KSI to take social media break after recent backlash over racial slur

British YouTuber and rapper Olajide Olatunji, popularly known as KSI, is taking a break from social media after receiving massive backlash for using a racial slur during one of his recent YouTube videos.

Olatunji is a member and co-founder of the YouTube channel, Sidemen. In a recent segment on the channel, the group engaged in a game based on the popular U.K. gameshow Countdown.

In the game, players must come up with the longest word possible from a group of nine random vowels or consonants. When it was Olatunji's turn, he formed the word 'P**i', a derogatory term used to refer to Pakistanis.

Watch KSI during the Sidemen episode below:

The YouTuber's outrageous act drew the ire of many across the globe, including popular South Asian artists.

In the wake of the massive outrage, Olatunji apologized for his actions and revealed that he was going to take a break from social media:

"I want to apologize 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. I’ve always said to my audience that they shouldn’t worship me or put me on a pedestal because I’m human. I'm 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."

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KSI next fight: Who is the YouTube superstar fighting next?

YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI will take on businessman and professional boxer Joe Fournier in his next boxing outing. The bout will headline the MF & DAZN X Series 7 fight card on May 13.

Currently undefeated, KSI has had a decent run on the celebrity boxing circuit, with wins over the likes of Logan Paul, Luis Alcaraz Pineda, and Thomas Oliveira. However, Olatunji has laced up as a pro only once in his career.

Watch Olatunji in action at MF & DAZN X Series 1 below:

Meanwhile, Joe Fournier boasts an undefeated pro record of 9-0, with all the wins coming via stoppages. Interestingly, Fournier once went toe-to-toe with former world champion David Haye for eight rounds in an exhibition, although ultimately succumbing to a decision loss.