Viral sensation and TikTok star Khaby Lame shockingly detained in the US
ArchiveFirst published June 9, 2025. It may not reflect later developments.
Khaby Lame, the world’s most-followed TikToker, was briefly detained by U.S. immigration authorities on June 6 at Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport. The 25-year-old Italian influencer was held for overstaying his visa during a visit that began in late April.
Lame had traveled to the U.S. to attend the Met Gala on May 5, collaborating with Hugo Boss for the event. But as he tried to leave the country, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained him. He was released the same day and has since left the U.S., according to ICE.
Despite the incident, Lame hasn’t publicly commented. Instead, he continued posting on TikTok — including a lighthearted Minecraft-inspired promo video with Tony the Tiger.
Lame began creating silent, expressive videos in 2020 after losing his factory job during the pandemic. “I was just making videos to make people happy,” he told Today. His wordless comedy now reaches over 162 million fans worldwide.
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