Introduction to the Controversy

Conservative influencer and friend of President Donald Trump’s son Barron, Bo Loudon, claimed credit for TikTok star Khaby Lame’s detainment by immigration officers, stating he reported the Senegalese-Italian creator to authorities before Lame was forced to leave the country.

Key Facts

Loudon, 18, claimed in a post on X he “worked with Trump’s ICE to have [Lame] removed” from the United States, stating he “discovered he was an illegal who overstayed an invalid VISA.” In other posts, Loudon slammed Lame as a “far-left TikTok star,” though Lame does not post political content and his political views are unclear. Lame, 25, was detained by ICE at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on Friday, a Department of Homeland Security official told Forbes, for “overstaying the terms of his visa.” Lame was granted voluntary departure, which allows immigrants to avoid a deportation order, and has since left the United States, the DHS official said, though they did not specify where Lame went. Lame was born in Senegal and moved to Turin, Italy, with his family as an infant, and he is an Italian citizen, according to DHS.

Where Is Khaby Lame Now?

Lame’s exact whereabouts are unclear, but since the weekend, he has posted multiple Instagram stories with the location tagged as São Paulo, Brazil. Early Wednesday, Lame posted a video to his Instagram from a soccer game in São Paulo. He has not addressed being detained by ICE on his social media profiles.

Who Is Khaby Lame?

Lame is the most-followed person on TikTok, with more than 162 million followers. He boasts large followings elsewhere, including 80 million Instagram followers and 12.5 million YouTube subscribers. Lame rose to fame as a TikTok creator after he lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time he began posting content mocking absurd “life hack” videos and other comedic bits. He has held the title of most-followed TikTok user since June 2022, when he surpassed creator and dancer Charli D’Amelio. Weeks before being detained, Lame attended the Met Gala in New York.

Who Is Bo Loudon?

Loudon is a conservative influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers on his TikTok, Instagram and X profiles. Loudon has said Barron Trump, 18, is his “best friend,” and he is a regular visitor of the Trump family’s Mar-a-Lago property, according to pictures shared on his Instagram. Loudon has claimed on X that he and Barron helped connect Trump with influencers as part of an effort to reach Gen Z voters, including Adin Ross and Bryce Hall. Loudon is the son of Gina Loudon, a conservative commentator who co-chaired the Women for Trump organization in 2020, and John William Loudon, a former Missouri state senator.

Tangent

Lame’s detainment comes amid growing protests targeting ICE across the United States, particularly in Los Angeles, where protests broke out over the weekend after authorities detained dozens of immigrants. Trump has clashed with Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass over his decision to send National Guard troops to quell protests against officials’ wishes. National Guard troops have already arrived in the city, and Trump has ordered hundreds of Marines to the city, which could reportedly arrive as soon as Tuesday. Officials and some legal scholars have challenged Trump’s authority to mobilize the National Guard, though Trump reportedly said in a memo he had invoked Title 10, which permits the president to call on the National Guard if the U.S. is “invaded or is in danger of invasion by a foreign nation” or if “there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.” Since protests broke out in Los Angeles, more demonstrations have taken place in cities including New York, Dallas and Atlanta.

How Much Does Khaby Lame Earn?

Lame is one of the highest-paid social media creators, according to Forbes estimates. In 2024, Lame ranked tenth on Forbes’ top creators list with estimated earnings of $20 million, achieved through his large social media following and brand deals with Fortnite, Sony Pictures and Walmart. He was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe Arts and Culture list in 2022.

Further Reading

From TikToker Khaby Lame To Fashion’s Future: Meet The Forbes Under 30 Europe Members Transforming Art & Culture (Forbes)
Top Creators 2024 (Forbes)
Los Angeles Protests Live Updates: Trump Claims City ‘Would Be Burning’ Unless Troops Deployed (Forbes)

Conclusion

The detainment of Khaby Lame has sparked controversy and raised questions about the role of immigration authorities in the United States. While Lame’s exact whereabouts are unclear, his large social media following and brand deals have made him one of the highest-paid social media creators. The incident has also highlighted the growing protests targeting ICE across the United States and the ongoing debate over immigration policy.

