Senegalese-Italian Tik Tok star Khabane “Khaby” Lame, the most followed personality on TikTok with 205.2 million subscribers, has left the United States after a brief detention by the US Immigration authorities (ICE) for violating immigration laws. According to an ICE communiqué published on 7 June 2025, ” Khabane Lame, 25, an Italian citizen, was detained on 6 June at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, for having overstayed his visa. I’m not sure. Arriving in the United States on 30 April 2025, Khaby Lame was granted a “voluntary departure” on 6 June and has since left the country. The influencer, appointed ambassador of UNICEF in January 2025, has not yet commented publicly on the incident at the time of the publication of the communiqué. Famous for his silent videos where he mocks with humour complex tutorials, punctuating his interventions with a characteristic gesture paumes vers le ciel, sourire complice et regard expressif , Khaby Lame has conquered a worldwide audience. Its popularity has allowed it to generate substantial revenues, estimated at around $16.5 million between June 2022 and September 2023 through partnerships with brands such as Hugo Boss, Fortnite and Walmart, according to Forbes. The incident, initially relayed by unverified publications on social networks, sparked online debates, some denouncing a politicization of the affair.
The United States: very bad news for Kaby Lame
