Niko Omilana
Niko Omilana | ||||||||||
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![]() Omilana in 2023 | ||||||||||
Born | Nikolas Daniel Adegbajumo Omilana 4 March 1998[1] | |||||||||
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Years active | 2011–present | |||||||||
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Subscribers | 7.5 million[2] | |||||||||
Total views | 622 million[2] | |||||||||
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Last updated: 14 June 2024 |
Nikolas Daniel Adegbajumo "Niko" Omilana (born 4 March 1998) is a British YouTuber, prankster, internet personality and political candidate. He is known for posting prank videos on YouTube and running as an independent candidate in the 2021 London mayoral election and the 2024 United Kingdom general election.[3] He is also known for being a part of the Beta Squad YouTube group. Omilana has also competed in several charity soccer matches, including Soccer Aid[4] and multiple Sidemen charity matches.
Early life and personal life
Nikolas Daniel Adegbajumo Omilana[5] was born on 4 March 1998.[1] He is from Stafford, West Midlands.[6]
He has worked in small production for companies before going full-time as a YouTuber.[6]
In 2021, Omilana lived in North London.[7]
YouTube career
2011–2017: Early career
Omilana created his YouTube account, "Niko Omilana", in June 2011. He uploaded his first video in 2014 and started uploading comedy skits, parody, and challenge videos.[8] In an interview in October 2019, he cited British YouTuber KSI as his inspiration to started making content on YouTube.[6]
2018–2020: Initial popularity and Beta Squad
In May 2018, Omilana went viral after he uploaded a video titled "UNDERCOVER As A RACIST For 24 HOURS" in which he went undercover as a racist to troll and mock supporters of a far-right organisation, the English Defence League (EDL), during their protest in Telford, Shropshire.[9][10][11] Later in December 2018, Omilana uploaded another prank video, continuing his previous EDL prank video, in which he trolled one of the co-founder of the EDL and far-right activist, Tommy Robinson, to promote Omilana's brand and merch, the NDL (Niko Defence League).[12][9]
In 2019, Omilana created and joined the Beta Squad, a British YouTube collective group, along with fellow British YouTubers Chunkz, AJ Shabeel, Sharky, and KingKennyTV. In February 2019, it was also announced that the group would be living together in a £4 million mansion in London, where they would create daily content for social media platforms.[13][14]
On 28 August 2019, he reached one million subscribers on YouTube.[15] In November 2019, Omilana went viral after he attempted to sneak into the KSI vs. Logan Paul II boxing re-match and enter the ring.[16][9] In December 2019, Omilana appeared on Business Insider's list of "20 YouTube channels you should really subscribe to in 2020".[17] In 2020, Omilana was nominated for a Shorty Award for Breakout YouTuber at the 12th Shorty Awards, losing to Alexandra Mary Hirschi.[18][19]
2021–present: Collaboration and continued growth
Omilana was the subject of controversy in 2022 due to a 2021 video showing conditions within a poultry farm. Animal rights activists investigated the same location two months later and found living conditions for chickens to be considerably worse than those depicted in Omilana's video. Omilana's agency said, “Whilst we take these allegations very seriously and will speak with KFC about these claims, the filming that our client took part in accurately reported the conditions he saw and experienced on the day.”[20]
In May 2022, Omilana went viral after he uploaded a video titled "I Pranked America's Most Racist Man", in which he disguised himself as a journalist for the BBC and travelled to Harrison, Arkansas, to prank Ku Klux Klan grand wizard, Thomas Robb into saying "BLM" (short for the anti-racist slogan "Black Lives Matter") on camera during a fake interview.[21][22][23]
In March 2023, Omilana collaborated with American YouTuber and prankster JiDion and created a prank series on YouTube called "The Biggest Menace", where they competed with each other to pull off as many pranks as they could in a bid to earn the title of "the biggest menace", with each episode uploaded on both Omilana's and JiDion's personal channels. They later attracted media attention after they uploaded an episode of the series called "We Pranked The Mona Lisa", in which Omilana challenged JiDion to sneak in a painting of himself right next to the Mona Lisa painting, which later caused JiDion to get arrested by the French police.[24][25][26]
In April 2023, Omilana was arrested and kicked by a police officer during an attempted visit to the disputed micronation of Liberland. The incident received coverage in Croatian and Serbian media.[27][28]
Electoral candidacies
In the 2021 London mayoral election, Omilana ran as an independent candidate.[29] Omilana received 49,628 votes in the election,[3] securing 2% of the total votes cast, making him the highest-placed independent candidate, beating out other popular independents Piers Corbyn, Laurence Fox, and Count Binface.[30][31] Among his campaign pledges, Omilana suggested turning McDonald's restaurants into social housing and removing the teeth of racists.[4]
Omilana also attempted to run at the 2024 London mayoral election, but his nomination form was declared invalid.[32]
In the 2024 United Kingdom general election, Omilana received attention after candidates named "Niko Omilana" registered as candidates in at least 11 different constituencies,[32] prompting a police investigation.[30][16] It is an offence to provide false information on nomination papers. Standing as a candidate in more than one constituency is also an offense.[30][16] One of the constituencies where Niko Omilana was registered as a candidate is Richmond and Northallerton, the constituency where Rishi Sunak was the incumbent member of parliament.[30] Each person posing as 'Niko Omilana' is a resident at a different address and has nomination papers that have been signed by different members of the public.[32] During his campaign, Omilana hustled £60,100 off his friends and colleagues, including British rapper Stormzy and British YouTuber KSI, among others. They participated in various challenges with large amounts of money on the line. This was under the ruse of him manipulating the challenges so he was more likely to win. This amount was doubled to £120,200 by American YouTuber MrBeast. He donated the entire £120,200 to the Under One Sky homelessness-support charity.[33][34]
Charity football matches
Omilana has participated in several charity football matches, starting with the 2022 Sidemen charity match.[35] Omilana participated in Soccer Aid 2023.[4]
Filmography
Web
Year(s) | Title | Role | Episodes | Ref. |
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2023 | The Biggest Menace | Himself | 7 | [24] |
Music videos
Year | Title | Artist(s) | Role | Ref. |
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2019 | "Vibranium" | Chunkz feat. Neji | Himself | [36] |
Awards and nominations
Ceremony | Year | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
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Rated Awards | 2021 | Personality of the Year | Himself | Won | [37] |
Shorty Awards | 2020 | Breakout YouTuber | Himself | Nominated | [19] |
References
- ^ a b Omilana, Niko [@NikoOmilana] (4 March 2021). "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME ! Big 23 years of age, thank you for all your messages ❤️" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "About Niko Omilana". YouTube.
