KSI

In Kennedy et al. v. Prime Hydration/Congo Brands, consumers allege, among other things, that brand similarities between Prime Hydration and Prime Energy contributed to the promotion of a highly caffeinated drink to minors. In 2026, the court ordered that Logan Paul and KSI, described as co-owners, co-creators and promoters, be designated as custodians so that certain personal communications could be searched and produced during discovery.

State of the evidence

Documented

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Political responsibility

Refresco Beverages sued Prime Hydration and Congo Brands, alleging that a three-year bottling commitment had been repudiated following a decline in demand, with reported stakes of tens of millions of dollars. In August 2025, the court declined to dismiss the two principal claims but dismissed a third count as redundant.

State of the evidence

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Political responsibility

Prime Hydration brought proceedings in Florida against Lionel Messi and MAS+ concerning trademarks and the commercial presentation of drinks. The case involved preliminary motions before the parties filed a joint stipulation of dismissal.

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Political responsibility

Environmental Research Center sued Prime Hydration in California under Proposition 65, alleging that several Prime drinks exposed consumers to lead and, for certain products, mercury without the required warnings. A settlement providing for an injunction imposing conditions on sales, a $35,000 civil penalty and $115,000 in costs was reached and incorporated into a judgment in January 2026.

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Political responsibility

Agrovana sued Congo Brands and Prime Hydration for breach of contract following their refusal to accept further deliveries of coconut water powder. Prime filed counterclaims alleging that some delivered products were contaminated or defective. In August 2026, the federal court in Massachusetts was still ruling on discovery requests.

State of the evidence

Allegations

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Political responsibility

Elizabeth Castillo sued Prime Hydration, alleging that its product contained PFAS and was unfit for consumption. Following several procedural stages, a claim based on the implied warranty of merchantability under the California Commercial Code survived a motion for judgment on the pleadings in September 2025.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Political responsibility

Consumers alleged that Prime Energy contained approximately 15 to 25 mg more caffeine than the advertised 200 mg and invoked several consumer protection laws, as well as fraud and warranty theories.

Attribution

Political responsibility

The US Olympic & Paralympic Committee sued Prime Hydration in 2024, alleging that the company had used Olympic terms and trademarks without authorisation in a campaign involving Kevin Durant.

State of the evidence

Settlement

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Political responsibility

Consumer Reports tested several Lunchly kits and detected lead and cadmium in all three varieties, with two kits exceeding half of CR's internal 'Level of Concern' for lead. The organisation also concluded that Lunchly was not clearly a healthier option than Lunchables across several nutritional criteria.

KSI, Logan Paul and MrBeast launched Lunchly as an alternative to existing meal kits. The product immediately drew criticism from creators over its 'better' positioning aimed at a young audience; a few weeks later, several consumers and creator Rosanna Pansino posted packages showing what they described as mouldy cheese before the expiry date.

State of the evidence

Documented

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Directly implicated

Blockchain researcher ZachXBT and subsequently Coffeezilla compared several promotional posts by KSI about crypto-assets with movements in his wallets, accusing him of selling after publicly expressing positive sentiment, particularly regarding XCAD.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Directly implicated

KSI posted a series of aggressive messages targeting Wade Plem after the influencer boxing commentator expressed an unfavourable opinion about the commercial prospects of a future KSI–Jake Paul fight. His manager Mams Taylor immediately announced that Plem would no longer present Misfits events.

State of the evidence

Documented

In a Sidemen video inspired by Countdown, KSI formed and pronounced a racist slur targeting people of Pakistani origin. The sequence prompted strong public reaction and the video was removed.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Directly implicated

KSI had been declared the winner by knockout against Joe Fournier at Misfits Boxing 7. Following a review and complaint by Fournier, the Professional Boxing Association concluded that the decisive blow had been delivered with the forearm or elbow rather than a legal punch, and changed the result to a no-decision/no-contest.

State of the evidence

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Directly implicated

US Senator Chuck Schumer asked the FDA to examine Prime Energy, a drink co-created and heavily promoted by KSI and Logan Paul, because of its 200 mg caffeine content per can and the risk of confusion among young consumers with caffeine-free Prime Hydration.

State of the evidence

Documented

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Political responsibility

KSI was challenged over his earlier use of a derogatory term targeting transgender people and for misgendering a transgender woman in a Sidemen video.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Directly implicated

After strongly insulting internet users who illegally downloaded his film 'Laid in America', KSI was confronted with older evidence showing that he had himself used a pirated copy of Sony Vegas. Critics accused him of hypocrisy.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Directly implicated

A coalition of women's rights organisations called on YouTube to remove KSI's videos and on advertisers to withdraw, arguing that his earlier 'rape face' content, sexualised gestures and repeated use of the word 'slut' trivialised rape and conveyed misogynistic portrayals.

State of the evidence

Documented

At Eurogamer Expo 2012, KSI filmed an instalment of his 'Being Awkward' series featuring sexual and humiliating interactions with women attending the event. Eurogamer banned him from future events. Following his appearance at an Xbox One launch in 2013, Microsoft announced that it would no longer work with him.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated