Behzinga

Ethan Leigh Payne (born June 20, 1995), known professionally as Behzinga, is a British YouTuber, fitness advocate, and founding member of the Sidemen. With 4.9+ million subscribers, Behzinga has become one of YouTube's most inspiring transformation stories, documenting his journey from struggling with mental health and weight issues to becoming a fitness role model and mental health advocate.

As the youngest founding member of the Sidemen, Ethan has grown up in the public eye, sharing his authentic journey through adolescence into adulthood. His willingness to discuss depression, anxiety, addiction, and body image issues has made him one of the platform's most relatable and respected creators, particularly among young audiences facing similar challenges.

Beyond his personal transformation, Behzinga has emerged as a standout athlete in the Sidemen Charity Football Matches, consistently demonstrating impressive stamina and performance. His engagement to fellow content creatorFaith Kelly in 2024 marked another milestone in his public personal journey.

Ethan Leigh Payne was born on June 20, 1995, in London, England. Growing up in a challenging family environment, Ethan faced difficulties from an early age that would later inform his mental health advocacy work. He attended South Bank University Academy (now South Bank Engineering UTC), where he developed friendships that would later become part of his YouTube journey.

From a young age, Ethan struggled with depression and low self-esteem, challenges exacerbated by issues at home and school. Gaming became an escape and coping mechanism, leading him to discover YouTube as a creative outlet. In February 2012, at just 16 years old, he created his Behzinga channel, initially uploading FIFA gameplay and comedic commentary.

The channel name "Behzinga" was inspired by Sheldon Cooper's "Bazinga" catchphrase from The Big Bang Theory, with Ethan adding his own twist to create a unique online identity. His early content reflected typical teenage gaming videos, but his authentic personality and willingness to be himself—even when vulnerable—began attracting a dedicated audience who connected with his genuine approach.

Early Content and Sidemen Formation (2012-2016)

Behzinga's initial content focused on FIFA gameplay, pack openings, and gaming challenges similar to other UK FIFA YouTubers of the era. What distinguished his content was his infectious energy and willingness to show genuine emotion—whether excitement at packing a good player or frustration at losing matches. This authenticity resonated with viewers seeking relatable gaming content.

In October 2013, Ethan became a founding member of the Sidemen at just 18 years old, making him the youngest member of the group. The Sidemen collaboration accelerated his channel growth exponentially, introducing him to millions of new viewers through group challenges, football videos, and collaborative content. Despite being the youngest, Ethan held his own in the group's dynamic, often serving as the target of jokes but also dishing out humor himself.

Struggles and Vulnerability (2017-2018)

Behind the energetic on-camera personality, Ethan was privately struggling with severe depression, alcoholism, and weight gain. By 2017, these issues had reached a crisis point, affecting his mental and physical health. In a watershed moment for his channel and career, Ethan decided to speak openly about his struggles in emotional videos that broke down the facade many creators maintain.

His honesty about depression, addiction, and body image issues marked a turning point—not just for Ethan personally, but for YouTube mental health discourse generally. Young viewers, particularly young men who often feel pressure to hide emotional struggles, found someone speaking their truth. The response was overwhelming, with millions expressing gratitude for his vulnerability and sharing their own stories.

I realized I couldn't keep pretending everything was okay. If sharing my struggle helps even one person feel less alone, it's worth being vulnerable.

Fitness Transformation Era (2018-2020)

In 2018, Ethan embarked on a transformative fitness journey that would redefine his content and personal brand. Documenting every step—from initial workouts where he struggled with basic exercises to gradually building strength and endurance—Behzinga created one of YouTube's most comprehensive fitness transformation documentaries. His honesty about setbacks, plateaus, and mental struggles made the journey relatable rather than aspirational fantasy.

Over two years, Ethan lost over 20 kilograms, completely transforming his physique and relationship with fitness. More importantly, he demonstrated how physical fitness directly improved his mental health, providing structure, goals, and a healthy coping mechanism. His transformation videos garnered tens of millions of views, inspiring countless viewers to begin their own fitness journeys with realistic expectations.