- ^ a b Nichol, Joshua (12 June 2024). "YouTuber announces he will take on Rishi Sunak in Richmond and Northallerton". the Northern Echo. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Coyle, Simon (11 June 2023). "Soccer Aid 2023: Who is Niko playing for World XI?". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ Harpley, Mary. "Greater London Authority ELECTION OF THE MAYOR OF LONDON On Thursday, 6 May 2021 APPOINTMENT OF ELECTION AGENTS". sutton.gov.uk. Greater London Authority. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Hale, James (2019-10-17). "Creators Going Pro: In February, 5 "Ordinary" YouTubers Joined Forces As 'Beta Squad.' Now, They Have Nearly 400K Subscribers". Tubefilter. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ Onibada, Ade (30 April 2021). "Meet Niko Omilana: The YouTuber Who Wants To Be The Mayor Of London". Buzzfeed News. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Niko Omilana". YouTube. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ a b c O'Dell, Liam (14 June 2024). "Who is election candidate Niko Omilana, and what YouTube pranks has he done?". Indy100. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ Waters, Lowenna (17 May 2018). "This man went 'undercover as a racist' with the EDL and made them look ridiculous". Indy100. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ Evans, Greg (23 August 2018). "YouTube prankster gets Tommy Robinson to endorse his EDL parody movement". Indy100. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ Waters, Lowenna (14 December 2018). "YouTube prankster trolled Tommy Robinson and the EDL in the most perfect way". Indy100. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ Blichert, Frederick (22 February 2019). "Studio71 UK to launch reality web series "Beta Squad" with YouTube creators". Realscreen. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
- ^ Weiss, Geoff (2019-02-19). "Studio71's Talent Management Unit Will Invite 5 Emerging Creators To Collaborate In London Mansion". Tubefilter. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
- ^ Omilana, Niko [@NikoOmilana] (28 August 2019). "1 MILLION i never thought this day would happen, this has been my dream since i was like 12 years old and im so thankful that it has become my job and to hit 1 million subscribers has blown me away, massive thank you to everyone who has helped and supported... BIG UP THE NDL ❤️" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 June 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c Gordon, Anna (2024-06-13). "YouTube Prankster Causing a Stir in U.K. General Election". TIME. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ Dodgson, Lindsay. "20 YouTube channels you should really subscribe to in 2020". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ "NIKO OMILANA Finalist in Breakout Youtuber". shortyawards.com. Shorty Awards. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ a b Perelli, Amanda. "Exclusive: The full list of nominees for the Shorty Awards, including Jeffree Star, Sophie Turner, and Baby Yoda Sipping Tea". Business Insider. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ Wasley, Andrew (12 April 2022). "KFC faces backlash over 'misleading' portrayal of UK chicken farming". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ Browning, Oliver (2022-05-16). YouTuber pranks KKK leader into saying ‘BLM’ during fake BBC interview. Retrieved 2024-06-14 – via Independent.
- ^ Brantley, Max (2022-05-16). "British comic punks KKK leader in Arkansas". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ Harrison, Rhodri (16 May 2022). "America's 'most racist man' has a Welsh flag at his church". www.walesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ a b "How to watch JiDion and Niko's 'The Biggest Menace' YouTube series". Dexerto. 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ "YouTuber Puts Up His Own Portrait Around the Mona Lisa in France's Louvre in Mega Prank". News18. 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ "YouTuber spends night in French jail after hanging fake portrait next to the 'Mona Lisa' for a prank: 'We're witnessing history'". Yahoo Life. 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ "Veliki hit na Youtubeu: Pokušao ući u 'zabranjenu zemlju', pa dobio batine od naše policije!". Jutarnji List. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ "Pokušao da uđe u "zabranjenu zemlju": Hrvatska policija pretukla Jutjubera VIDEO". B92. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ "Niko Omilana: 'The system is broken for young people'". BBC. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d Rack, Susie (12 June 2024). "YouTuber named as candidate in 11 constituencies". BBC. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ Keith, James. "YouTuber Niko Omilana Managed To Come Fifth In London's Mayoral Elections". Complex. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
- ^ a b c Savage, Claudia (12 June 2024). "Police aware as 11 'Niko Omilanas' stand for election in 11 constituencies". Evening Standard. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ Niko Omilana (2024-06-24). I Tricked MrBeast Into Giving Me $100,000. Retrieved 2024-06-25 – via YouTube.
- ^ DAILY, GRM (2024-06-25). "Niko Omilana scams Stormzy, Mr Beast & more in new video". GRM Daily. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- ^ Walker, Timothy (7 September 2022). "Sidemen charity football match: When is it, who is playing and how can I watch it?". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Chunkz X Neji - Vibranium (Official Video)". Retrieved 15 June 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Nazareno, Mia (16 September 2021). "Jorja Smith, Central Cee & More Take Home 2021 GRM Rated Awards: Full Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved 28 February 2024.