Khaby Lame, the world’s most-followed personality on TikTok, has exited the United States after being briefly detained by immigration officials in Las Vegas.
Lame — born Serigne Khabane Lame — was detained at Harry Reid International Airport on Friday but allowed to depart the country voluntarily, according to a spokesperson for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He was not deported and did not receive a removal order, which could have barred him from re-entering the country for up to 10 years.
The Senegalese-born, Italian citizen has not publicly addressed the incident and has not responded to requests for comment from the Associated Press.
His detainment comes amid a heightened immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump, whose policies have led to mass ICE operations in cities like Los Angeles, triggering widespread protests. Demonstrations have since spread to other major cities, including New York, Atlanta, and Chicago.
Social Media Accusations Spark Controversy
Self-proclaimed pro-Trump influencer Bo Loudon claimed responsibility for alerting authorities to Lame’s immigration status. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the 18-year-old alleged that Lame had overstayed a visa, evaded taxes, and should be deported.
“I discovered he was an illegal who overstayed an invalid VISA, evaded taxes, and I personally took action to have him deported,” Loudon wrote — though he offered no evidence to support these claims.
Loudon claimed his information came from business contacts who had worked with Lame, but no official confirmation of these details has been provided.
Under the US Visa Waiver Program, Italian citizens can travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa. ICE officials said Lame arrived in the country on April 30 and overstayed the permitted time.
Voluntary Departure Granted
ICE confirmed that Lame was granted a “voluntary departure,” a process that allows foreign nationals to leave the US without a formal deportation order. This approach minimizes the legal consequences on an individual’s immigration record, unlike deportation, which can lead to a lengthy re-entry ban.
A Global Sensation
Lame, 25, skyrocketed to fame during the COVID-19 pandemic with his silent, comedic reactions to overly complicated “life hack” videos. He currently boasts more than 162 million TikTok followers.
He has since secured major brand deals, including a long-term partnership with Hugo Boss in 2022, and made high-profile appearances such as attending last month’s Met Gala in New York — just days after arriving in the US.
Born in Senegal, Lame moved to Italy as a child with his working-class parents and now holds Italian citizenship.
