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Why Khaby Lame, the world's most-followed TikToker, was forced to leave US
Khaby Lame, the social media influencer with 162.2 million followers and known for his silent comic video, was reportedly briefly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the US last week. The Senegal-born Italian content creator allegedly overstayed in the US after his visa expired, violating immigration rules. However, he was released the same day and has now left the country read more
Khabane "Khaby" Lame, is a Senegalese-Italian content creator with over 162 million TikTok followers was reportedly briefly detained by US immigration authorities over visa violation. Image courtesy: Instagram/@Khabane Lame
Khaby Lame, the most-followed personality on TikTok, landed in an unexpected situation last week. The 24-year-old social media sensation, famous for his wordless comedy videos, was reportedly detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Las Vegas on Friday.
According to a statement by ICE, Khaby was briefly held due to alleged immigration violations but was released soon after being issued a voluntary departure. He has since left the country.
So what exactly happened? And why was TikTok's favourite star suddenly in the spotlight for something so serious? Here's a breakdown of the incident.
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Why was Khaby Lame detained by immigration authorities?
According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Lame, who is an Italian citizen, was detained in Nevada over alleged immigration violations.
'The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Seringe Khabane Lame, 25, a citizen of Italy, June 6 at the Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, for immigration violations,' ICE said in the statement given to Men's Journal.
Officials noted that the 24-year-old influencer had entered the United States on April 30 but overstayed the permitted duration of his visa. However, 'Lame was granted voluntary departure June 6 and has since departed the US,' the agency added.
As of Tuesday morning, Lame had not publicly commented on the matter. However, Barron Trump's close aide and social media influencer, Bo Loudon, was the first to post about the incident on X, claiming that Lame had been arrested in Las Vegas and was being held at the Henderson Detention Centre.
Referring to Lame as an 'illegal alien,' Loudon alleged that he had personally tipped off authorities about the visa overstay.
'I discovered he was illegal, who overstayed an invalid visa, evaded taxes, and I personally took action to have him deported,' he wrote in his post. Loudon also claimed he worked with 'the patriots at President Trump's DHS to make this happen'.
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Since returning to the office in January, US President Donald Trump has pushed for stricter immigration enforcement. His administration has already begun rolling out a mass deportation campaign , parts of which are currently facing legal challenges in US courts.
Who is Khaby Lame?
Khabane 'Khaby' Lame, born on March 9, 2000, is a Senegalese-Italian content creator who currently holds the top spot on TikTok, boasting over 162 million followers as of 2025.
He first rose to fame during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, shortly after losing his job as a factory mechanic in Chivasso, near Turin, Italy, a city he's called home since he was just one year old.
The inspiration for his now-famous content reportedly struck while he was spending time around the housing complex where he lived. Since then, his rise has been nothing short of meteoric.
Khaby became a global sensation thanks to his silent, straight-faced comedy videos that poke fun at overly complicated 'life hacks.'
His signature style relies on expressive gestures, especially his trademark move: arms stretched out, palms up and wide eyes. His wordless style, inspired by universal humour, has made him globally relatable.
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In June 2022, he officially became TikTok's most-followed creator, overtaking Charli D'Amelio.
According to Forbes, between June 2022 and September 2023, Lame earned up to $750,000 per post, building a net worth estimated at $16.5 million through partnerships with brands such as Hugo Boss, Fortnite, and Walmart.
He has also been named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
Beyond social media, Khaby has expanded into acting and television. He appeared in Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024), starred in the Tubi series Khaby Is Coming to America, and served as a judge on Italia's Got Talent.
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His influence has also earned him spots on prestigious lists like Forbes 30 Under 30 and Fortune 40 Under 40.
A practising Muslim, Khaby married Wendy Thembelihle Juel in 2023. However, the couple separated by May 2024.
With input from agencies
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