Continued Evolution (2021-2026)

Post-transformation, Behzinga has maintained his fitness while evolving content to include advanced workout tutorials, nutrition advice, mental health check-ins, and relationship content with Faith Kelly. His second channel features gaming content, allowing him to maintain his roots while the main channel focuses on lifestyle, fitness, and motivational content.

In 2026, Behzinga continues balancing fitness content with Sidemen collaborations, having found a sustainable content strategy that serves both his personal brand and group commitments. Recent series include "Training Like..." where he adopts athletes' workout routines, couples challenges with Faith, and mental health Q&As where he answers viewer questions about managing anxiety and depression.

Behzinga's fitness transformation represents one of YouTube's most documented and inspiring health journeys. Starting in early 2018 at his heaviest weight, Ethan partnered with personal trainers and nutritionists to develop a sustainable approach focused on long-term lifestyle change rather than quick fixes. This methodology proved crucial to his success and differentiates his story from unrealistic transformation narratives.

His approach combined:

• Structured Training: Progressive gym routines starting with basic movements, gradually increasing intensity
• Nutrition Education: Learning about calories, macronutrients, and sustainable eating patterns vs. restrictive diets
• Mental Health Focus: Using fitness as mental health management tool, not just physical transformation
• Accountability: Public documentation creating external motivation and community support
• Flexibility: Allowing setbacks and plateaus without giving up, promoting self-compassion
• Professional Support: Working with trainers, therapists, and medical professionals

The physical results proved remarkable—Ethan lost over 20kg, built visible muscle definition, and dramatically improved his cardiovascular fitness. His performance in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Sidemen Charity Matches showcased his athletic transformation, with Ethan running tirelessly throughout 90-minute matches and scoring multiple goals.

The transformation isn't just physical. I can now run for 90 minutes in a charity match when two years ago I couldn't jog for 5 minutes. That's life-changing.

Perhaps most impactfully, Behzinga's journey demonstrated that transformation is possible while being transparent about struggles. He didn't present a perfect journey—he showed failed workouts, dietary mishaps, periods of low motivation, and mental health rough patches. This honesty made his success feel achievable rather than intimidating, inspiring thousands of viewers to begin their own journeys.

Behzinga has become one of the UK YouTube community's most prominent mental health advocates, using his platform to normalize conversations about depression, anxiety, and addiction. His advocacy work extends beyond his own story to actively promoting mental health resources, supporting charities, and creating safe spaces for viewers to discuss their struggles.

His approach to mental health content balances vulnerability with responsibility—he shares his experiences authentically while consistently directing viewers toward professional help rather than positioning himself as an expert. This ethical approach has earned respect from mental health professionals who recognize the positive impact of celebrity advocacy when done thoughtfully.

Key aspects of his mental health advocacy include:

• Regular "mental health check-in" videos discussing his current state openly
• Collaboration with mental health charities like Mind and CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
• Speaking at schools and universities about mental health awareness
• Creating resource guides for viewers seeking professional help
• Normalizing therapy and professional support through discussing his own counseling experiences
• Addressing male mental health stigma specifically, encouraging men to seek help

The impact of his advocacy is measurable—countless viewers credit Behzinga's openness with inspiring them to seek therapy, speak to loved ones about struggles, or simply feel less alone. Mental health organizations have recognized his contribution, with some featuring him in campaigns aimed at young audiences.

Behzinga's relationship with Faith Kelly, a content creator and influencer, became public in 2022, quickly becoming a beloved aspect of his content. Faith, who creates lifestyle and fashion content, brings a complementary energy to Ethan's videos, with their genuine chemistry evident in collaborative content.

Their relationship content strikes a balance between sharing moments with fans and maintaining privacy—they feature each other in vlogs, challenges, and Q&As while keeping more intimate aspects of their relationship private. This boundary-setting has helped maintain authenticity while avoiding the pitfalls of over-sharing that sometimes plague YouTube couple content.

