Most followed TikTok star Khaby Lame deported from U.S. over visa violation

Khaby Lame, the Italian-Senegalese social media sensation and world’s most-followed TikTok creator, has reportedly been deported from the United States for overstaying his visa.

According to The New York Times, the 25-year-old was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last Friday at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. ICE later confirmed the arrest and deportation in an official statement.

Lame had entered the United States on April 30, but authorities say he “overstayed the terms of his visa,” leading to his removal from the country.

Known for his hilarious, wordless reaction videos mocking overly complicated life hacks, Khaby Lame rose to global fame during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since amassed millions of fans worldwide. His signature style wide-eyed facial expressions and deadpan humor made him a household name on TikTok and beyond.

His online popularity led to collaborations with global fashion brands, a role in a Hollywood film, and a reality show on Tubi titled Khaby Is Coming To America.

His deportation has sparked a storm of reactions online.

“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. He’s since been detained by ICE and removed,” Bo Loudon, a Gen Z Trump supporter and self-styled activist, wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Following his deportation, Lame has not issued any formal statement. However, on Monday, he posted an Instagram story tagged in São Paulo, Brazil, marking his first confirmed location since leaving the US

Lame’s former legal representative, Riccardo Lanzo, told The New York Times that the influencer had spent significant time in the US recently but acknowledged uncertainty regarding his visa status.

The case came amid a broader immigration enforcement push under Trump’s renewed administration.