KSI has admitted to reaching out to former Chelsea defender Wayne Bridge with a private apology after making an offhand remark that struck a nerve.
The YouTube star, whose real name is Olajide Olatunji, had initially aimed to hype up their scheduled boxing match, but his comments ended up costing him his opponent.
Bridge, who was set to face KSI in a bout on March 29 in Manchester, pulled out just days after the fight was announced, citing that the social media personality had “crossed a line.”
The controversy stemmed from KSI referencing an old tabloid scandal involving Bridge, his ex-girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel, and former teammate John Terry.
KSI’s Explanation for the Remark
Speaking on his podcast, KSI clarified that the joke wasn’t meant to be personal—it was purely an attempt to boost pay-per-view sales.
“I privately DM’d him,” KSI shared.
“And I told him, ‘Bro, I’m not a d***head… But we’re selling the fight, and I thought you should know that.’”
He further added, “Wayne Bridge, I’m sorry. I’ve already told you in DMs, but yeah, my bad.”
The initial comment that caused the fallout saw KSI taunt Bridge with the remark: “Aren’t you the guy that let John Terry smash your ex?”
Taken aback, Bridge responded, “You want to go there straight away, do you?” before KSI doubled down, leading the crowd in a chant referencing Perroncel.
A Look Back at the Scandal
The history between Bridge, Terry, and Perroncel dates back to the late 2000s.
Bridge and Perroncel were together for four years, welcoming their son in 2006, before splitting in 2009.
Shortly after, the News of the World alleged that Terry had an affair with Perroncel while she was still with Bridge.
Although she denied the claims and later received an apology from the newspaper, the situation caused a major rift.
Bridge refused to shake Terry’s hand when Chelsea faced Manchester City in 2010, and the fallout eventually led to Bridge stepping away from international football to avoid sharing a dressing room with the then-England captain.
Bridge’s Response and Decision to Withdraw
Following KSI’s remarks, Bridge issued a statement explaining why he decided to withdraw from the fight.
“I always like to challenge myself, and this felt like a good opportunity to step into a big stage. I love boxing and was fully prepared to train hard and have some fun,” he said.
“I expected some criticism, but what was said crossed a line.”
Bridge emphasized that the issue was personal and affected multiple families.
“I’m a family man first, and my priority is protecting them.
My opponent is someone that many kids, including mine, look up to.
I hope one day he looks back on this differently.
But I personally don’t want to be involved in these exchanges anymore.”
With that, Bridge confirmed that he would no longer be fighting KSI but hinted at other opportunities ahead.
“I’m still looking out for my next big challenge, and I have exciting things lined up for 2025.
Thanks for all the love—the support has been overwhelming.”
What’s Next for KSI and Bridge?
With the fight officially scrapped, KSI will likely have to find a new opponent if he still wants to step into the ring in March.
As for Bridge, his statement suggests that he isn’t done with challenges just yet—though it seems unlikely he’ll be stepping into a boxing ring with KSI anytime soon.
Whether this situation will blow over or continue to cause waves remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: some jokes come at a higher cost than expected.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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