously but the word p***.”
Fellow hosts Chunkz and Filly fell about laughing at KSI’s answer, while he jokingly said “sorry”.
But the slur sparked fury among fans and famous faces who blasted the influencer – who has 12.7 million Instagram followers – for “dehumanising brown people”.
BBC presenter Bobby Friction posted: “I had this racial slur thrown at me & got physical beats by racists for my entire childhood.
“Genuinely upset that KSI (a guy my children love) did this & thought it was funny.
“The rest of them laughing can go f*** themselves too. People dehumanising brown people like it normal.”
Meanwhile renowned health presenter Dr Ranj Singh blasted the internet sensation saying: “I’m not just upset, I’m disgusted.”
Teacher and broadcaster Mehreen Baig added the comments and reaction was “horrifically disappointing from KSI and his crew”.
The video has since been deleted.
KSI – whose YouTube videos have clocked up over 11 billion views – issued a grovelling apology on Twitter following Sunday’s incident.
‘CAUSED A LOT OF HURT’
He repeated his apology ahead of his fight with Joe Fournier at a boxing weigh in press conference on Wednesday.
He said: “I want to take this opportunity to offer my deepest and most sincere apologies for my words and actions.
“In a recent video I used a racial term that is offensive to so, so many especially in the south Asian community.
“There are no excuses for what I said and I recognise that I’ve caused a lot of hurt and disappointment to so many people that look up to me, and my ignorance has only reinforced the negative stereotypes that have existed for way too long in this country.
“I want to express my heartfelt regret for what I said and I want you to know I am genuinely ashamed and deeply sorry for any pain or suffering I have caused.
“I realise my words have consequences and as a public figure I have a responsibility to use my platform for good rather than perpetuating discrimination and this week I have failed to do this.”
It came as KSI was filmed talking to an imam at a mosque in Bradford, who told onlookers how the boxer was visiting to learn, with KSI saying he wanted to “educate himself”.
He will take a break from social media following the slur.
A statement from The Sidemen posted on Twitter said the video “was completely unacceptable and inexcusable” adding “the fact the incident was made light of on the show was wrong and compounded the hurt”.
The group said they have been left “truly ashamed” by their actions.