LOS ANGELES, June 8 — US immigration authorities detained Khaby Lame, the world’s most-followed TikTok star, before allowing him to leave the country voluntarily after overstaying his visa, officials said yesterday.
LOS ANGELES, June 8 — US immigration authorities detained Khaby Lame, the world’s most-followed TikTok star, before allowing him to leave the country voluntarily after overstaying his visa, officials said yesterday.
“US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Seringe Khabane Lame, 25, an Italian citizen, on June 6 at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, due to immigration violations,” the agency said in a statement to AFP.
Lame had entered the US on April 30 and “overstayed the terms of his visa,” according to the statement. He was taken into custody on Friday and released the same day. Authorities confirmed that he has since left the United States.
As of Saturday afternoon, Lame had not publicly commented on the matter.
An Italian national and Unicef goodwill ambassador, Lame is best known for his viral TikTok videos mocking overly complicated life hacks. With more than 162 million followers, he currently holds the top spot on the platform.
Lame's content—often silent and highlighted by his signature gesture of outstretched palms, a knowing smile, and wide eyes—catapulted him to global fame. The idea for his videos came after he lost his job as a factory mechanic in Chivasso, near Turin, in March 2020.
Between June 2022 and September 2023, his popularity translated into approximately US$16.5 million in earnings from brand partnerships, according to Forbes.
The incident comes amid stricter immigration policies under US President Donald Trump, who assumed office in January and has since launched a large-scale deportation effort, parts of which have faced legal challenges in US courts. — AFP
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