Khaby Lame, the world’s most-followed TikTok personality, has been deported from the United States after allegedly overstaying his visa, according to a report by The New York Times. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that the 25-year-old social media star was detained last Friday at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
Lame, an Italian-Senegalese national with over 160 million TikTok followers, reportedly entered the U.S. on April 30, 2025, but remained beyond the authorized period permitted by his visa. ICE stated that Lame’s continued stay violated immigration rules, prompting his detention and removal from the country.
The silent comedian, best known for his wordless reactions to convoluted “life hack” videos, has enjoyed meteoric global fame in recent years. His social media success catapulted him into high-profile brand collaborations, a cameo in a Hollywood movie, and a reality TV series titled Khaby Is Coming To America, which aired on Tubi.
News of Lame’s deportation quickly ignited online debate, with reactions divided along political lines. Bo Loudon, a conservative Gen Z influencer and vocal Trump supporter, claimed partial responsibility for the action. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Loudon wrote:
“Every single illegal alien needs to be DEPORTED. When I found out the biggest TikTok star, Khaby Lame, is an illegal alien evading taxes, I worked with Trump’s ICE to have him removed.”
Lame has not publicly commented on the deportation. However, on Monday, he posted an Instagram Story tagged in São Paulo, Brazil, marking his first verified location since leaving U.S. soil.
His former lawyer, Riccardo Lanzo, acknowledged some ambiguity surrounding Lame’s immigration status. “Khaby spent significant time in the U.S., but the details of his visa situation were never made fully clear,” Lanzo told The New York Times.
It remains unclear whether Lame will be allowed re-entry into the United States in the near future or if this incident will impact his ongoing international projects.