In December 2024, Ethan proposed to Faith during a romantic getaway, sharing the engagement with fans through an emotional video that garnered millions of views. The proposal represented a significant personal milestone for Ethan, who has spoken about how Faith supported him through ongoing mental health management and provided stability during challenging periods.

Faith has been my rock through everything. She sees me on my worst days and loves me anyway. That's real partnership.

As of 2026, the couple is planning their wedding while continuing to create both individual and collaborative content. Their relationship represents a mature, supportive partnership that contrasts with the dramatic relationship content sometimes seen on YouTube, offering viewers a model of healthy communication and mutual support.

Within the Sidemen, Behzinga occupies a unique position as the youngest founding member and the group's most transformed individual. His Sidemen role has evolved from being frequently the "butt of jokes" in earlier content to becoming respected for his athletic ability and motivational energy in challenges and football matches.

In Sidemen Sunday videos, Ethan brings competitive energy and willingness to fully commit to challenges, whether they're physical competitions, creative tasks, or comedic scenarios. His fitness transformation has made him increasingly competitive in physical challenges, creating entertaining dynamics where he now outperforms members who previously dominated athletic content.

The Sidemen Charity Football Matches have become Behzinga showcases—his stamina, work rate, and skill improvements have made him one of the team's most reliable players. In the 2024 charity match at London Stadium before 60,000 spectators, Ethan scored and provided assists while running tirelessly for the full match, demonstrating the tangible results of his transformation journey.

Beyond on-camera contributions, Ethan is involved in Sidemen business operations, particularly the Sides restaurant chain where his fitness knowledge informed healthier menu options. He's also active in Sidemen Clothing and XIX Vodka promotional campaigns, though he's spoken about managing alcohol brand promotion while maintaining his sobriety—a nuanced position he handles by focusing on responsible consumption messaging.

Behzinga's achievements span content creation, fitness transformation documentation, and mental health advocacy:

• 4.9+ million subscribers (main channel, 2026)
• 1.5+ billion total video views
• 20kg+ documented weight loss transformation (2018-2020)
• Founding member of Sidemen (50+ million collective subscribers)
• Mental health advocate partnerships with Mind and CALM charities
• Key performer in charity matches raising £2M+ (2018-2024)
• Featured in multiple fitness publications documenting transformation
• Speaking engagements at schools/universities about mental health
• Engagement to Faith Kelly (2024)
• Maintained sobriety and fitness lifestyle (2018-present)

His transformation videos collectively have over 50 million views, inspiring countless fitness journeys worldwide. Mental health organizations have cited his content as positive examples of celebrity advocacy done responsibly, while fitness communities recognize his realistic, sustainable approach to transformation.

Behzinga's legacy extends beyond subscriber counts to represent the potential for genuine transformation and the power of vulnerability in digital media. His willingness to document struggles—not just successes—has created a blueprint for authentic content creation that prioritizes wellbeing over constant performance.

For fitness content, Ethan demonstrated that transformations can be documented honestly, including setbacks, without diminishing the achievement. His approach counters toxic fitness culture by promoting self-compassion, sustainable methods, and mental health as primary goals with physical transformation as a beneficial side effect.

In mental health advocacy, Behzinga has helped normalize young men discussing depression and anxiety—a demographic that statistically struggles to seek help due to stigma. By showing that vulnerability is strength and help-seeking is courageous, he's likely contributed to saving lives, a impact impossible to fully quantify but evident in countless viewer testimonials.

As the Sidemen continue evolving into 2026 and beyond, Behzinga represents the individual growth possible within collaborative creator groups. His transformation—physical, mental, and personal—demonstrates that online personalities can use their platforms for genuine positive impact while building successful careers. His story continues inspiring new audiences discovering his content, proving that authentic vulnerability creates timeless, meaningful connections.