Khaby Lame is a TikTok creator who is known for silently mocking overly-complicated life hack videos. His videos usually feature another user’s hack or dilemma, then him solving the same issue in a simpler way. What makes Lame’s content so addictive is the fact that he doesn’t speak. Lame told CNN during an interview that although his comical gestures were accidental, his choice to create wordless videos was not. “I thought of a way to reach as many people as possible. And the best way was not to speak,” he said. This aspect has brought a relatable and universal element to his videos. As of October 2022, the former Italian factory worker is now the most-followed creator on TikTok. At the time of writing this, he has 152.3 million followers.
How he got started
In March 2020, when the pandemic first began, Lame lost his job. Instead of looking for a new job like his father wanted him to, he began spending hours each day creating TikTok videos. Using the platform’s duet and stitch features, Lame responded to viral videos with wordless, easy-to-understand reaction clips that attracted millions of users to his content.
Lame’s rise to digital fame is noteworthy because it debunks the need for content to be polished or filmed with the best lighting. The TikTok star didn’t find success by joining content collaboration houses or by purchasing views and followers like some creators. His rise to fame has been completely organic.
TikTok earnings
In September 2022, Lame revealed during an interview with Fortune that he makes as much as $750,000 per TikTok post. The Italian creator also disclosed he’s on track to make about $10 million by the end of 2022. The most-followed TikTok creator also has a sizable stream of income that comes directly from brand deals. Lame rakes in $400,000 per collaboration clip, and his most recent collab with Hugo Boss earned him $450,000.
Endorsements
In January 2022, the famous creator appeared in the star-studded #BeYourOwnBoss campaign video with Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber. The following month, Lame signed a multi-year deal with Hugo Boss as its global ambassador. He also launched the Boss x Khaby Capsule Collection for spring/summer. It seems as if the star is very careful with whom he chooses to partner with.
Most popular videos
In the video, someone kept triggering the detector of an automatic hand dispenser. Each time they tried to clean up the soap, their hand would wipe under it and trigger more soap coming out. Lame then showed himself dispensing soap into one hand while simultaneously cleaning up the remaining soap with his other hand.
In another popular video, someone got their shirt caught in a car door and was able to cut themself out using scissors. Lame’s simple solution was to open the car door and remove his shirt. Genius, huh?
This is the type of content that has allowed him to build his loyal following. Fans can’t wait to see what Lame will do next without ever speaking a word.
It’s been said that Lame’s ultimate goal is to star alongside Will Smith, his inspiration, in a movie. With all the success he’s seen so far, that goal is probably much closer than he thinks. What do you think? Could you see Khaby Lame starring with Will Smith in a movie?
