Seringe Khabane Lame, better known as Khaby Lame, the most followed TikTok personality globally, was recently detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Las Vegas. The 25-year-old Italian citizen was allowed to “self-deport” after overstaying his visa, which he had obtained to attend the Met Gala in May.
Lame, who has amassed over 162 million followers on TikTok, was apprehended by ICE agents at the Harry Reid International Airport on June 6, marking the end of his American tour. A senior official from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Lame was detained for violating the terms of his visa.
The official further stated that Lame was granted voluntary departure on June 6 and has since left the US. Born in Senegal, Lame had entered the US on a temporary visa on April 30. He was last seen in New York City attending the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, dressed in a stylish gray suit adorned with pocket watches.
The incident gained significant attention after political activist Bo Loudon claimed he had personally reported Lame to immigration authorities. He alleged that the TikTok star was being held at the Henderson Detention Center in Nevada. However, Lame, known for his humorous clips and travel videos, has not publicly addressed the incident.
Despite being born in West Africa, Lame has spent most of his life in Italy. He joined TikTok during the pandemic out of boredom, which led to his rapid rise to fame. His videos, mostly silent, engage viewers with humor expressed through his comedic body language as he reacts to videos and online sketches.
In 2022, Lame surpassed social media sensation Charli D’Amelio to become the most followed content creator on TikTok, a title he has held for three years. Before his rise to stardom, Lame worked at a local factory to support his family. He has previously stated that he now earns millions from his videos.