TikTok’s king of silent comedy, Khaby Lame, just had a real-life plot twist in Las Vegas. The 25-year-old Italian-Senegalese superstar, who boasts a jaw-dropping 162 million followers, was briefly detained by US immigration officials on June 6 for overstaying his visa, according to ICE.
Lame, famous for his wordless takedowns of internet “life hacks,” landed in the US on April 30. But when it came time to leave, he’d apparently missed the memo on his visa’s expiration. ICE agents stopped him at Harry Reid International Airport, but the saga was short-lived: Khaby was released the same day and allowed to leave the country voluntarily. He’s since jetted out of the US, and as of Saturday, he’s kept mum on social media about the whole ordeal.
Fans are still waiting for Khaby’s trademark “palms up” reaction to the news, but the influencer’s silence is almost on-brand. After all, this is the guy who built a global empire by saying nothing at all. Since his rise from a laid-off factory worker in Italy to a Forbes-featured millionaire, Khaby’s story has been anything but ordinary.
For now, the world’s top TikToker is out of the US, but his viral presence is as strong as ever. Stay tuned—if Khaby Lame does break his silence, you can bet it’ll be with a knowing smile and a gesture that says it all.
