In a recent podcast, KSI, the popular YouTube star, opened up about the controversy surrounding his upcoming boxing match with former footballer Wayne Bridge.

Originally set for March 29 in Manchester, the fight has now been called off after Bridge chose to withdraw.

The reason? A joke KSI made about Bridge’s past, which he claimed crossed a line.

The Joke That Sparked Controversy

The joke in question was about Bridge’s ex-girlfriend, Vanessa Perroncel, and her alleged affair with footballer John Terry.

KSI made the comment during a promotional event, asking, “Aren’t you the guy that let John Terry smash your ex?” Bridge, visibly surprised, responded, “You want to go there straight away?” KSI then went on to mockingly chant “Vanessa woah, Vanessa woah” in front of the crowd.

This stunt, meant to hype up the fight, clearly backfired.

KSI’s Apology to Bridge

About a month after Bridge pulled out of the fight, KSI shared that he had privately apologized to him.

On his podcast, KSI explained his reasoning behind the comment.

“I’m not a d***head… I just wanted to sell the fight,” he said. “I DM’d him and told him I was sorry.” He added, “Wayne Bridge, I’m sorry.

I’ve told you in DMs anyway, but yeah, my bad.”

Wayne Bridge Responds

Bridge, who is now married to Frankie Sandford and has children, issued a statement explaining his decision to pull out of the fight.

He said he had accepted the match as a challenge and for the fun of boxing, but KSI’s comments crossed a line. He emphasized that his family and privacy were his top priorities.

“These are deeply personal comments that affect my family,” he explained.

“I’m a family man first and my priority is protecting them.”

In his statement, Bridge also made it clear that he would no longer be fighting on March 29 and was looking forward to other exciting challenges in 2025.

“The support has been overwhelming,” he said, adding that he had no desire to engage in further public exchanges with KSI.

The Fallout

This whole situation stems from a personal and public fallout between John Terry and Wayne Bridge.

Terry was accused of having an affair with Bridge’s girlfriend, Vanessa, which caused a major scandal in the football world back in 2010.

The two players, who had once been close friends and teammates at Chelsea, had a public fallout over the matter, with Bridge refusing to shake Terry’s hand during a Manchester City vs Chelsea match.

Bridge eventually retired from international football to avoid further drama with Terry.

Now, years later, KSI’s comment brought all that drama back to the surface, leading to the cancellation of the fight and the public apology.

Bridge’s statement shows that he is focused on his family and moving forward with his career, while KSI has learned a lesson about the consequences of pushing too far for entertainment purposes.