Khaby Lame Detained at US Airport for Visa Violation

Khaby Lame, the silent comic genius of TikTok, recently ran into a snag during his visit to the United States. The 25-year-old internet star, who hails from Italy and holds the title of the most-followed person on TikTok, was briefly detained by US immigration officials after overstaying his visa.

The incident happened on June 6 at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, where US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents stopped Lame due to immigration violations. He had entered the country on April 30 but apparently stayed beyond the allowed duration of his visa.

Authorities clarified that while he was taken into custody, Lame was released the same day and was granted the option for a "voluntary departure." He has since exited the country. As of Saturday afternoon, he had not yet commented on the situation publicly.

Khaby Lame's rise to fame is one of those feel-good internet stories. After losing his job as a factory worker in Italy during the early days of the pandemic, he turned to TikTok and began creating simple, silent videos that hilariously debunked overly complicated life hacks. His trademark expression, palms up, brows raised, as if to say, "Why complicate things?", turned him into a global sensation.

With over 162 million followers, his influence now reaches far beyond social media. He's worked with major brands, earned millions in marketing deals, and even became a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. Forbes estimates he made around $16.5 million from June 2022 to September 2023 alone.

While this visa hiccup may have disrupted his stay in the US, it’s unlikely to dent his rising star. Whether he’s in Italy, the US, or anywhere else, the internet will always have room for his uniquely simple brand of humor.