Latest news with #Lame
NDTV
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Who Is Khaby Lame, TikTok Star Detained By US Immigration
Khaby Lame, the world's most popular TikTok star, was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Las Vegas and was granted permission to "self-deport" after he overstayed his visa. The 25-year-old TikToker with 162 million followers was reportedly detained by ICE officers at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 6, for "immigration violations" but he was released the same day after being granted a voluntary departure. "Lame was granted voluntary departure June 6 and has since self-deported the US," a senior Department of Homeland Security official told The New York Post. The ICE added that Mr Lame entered the country on April 30 and "overstayed the terms of his visa." Who Is Khaby Lame? Senegalese native Khaby Lame - whose real name is Seringe Khabane Lame - became popular worldwide during the COVID pandemic owing to his sardonic, silent reaction videos on Instagram and TikTok. The Italian citizen has more than 80 million Instagram followers and over 162 million TikTok followers who enjoyed Mr Lame's videos that parodied the complicated lessons and advice widely available online. He presented his own straightforward solutions while weaving the videos with his signature gesture - palms towards the sky, wide eyes and an insightful smile. Mr Lame came up with the unique concept for his content while exploring the housing project in Chivasso, close to Turin, after he lost his work as a factory mechanic in March 2020. His humour expressed through amusing body language in response to web sketches and videos enthralled viewers. In 2022, he overtook social media sensation Charli D'Amelio as the most popular content creator on TikTok, a position the Senegalese-Italian influencer has held for the past three years. According to Forbes, he made an estimated $16.5 million (approximately Rs 1,412,604,666) via marketing agreements between June 2022 and September 2023 due to his popular posts. Moreover, he has received recognition from renowned platforms like Fortune's 40 Under 40 and Forbes' 30 Under 30. Mr Lame has also served as a judge on Italia's Got Talent in 2023, a jury for TikTok shorts at Cannes 2022, a cameo in Bad Boys: Ride or Die in 2024. He was named a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in 2025, with a focus on the rights of African youth and children. Mr Lame obtained a temporary visa and arrived in the US on April 30. He also attended the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York City last month in a grey suit strewn with pocket watches. Political activist Bo Loudon said he reported Mr Lame to immigration authorities and claimed the TikToker was being incarcerated at the Henderson Detention Centre in Nevada. The ICE, though, said that Mr Lame "departed the US" on June 6 after being permitted to leave voluntarily.
Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Khaby Lame deported from US under Trump immigration crackdown, resurfaces in Italy with social media update
TikTok star Khaby Lame has reappeared on social media days after being swept up in former President Donald Trump's intensified immigration enforcement campaign. Lame, 25, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 6 at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas for overstaying his visa. He had arrived in the United States on April 30. ICE, in an official statement, confirmed: 'Seringe Khabane Lame, 25, a citizen of Italy, was detained… for immigration violations.' The agency noted that Lame was granted 'voluntary departure' and has since left the country. Now back in Italy, the Senegal-born content creator resumed posting on Instagram, sharing serene images of himself walking along a leafy Italian street and posing with Brazilian soccer player Emerson Royal, who plays for AC Milan. One post featured an image of Venice Beach paired with 2Pac's 'Keep Ya Head Up,' suggesting a reflective farewell to the U.S. Lame's deportation ignited debate across social media, with critics questioning the rationale behind detaining an Italian citizen known for his global popularity and commercial partnerships. Lame, who boasts over 162 million TikTok followers, has worked with major brands like Doritos, Boss, and Binance. His rise to fame began during the pandemic, when his silent reaction videos mocking overly complex 'life hacks' went viral. In 2022, following public pressure, Italy formally granted Lame citizenship. Since then, he has walked the Milan Fashion Week runway, attended the Met Gala, and served as assistant coach at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. Though he has yet to issue a public statement about the incident, Lame's signature shrug — and silence — appear to say it all. His name no longer appears in ICE's detainee database.
TimesLIVE
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
TikTok star Khaby Lame detained in US for visa violation, ‘self-deports'
Senegalese-Italian social media sensation Khaby Lame, the world's most-followed TikTok creator, was detained by US immigration authorities and forced to 'self-deport' after overstaying his visa following a high-profile appearance at the Met Gala in May. The 25-year-old influencer — whose real name is Seringe Khabane Lame and who holds Italian citizenship — was stopped by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on June 6, officials confirmed. According to a recent post on Instagram, Lame is now in Brazil. Lame, who has amassed 162-million followers on TikTok for his trademark silent reaction videos and comedic content, had been in the US for several public engagements, including the Met Gala held in New York in early May. Sources suggest his travel documents allowed only a temporary stay, and he failed to exit the country before the visa's expiry. Rather than face formal removal proceedings, Lame was reportedly offered the opportunity to 'self-deport', a voluntary departure process often used in immigration cases involving public figures or first-time offenders. It remains unclear whether Lame will face additional restrictions on future travel to the US. Representatives for the star have not commented publicly on the matter.
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First Post
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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
The Herald Scotland
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Khaby Lame detained by ICE: TikTok star has left the US
Born in Senegal, Lame is now a citizen of Italy, where he has spent the majority of his life. Entering the U.S. on April 30, Lame "overstayed the terms of his visa," according to ICE, and was granted voluntary departure once detained. Online, young female OnlyFans stars make their lives look aspirational. Is it problematic? Why is Khaby Lame famous? The 25-year-old content creator has one of the most recognizable faces on the internet. Rising to fame during the pandemic, after being laid off from his factory job in Italy in March of 2020, Lame's signature video style involves him following along as another creator demonstrates a complicated life hack, then completing the task himself with ease, often wordlessly, and shooting a knowing look at the camera. Using the hashtag "learnfromkhaby" on many of his videos, Lame's fame is more akin to the internet stardom of yore, in which an exasperated look or a quick humorous bit, stripped of any high production value or product placement, could take off on Vine. Lame attended the 2025 Met Gala in May, celebrating the theme of Black dandyism in style with a bespoke gray zoot suit-style ensemble. Beyond internet stardom, he is also an ambassador for men's clothing house Boss, Blockchain platform Binance and Unicef, a humanitarian aid organization. The biggest moments from the 2025 Met Gala: Rihanna, Diana Ross, more red carpet highlights Lame's detainment comes amid a larger immigration crackdown spearheaded by President Donald Trump. Following through on a campaign promise for mass deportations, under Trump's advisement, ICE launched raids across the country, from classrooms to workplaces to airports. The move has been met with some resistance among the general public and the courts, who argue that some of the deportations have robbed people of due process and that, in the case of separated families, they embody a cruelty discordant with America's values.