FAQs

Q: Who is Khaby Lame?
A: Khaby Lame is a Senegalese-Italian social media creator who is the most-followed person on TikTok, with over 162 million followers.
Q: Why was Khaby Lame detained?
A: Lame was detained by ICE at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas for “overstaying the terms of his visa.”
Q: Who claimed credit for Khaby Lame’s detainment?
A: Conservative influencer Bo Loudon claimed credit for Lame’s detainment, stating he reported Lame to authorities before he was forced to leave the country.
Q: How much does Khaby Lame earn?
A: According to Forbes estimates, Lame earned $20 million in 2024, making him one of the highest-paid social media creators.

Introduction to Ananda Lewis

I, like millions of others who grew up in the 1990s, wanted my MTV. Sure, we were there for the videos. But the video jockeys, known as VJs, elevated the experience with the style and spice you could see, and not just hear, like radio DJs. Ananda Lewis was my favorite MTV VJ. She was more than a trailblazing television host. In many ways, she was an advocate for issues of the day as well as a “TV friend” during my most formative years. Tragically, at the age of 52, she lost her battle with breast cancer on June 11, 2025. While breast cancer deaths are on the decline, the CDC estimates 42,000+ women and 500+ men are expected to succumb to the disease this year alone.

A Star On MTV And Beyond

Ananda Lewis joined the MTV Network in 1997. Known simply by her first name, which means “bliss” in Sanskrit, America got a taste of her style, voice and vibes, and she quickly became a standout host on the uber-popular Total Request Live (TRL), MTV Live, Hot Zone and MTV Jams. In the prime of the network’s cultural heyday, Ananda was able to connect with audiences while introducing the latest music videos, and conducting interviews with a seemingly never-ending list of celebrities. Her storytelling brought authenticity and depth to MTV’s programming. Way before diversity was a department or a buzzword, she brought a unique multicultural look, original name and flawless style to an American youth seeking visual inspiration. In 2000, she was featured in People magazine’s list of the world’s “50 Most Beautiful People.”

Early Life and Career

Ananda was born in Los Angeles, California, and attended the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts before heading to the nation’s capital to matriculate at Howard University. As an activist with the Youth Leadership and Development Institute, she worked with teenagers across customized learning programs designed to support at-risk youth. It was that passion which led her to audition for BET’s Teen Summit, a groundbreaking series focused on social issues affecting young Black Americans. As the host of Teen Summit, Lewis got the opportunity to interview a wide range of special guests, from NBA legend Kobe Bryant to First Lady Hillary Clinton, hitting new angles of journalism that directly addressed and resonated with young viewers.

Her Personal Breast Cancer Battle & A Legacy Of Impact

In 2020, Lewis first revealed she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, sharing the news in an Instagram video with the hope to encourage women to get a mammograms. Eventually, her cancer, progressed to stage 4, yet she reflected resilience and grace as she faced her illness, and her optimism shined through as she found moments of joy in the midst of adversity. As a Black female voice in media, Ananda Lewis’s impact broke many invisible barriers. She challenged stereotypes and in many subtle ways paved the way for the generation that followed. With the outpouring of fans’ reactions to the news of her passing, her life serves as a reminder of the importance early detection and self-care, but also the fragility of life. She is survived by her son, Langston, born in 2011.

Conclusion

As we remember Ananda Lewis, let’s honor her by continuing the work she championed—advocating for equity, amplifying underrepresented voices, and prioritizing pushing the envelope. With Ananda’s passing, her legacy of charisma, intelligence and commitment to social issues should be remembered and reflected on. At a time before social media was commonplace—when only a few voices earned a platform to speak for a generation—she connected with music fans around the world, to both amplify artists’ voices and spotlight critical social topics, through specials like True Life: I Am Driving While Black—all with an understanding of the power of media to drive change across the U.S. There are many reasons that her life deserves to be celebrated.

