KSI: In Real Life

Show Description

On the eve of the release of his second album one of the world’s most influential young men, YouTube star KSI, is riding high in his career but running on empty in his private life. With over a decade in the spotlight, Olajide Olatunji (JJ to his friends) has defied the odds and scored a series of unexpected victories in the worlds of business, music, and boxing. But success has come at a price – pushing away his parents, fraying his relationship with his girlfriend and falling out with his brother.

In Real Life dives into the origin story of this online icon, his beginnings in Watford, his school failures, and his early adoption of a new platform called YouTube. As KSI, he perfected a character that connected with kids in bedrooms around the world. But the KSI persona could also be ruthless and single-minded, leaving the man behind the mask lonely and isolated.

In the midst of a sell-out UK tour, JJ reaches crisis point. Questioning what love is and whether he is capable of it, he starts to re-evaluate his life, then takes action to repair his relationships with those closest to him. With unique and unfiltered access to the global megastar, the film confronts questions about family, fame, the internet, and overcoming trauma. It is both a revealing portrait of the rise and rise of the ultimate influencer and a warts-and-all look at a young man working out who he is while the whole world watches.

Credits

Executive Produced by
Louis Theroux, Barnaby Coughlin

Produced by
Mindhouse Productions
Sophie Grant

Directed by
Wes Pollitt

Line Producer
Hannah Ramsey

Production Executive
Donna Ferry