YouTube and ITV star KSI makes bizarre dig at Oxford United

The YouTube star, whose real name is JJ Olatunji, recently purchased a minority stake and became a minority owner in National League South club and former EFL side Dagenham to become the latest celebrity to gain influence in the English football pyramid.

KSI has ventured into many spheres during his career in entertainment and business, including rap, pop music, boxing, and is also a judge on ITV show ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.

In an interview with GQ this week, the influencer shed light into his acquiring of the Daggers and proceeded to take an unprompted shot at the U’s.

Naturally, Olatunji looked at Wrexham as a direct comparison with their Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

KSI at the Britain’s Got Talent photocall at Ham Yard Hotel, central London (Image: IAN WEST/PA Wire)

Talking to GQ, KSI said: “You could argue Dagenham & Redbridge is going to have more attention than a lot of Championship sides. Think of a random Championship team…”

“Like, Oxford United!”

“I bet more people know about Dagenham & Redbridge than Oxford United.

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“For me, I already see Wrexham as a rival. The idea of beating Ryan Reynolds FC. Me versus Ryan Reynolds, face-off.”

Oxford United’s Stan Mills after defeat to Wrexham (Image: Jason Dawson)

Oxford finished 22nd in the second tier this season and were relegated to League One.

Meanwhile, Welsh side Wrexham finished seventh and two points away from the play-off places in their first season in the Championship since 1982.

The Red Dragons had achieved three consecutive promotions before this season, something which KSI will have his sights set in Dagenham.

The Daggers were last in the top four flights of English football in the 2015/16 season in which they suffered relegation out of League Two.

They were since relegated to the National League South in the 2024/25 campaign.

New minority stakeholder KSI, alongside After Party Studios, is set to produce a ‘Welcome to Wrexham’-style docuseries called ‘Race to the Top’ to tell the story of his takeover, it was revealed by Variety.

There a three divisions between Dagenham and the Yellows, whom Olatunji dubbed a ‘random team’.

The last time the two clubs faced each other was when the U’s won 4-0 in League Two in March 2016.

Since then, Oxford have improved by two tiers whilst the Daggers have fallen by two leagues.