![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/comp-1778352897.png\")
\n\t\tYou good there, KSI? (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tYou good there, KSI? (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n
Eagle-eyed Britain\u2019s Got Talent<\/a> viewers grew concerned for judge KSI<\/a> during this weekend\u2019s semi-final.<\/p>\n The YouTube<\/a> star, 32, first appeared on the ITV<\/a> panel last year, sitting in for Bruno Tonioli<\/a> due to his prior Dancing with the Stars\u00a0commitments in America. KSI also filled Simon Cowell<\/a>\u2019s chair when he took time off after Liam Payne<\/a> died.<\/p>\n And when it was confirmed this year that Bruno would not be returning<\/a>, KSI was promoted to full-time judge status<\/a>, sitting beside longtimers Amanda Holden<\/a> and Alesha Dixon<\/a>.<\/p>\n While his feedback sometimes divides audiences, many were worried for him tonight when he appeared to choke during the live show.<\/p>\n After an ad break, hosts Ant McPartlin<\/a> and Declan Donnelly<\/a> spoke to the camera while the judges larked around between themselves, awaiting the next performance.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGet personalised updates on Britain’s Got Talent\t\t\t<\/p>\n Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro\u2019s TV Newsletter.<\/p>\n Sign up to our newsletter<\/a> and then select your show in the link we\u2019ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.<\/p>\n KSI, however, couldn\u2019t stop coughing.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t Taking to X, panicked viewers asked if he was \u2018OK\u2019, as the former professional boxer drank his water but continued struggling.<\/p>\n \u2018@KSI are you ok? Was you choking on your water\u2019, wrote @Steff2804 on X.<\/p>\n \u2018Was KSI choking ?\u2019, asked @Sarahessex73.<\/p>\n \u2018Did anyone notice KSI was choking and no one was paying attention?\u2019, wrote @SophieSharpie, while @rozlaws quipped he was \u2018quietly choking to death on live TV\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018Legit no one even helped him lmao\u2019, replied @domineeekuk.<\/p>\n \u2018Is KSI okay there. Someone should check on him. He was choking\u2019, added a bothered @ZainabZaman19.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t Thankfully, KSI \u2013 real name Olajide Olayinka Williams \u2018JJ\u2019 Olatunji \u2013 did seem to be fine, as he continued with the show, albeit with a noticeably hoarse voice when giving his comments to the next act.<\/p>\n This week also saw him granted the Golden Buzzer, which is assigned to one panel member each week and holds the power to send an act through to the final.<\/p>\n Following a string of epic performances, KSI pressed the coveted buzzer for daredevil fire-juggler Liwei Yang, who was left in tears.<\/p>\n \u2018Oh my God, that was phenomenal!\u2019, KSI declared.<\/p>\n \u2018Doing that with your husband by your side, that must have been magical.\u2019<\/p>\n Not everyone agreed with his choice, though, as chants to \u2018Push the gold\u2019 for aerial artist Mizuki Shinagawa filled the studio to the point where the judges could barely hear themselves speak.<\/p>\n \u2018Mizuki Shinagawa is absolutely incredible. The talent she has with the silks is out of this world\u2019, wrote @WhoPotterVian<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018What is wrong with #KSI why didn\u2019t he press the Golden Buzzer for Mizuki she was incredible!!!!\u2019, raged @Rini78823.<\/p>\n @RyanSoapKing25 was also \u2018captivated\u2019 by the performer, while Amanda called it \u2018out of this world\u2019 and even KSI admitted it was \u2018breathtaking\u2019.<\/p>\n KSI has had a turbulent couple of weeks with the public, as he became embroiled in scandal when a 2012 clip came to light.<\/p>\n In the video, the musician made a vile \u2018joke\u2019 about rape<\/a>, telling a female character while gaming: \u2018Mate, you\u2019re getting raped. She is so getting raped.\u2019<\/p>\n He also told his viewers that he wanted to \u2018smack\u2019 her \u2018in the face so hard\u2019 before referring to her as a \u2018dumb b***h\u2019.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t KSI added : \u2018If she gets raped, I\u2019m not even going to feel sorry for her.\u2019<\/p>\n The video is no longer live on his channel.<\/p>\n Among criticisms was a statement from Lucy Duckworth of rape support organisation The Survivors Trust, who told The Sun: \u2018Trivialising rape creates violence and leads to loss of life. <\/p>\n \u2018We can\u2019t justify it. You can\u2019t joke about somebody else\u2019s lived experience of being victimised.<\/p>\n \u2018Unless you\u2019ve experienced it yourself, then you shouldn\u2019t be commenting on it at all.\u2019<\/p>\n KSI also came under fire when a 2017 video of him joking about hitting a pregnant woman emerged.<\/p>\n He has not addressed the clips since.<\/p>\n Britain\u2019s Got Talent continues next Saturday on ITV1 and ITVX.<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/comp-1778352946.png\")
\n\t\tThe Britain\u2019s Got Talent judge took a sip of his water as Ant and Dec spoke to the viewers (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/comp-1778352961.png\")
\n\t\t\u2026but it seemingly went down the wrong way (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/comp-1778352978.png\")
\n\t\tViewers grew concerned for KSI (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/comp-1778352994.png\")
\n\t\tHe carried on coughing and spluttering as the other judges chatted (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"Undated](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_285488321-3e6a.jpg\")
\n\t\tInfluencer and former boxer KSI was made a permanent BGT judge this series (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"Dagenham](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2267687376-e1777880338230.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe musician came under fire recently for past \u2018jokes\u2019 about rape (Picture: Andrew Redington\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: Nadia Sawalha hits back at \u2018lies\u2019 after Loose Women axe claims<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: I\u2019m A Celebrity plotting new spin-off with \u2018surprise twist\u2019 for 25th anniversary<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Graham Norton\u2019s ITV show Neighbourhood dealt brutal blow after plummeting viewership<\/a><\/p>\n