2 days ago
World's biggest TikTok star, Khaby Lame, detained by US, told to leave
Immigration officials in the US have confirmed they detained and then told one of the world's biggest TikTok stars to leave the country because he 'overstayed the terms of his visa'.
Khaby Lame, who has more than 160 million followers on the social media site, voluntarily left the US on Friday, it's been reported.
The 25-year-old Senegalese-Italian became famous for his comedy skills and parody of ridiculous 'life hacks' offered up online, and in May was a guest at New York's Met Gala.
'US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Seringe Khabane Lame, 25, a citizen of Italy, (on) June 6, at the Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada for immigration violations,' ICE said in a statement to America's National Public Radio (NPR).
ICE said Lame entered the country legally on April 30 but stayed there beyond his visa limits.
'Lame was granted voluntary departure June 6 and has since departed the US,' the statement read.
ESTA authorisation for the US, which many people travel on, lasts for up to two years but has a number of work restrictions. P visas, which performers can obtain, often last only for the duration of an event or project which the person is completing.
Authorities did not say what visa Lame was on.
By departing voluntarily, he should face fewer hurdles upon returning to the US in future.
However, NBC has reported that Sharks Celebrities Management, which represents Lame, said the ICE statement was 'fake news' and the star had not been in the US this month.
The agency added that the 'name mentioned is not his birth name'.
The Lame incident went viral after political activist Bo Loudon claimed he personally reported Lame to immigration authorities and alleged that the TikToker was being held at the Henderson Detention Centre in Nevada.
Lame, whose social media accounts are filled with humorous clips and videos of his globetrotting exploits, has yet to publicly discuss the incident.
Although born in West Africa, Lame has spent the majority of his life in Italy, where he joined TikTok during the pandemic out of boredom before his meteoric rise.
