If you’ve spent more than five minutes in the chaotic world of Sidemen fandom, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You've seen it. That specific, slightly blurry, incredibly loud clip of JJ in the hot tub. It’s one of those moments that shouldn't be a "thing," yet here we are years later, and it’s still getting millions of views across TikTok and YouTube shorts. It's weird.
Actually, it’s not just weird. It’s a perfect case study in how modern celebrity works.
Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji—better known as KSI or simply JJ—has a career that spans boxing, chart-topping music, and Prime Hydration dominance. But for the "OG" fans, the real gold isn't in the Madison Square Garden fights. It's in the messy, unscripted, and often ridiculous moments from the Sidemen houses. The hot tub scenes are basically the peak of that era.
The Reality Behind the JJ in the Hot Tub Clips
People search for this constantly because they want to find the original video. They want to see if it’s from a Sidemen Sunday or a random vlog. Most of the time, when people talk about JJ in the hot tub, they are referring to a very specific set of clips from the "Sidemen $10,000 vs $100 Holiday" series or the early "Sidemen House" vlogs.
In these videos, the dynamic is simple. You have a bunch of young guys who suddenly have a lot of money, a massive house, and a camera. The hot tub wasn't just a luxury item. It was a catalyst for content. It was where the "Fatneek" memes were born. It was where the banter reached a fever pitch.
JJ has always been the loudest person in the room. Or the tub.
Honestly, the appeal isn't the water. It’s the vulnerability. In an era where every influencer is curated to within an inch of their life, seeing JJ—this massive global superstar—just messing around in a tub with his best friends feels real. It’s authentic. Fans don't want the polished MrBeast-style production 24/7. Sometimes, they just want to see JJ lose his mind because someone splashed him or because the water is too cold.
Why Viral Moments Stick Like This
Internet culture is a strange beast. A clip of JJ in the hot tub can outperform a high-budget music video because it’s "meme-able."
Memes are the currency of the internet.
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When JJ is in the tub, he’s usually making a face that becomes a reaction GIF for the next three years. It’s about the infectious laugh. You know the one. That high-pitched, tea-kettle wheeze that makes you laugh even if you don't know what’s happening. That’s the magic.
- It’s relatable (sorta).
- It’s chaotic.
- It highlights the chemistry between the Sidemen members.
- It serves as nostalgia for the "Golden Age" of YouTube.
Breaking Down the "Fatneek" Era
We can't talk about JJ in the hot tub without talking about the physical transformation. This is a huge part of the search intent. Fans love to track JJ’s "bulk" and "cut" cycles.
Back in the day, JJ would get roasted relentlessly by his own fanbase. The "Fatneek" nickname became a badge of honor and a source of endless bullying (the friendly kind, mostly). The hot tub videos were the primary source material for these jokes. While he was relaxing, Reddit was busy taking screenshots to turn into memes for the next Slat (Sidemen Sunday) or Reddit video.
It’s actually kinda impressive how he handled it.
Most celebrities would sue or block people for making fun of their weight. JJ leaned into it. He turned the hot tub moments into a narrative of self-improvement. He used the "out of shape" clips as the "Before" in his "Before and After" boxing transformations. That’s smart business. He turned a moment of relaxation into a marketing tool for his next big fight against Logan Paul or Tommy Fury.
The Evolution of Sidemen Content
The Sidemen have grown up. They aren't just kids in a house anymore. They are a multi-million dollar corporation.
When you look at the JJ in the hot tub clips now, you're looking at a different era of the internet. Back then, the lighting was bad. The audio was peaking. There were no 4K cinema cameras following them around. It was just raw energy.
- Early Vlogs: High energy, low production, maximum JJ chaos.
- Holiday Specials: The budget went up, the hot tubs got fancier, but the jokes stayed the same.
- The Side+ Era: Now, everything is behind a paywall or highly produced, making those old, free-wheeling clips even more valuable to fans.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Meme
There’s a misconception that these clips are just "filler." They aren't. In the world of SEO and digital branding, these moments are "Tentpole Content."
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They support the larger brand.
If you look at the Google Trends for "KSI," you'll see massive spikes during fights. But the baseline—the steady drumbeat of interest—is kept alive by these evergreen memes like JJ in the hot tub. It keeps him human. It keeps him approachable.
If JJ only ever posted photos of his six-pack and his private jet, he’d lose the "JJ from the block" vibe that made him famous. The hot tub is a reminder that he’s still the same guy who used to scream at FIFA in his parents' bedroom.
Dealing with the "Cringe" Factor
Is it cringe? Sometimes. Definitely.
But cringe is part of the YouTube DNA. If you aren't willing to be a little bit embarrassed on camera, you won't make it as a creator. JJ understands this better than almost anyone. He’s willing to be the butt of the joke. Whether he’s wearing a ridiculous costume or just being "JJ in the hot tub," he knows that the audience’s laughter is the most important metric.
It’s not about looking good. It’s about being entertaining.
The Cultural Impact of the Sidemen Lifestyle
The Sidemen didn't just create videos; they created a lifestyle that millions of teenagers and young adults want to emulate. The "House" dynamic—the idea of living with your best friends and making money by just existing—is the ultimate modern dream.
The hot tub is the symbol of that dream.
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It represents making it. It’s the "We’re rich now, let's do something stupid" vibe. When fans watch JJ in the hot tub, they aren't just watching a guy in water. They are watching the manifestation of success. They are watching a group of friends who beat the system.
It’s aspirational.
How to Find the Best JJ Hot Tub Moments
If you're looking to dive down the rabbit hole (pun intended), you need to know where to look. You won't find one single video titled "JJ in the hot tub." It’s scattered across a decade of content.
- The Sidemen $100 vs $10,000 Holiday (Benidorm): One of the classic examples where the "cheap" team ended up in some pretty hilarious situations.
- Old KSI Vlogs (2014-2016): This is where you find the raw, unedited JJ.
- MoreSidemen: The second channel is often where the "behind the scenes" hot tub footage ends up.
The sheer volume of content is staggering. JJ has been uploading for over a decade. That’s thousands of hours of footage.
The Future of the Meme
Will we see a 40-year-old JJ in the hot tub? Probably.
The Sidemen have shown no signs of slowing down. Even as they move into their 30s, the bond remains. The content will evolve, but the core—friends hanging out and being idiots—is timeless. As long as there are hot tubs and as long as JJ has his loud, iconic laugh, these clips will continue to circulate.
It’s a legacy of sorts. A very wet, very loud legacy.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Creators
If you are a fan trying to keep up with the latest JJ moments, or a creator looking to replicate his success, here is the breakdown of what actually matters.
- Embrace the Unpolished: Don't be afraid to post the "ugly" or "messy" moments. The JJ in the hot tub clips prove that authenticity beats production value every single time.
- Lean Into Your Memes: If your audience gives you a nickname (like Fatneek), don't fight it. Use it. It builds a stronger community and gives people a reason to stay engaged.
- Consistency is King: JJ didn't become a legend overnight. He spent ten years being consistent, being loud, and being himself.
- Understand Your Audience: JJ knows his fans want to see him fail just as much as they want to see him win. Give them both.
- Watch the Classics: To understand why the Sidemen are still relevant in 2026, you have to go back and watch the early 2010s videos. That's where the foundation was laid.
The story of JJ in the hot tub isn't just about a guy in a pool. It’s about the power of personality, the evolution of YouTube, and the fact that sometimes, the simplest moments are the ones that define a career. If you want to see the real JJ, stop looking at the press conferences. Look at the vlogs. Look at the tubs. That’s where the real "Knowledge, Strength, and Integrity" (or at least the humor) is found.