KSI is 'taking a break' from social media after being called out for using a racial slur

The YouTuber issued an apology following the backlash

He's a rapper, a boxer, and a YouTuber who has almost 41 million subscribers and 10 billion views across his three YouTube accounts - but KSI is taking a break from social media after using a racist slur.

The Londoner, who appeared with his crew 'the Sidemen' in a YouTube video posted yesterday, came in for heavy criticism from many quarters.

The group were participating in a 'Countdown'-style gameshow, when KSI used his letters to form a pejorative term directed at UK people of South Asian origin. “I don’t mean this maliciously, but the word’s P**i," he said, with the offensive word bleeped out, as his crew laughed uproariously. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he added, "but guys, we need points."

After the immediate backlash, he issued an apology, saying "there's no excuse" for using the term.

“I wanna apologise for saying a racial slur in a recent Sidemen video. There’s no excuse, no matter the circumstances, I shouldn’t have said it and I’m sorry,” he tweeted. "I’ve always said to my audience that they shouldn’t worship me or put me on a pedestal because I’m human. Im not perfect, I’m gonna mess up in life, and lately I’ve been messing up a lot. So I’ve decided I’m gonna just take a break from social media for a while."

BBC radio DJ Bobby Friction was one of those who criticised the 29-year-old, saying "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**k themselves too. People dehumanising brown people like it normal."

Comedian Guz Khan tweeted: "You’re an immature fool. You’re very lucky it’s Ramadan as well. Make it a matter of urgency that you never say anything like this again. And let your giggling little friends in that video know they’re not off the hook either."