Khaby Lame may not be a name everyone immediately recognizes, but there’s a good chance you’ve seen his face or come across his content. As the most followed person on TikTok and with massive followings across other social media platforms, Lame’s rise to fame has been meteoric. However, with such fame comes inevitable backlash, and some are wondering if we are starting to see that play out for him now.
Lame, 24, shot to viral fame during the pandemic with his TikTok videos, where he mocked overly complicated “life hacks” by demonstrating simpler, more effective solutions. What made his videos unique—and more accessible—was that he never spoke in them, making his content relatable to a global audience. His easygoing, humorous approach to life hacks earned him a massive following, but fame always comes with a catch: haters.
Some critics have pointed out that Lame’s content is too simple, and others questioned if he deserved his level of fame given what they perceived as a lack of effort. This sentiment was amplified when a YouTube channel, SunnyV2, released a video titled “Why Khaby Lame Has Suddenly Become Hated,” which quickly gained over 4 million views. In the video, SunnyV2 highlighted how some fans of TikTok’s second biggest star, Charli D’Amelio, openly criticized Lame and his straightforward content.
The controversy didn’t stop there. Lame faced criticism after posting a video where he spoke out against racism. He told racist followers to unfollow him, stressing that he wasn’t interested in fostering an environment of hate. He said, “You can also unfollow me. I don’t care about the numbers, I care about your hearts! If you do think of something new, do it right and in a positive way.” While his stance against racism seemed entirely reasonable, it led to unexpected backlash, with some accusing him of being anti-racist in a way that rubbed people the wrong way.
In the SunnyV2 video, Lame also faced criticism for allegedly using body shaming in his videos, further intensifying the online debate about his content. Some critics even pointed out how fickle social media fame can be, where someone can be on a major talk show one moment and then seemingly disappear from the spotlight the next.
Another controversy arose when Lame shared his experience performing Umrah, a religious pilgrimage to Mecca. He posted a picture in front of the Kaaba, the holy structure in the center of Mecca’s Grand Mosque, and shared a heartfelt message of gratitude to God. Lame spoke about his struggles and how his faith had given him the strength to persevere. Unfortunately, his post sparked a wave of Islamophobic comments from hateful online users.
Despite all the negativity, Lame has managed to stay positive and take everything in stride. Recently, he announced that he would be taking a step back from TikTok to focus on other projects, including his role as a judge on Italy’s Got Talent and his upcoming movie, 00Khaby.
It’s clear that no matter how big someone gets, there will always be criticism and controversy to deal with. Lame’s ability to navigate this while staying true to his values shows that he’s more than just a viral sensation—he’s handling the pressures of fame with resilience.