Rumors recently spread that Khabane “Khaby” Lame, one of TikTok’s biggest stars, was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for illegally staying in the United States. A supposed screenshot from the ICE website listing his name went viral, shared by social media influencer Lo Boudon, described as Barron Trump’s best friend. However, the claim is false. The screenshot, which referenced a “Serigne Khabane Lame,” does not pertain to Khaby and was debunked as fake by social media users.
Known for his silent, humorous videos showcasing simple life hacks, Khaby Lame has no reported ties to residing in the US. Born in Senegal on March 9, 2000, he moved to Italy at age one. In 2022, he was granted Italian citizenship. “I already felt Italian before, so little has changed,” he said after the ceremony. “But now I’m officially Italian on paper.”
Khabane “Khaby” Lame, a Senegalese-Italian TikTok star, is the platform’s most-followed creator, with over 162 million followers as of 2025. He rose to fame during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic after losing his factory job in Chivasso, Italy. In June 2022, he surpassed Charli D’Amelio to become TikTok’s top creator. With an estimated net worth of $16 million, he earns up to $750,000 per post through partnerships with brands like Hugo Boss, Fortnite, and Walmart. Khaby has also ventured into acting, appearing in Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024), starring in the Tubi series Khaby Is Coming to America, and serving as a judge on Italia’s Got Talent. A practicing Muslim, he married Wendy Thembelihle Juel in 2023, but the couple separated by May 2024. Khaby has been recognized in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and Fortune’s 40 Under 40.
