TikTok star Khaby Lame detained in US over visa violation
Lame rose to fame in 2020 after losing his job in a factory during the Covid-19 pandemic. PHOTO: FILE
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Khaby Lame, the world's most-followed TikTok creator, was briefly detained by US immigration officials in Las Vegas last Friday for overstaying his visa, according to a statement from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Lame, 25, who holds Italian citizenship and was born in Senegal, had arrived in the United States on April 30 to attend the Met Gala on May 5. He was detained on June 6 at Harry Reid International Airport while attempting to leave the country. ICE confirmed he had violated immigration terms but was released the same day and has since departed the US.
Despite boasting over 162 million followers and 2.5 billion likes on TikTok, the social media star faced the same legal scrutiny as any other traveler. Lame has not publicly commented on the incident but appeared unfazed, posting a new promotional video just a day later.
Lame rose to fame in 2020 after losing his job in a factory during the Covid-19 pandemic. Known for his signature silent reactions and comedic simplicity, he quickly became a global sensation. In past interviews, Lame credited his expressive, wordless style as the reason his content resonates across languages and cultures.
His recent detainment is seen by many as a brief hiccup in an otherwise meteoric rise from factory worker to global digital icon.Despite boasting over 162 million followers and 2.5 billion likes on TikTok, the social media star faced the same legal scrutiny as any other traveler. Lame has not publicly commented on the incident but appeared unfazed, posting a new promotional video just a day later.
Lame rose to fame in 2020 after losing his job in a factory during the Covid-19 pandemic. Known for his signature silent reactions and comedic simplicity, he quickly became a global sensation. In past interviews, Lame credited his expressive, wordless style as the reason his content resonates across languages and cultures.
His recent detainment is seen by many as a brief hiccup in an otherwise meteoric rise from factory worker to global digital icon.
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