Senegalese Khaby Lame is Now the Official King of TikTok

Cape Town — Senegalese-born comedian Khaby Lame has officially become the most followed TikTok star in the world. The 22-year-old, who posts under the name @khaby.lame, has passed U.S. TikTok creator Charli D’Amelio who had held the top spot since 2020.

Lame now has more than 143.3 million followers compared to D’Amelio’s 142.4 million.

According to Verge, Lame, who’s based in Italy, initially rose to fame through his use of TikTok’s duet and stitch features, reacting wordlessly to complicated and absurd “life hacks.” He now primarily posts silent comedy skits, racking up millions of views and likes. His following began exploding last year, and in recent weeks, fans have launched efforts to push him to the top.

Lame joined the platform in 2020 after being laid off from his factory job.