FAQs

Q: When did Ananda Lewis join the MTV Network?
A: Ananda Lewis joined the MTV Network in 1997.
Q: What was the name of the show Ananda Lewis launched in 2001?
A: The Ananda Lewis Show.
Q: What was Ananda Lewis diagnosed with in 2020?
A: Stage 3 breast cancer.
Q: When did Ananda Lewis pass away?
A: June 11, 2025, at the age of 52.
Q: What is the estimated number of breast cancer deaths in the US this year?
A: 42,000+ women and 500+ men.

Introduction to Elder Financial Abuse

Most of us have probably heard of financial abuse of elders. Stories appear in local media about a caregiver ripping off the person they attend to at the elder’s home. We hear of scammers who call lonely seniors on the phone and persuade them to give the scammer money. We get a bit of news about romance scams on the internet. But are we truly aware of the extent of the worldwide problem of people taking money from vulnerable elders?

The Extent of the Problem

According to AARP, adults aged 60 and older lose an estimated $28.3 billion per year to financial exploitation. According to a report in Forbes and TrueLink Financial from 2015, the figure was $36.48 billion annually. We do know from many sources that the thefts are grossly underreported. That also means that if many cases are never reported to Adult Protective Services or law enforcement, they are never prosecuted. The scammers keep scamming and the thieves get away with it.

Efforts to Stop Elder Abuse

Government, nonprofit organizations, and elder-focused resources continually attempt to stop abuse by warning and educating consumers. They focus on the population that is targeted most: people over 60. There is a failure from that effort in that more recent reports suggest that the problem is growing, not decreasing. From my point of view, having personally interacted with, cared for or legally represented hundreds of elders, I can see why education of elders by itself has many limitations. Among them are the fact that the average older person is unlikely to visit the Federal Trade Commission website to learn about the latest scams and how to avoid them. This site is great at informing anyone about tech support scams, investment scams, business imposter scams, and romance scams. Good information but mostly never seen by the likely victims.

Raising Awareness

Then we have events designed to raise awareness on the day designated, normally June 15 each year. In connection with that date, elder abuse awareness is promoted by numerous organizations. For example, the American Bar Association is sponsoring World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Call-in Event Friday, June 13. Lawyers and the public may call in and ask questions of Weinberg Center staff. The call-in event is hosted by The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Center for Elder Justice and co-sponsored by The ABA Commission on Law and Aging, Elder Law Committee. The date is Tuesday, June 17 | 12-1 p.m. EDT. Anyone can join on zoom.

Who Needs to Become More Aware?

Elders may develop memory loss over time. It can be subtle at first. But eroding memory makes anyone more vulnerable to scams. Families may not immediately see the connection. They may not realize that an aging parent, living alone, socially isolated and perhaps with a few signs of dementia creeping in is a perfect target for scammers. They find these elders. They buy lists of names and contact information. They send those emails or make those phone calls. The effort is big business with organized, managed, paid people doing the dirty work.

Warning to Families

My warning is to families. Pay attention. Know how cleverly the thieves exploit loneliness, and any vulnerability they can find. They are well practiced at this. Your own aging loved one is not immune because of background, education, intelligence, nor experience with finances. Thieves get to them at an emotional level, such as. “It’s an emergency, this is your grandson”.

The Role of AI and Deep Fakes

The “emergency call” from a relative triggering an emotional response is sometimes thwarted by the elder who does not recognize the caller’s voice. Now that deep fakes can be created by artificial intelligence, the fake caller can use the actual relative’s voice, copied from any source, such as the relative’s social media or other source. It’s a terrifying prospect! Every family with an elder needs to be aware of this newer tactic, among the many successful tactics used in our country and around the world to steal billions from elders.

The Takeaways

Stories of older folks being ripped off are common. If you have an aging loved one, educate yourself. It is my belief that families may be able to stop exploitation better than public education about it, aimed at elders. Some aging parents don’t use the internet. Some think it can’t happen to them, they’re too smart. Some have no awareness of the issue and how they, themselves can be targeted. On this moment of public focus on elder abuse awareness, it is wise for anyone with a close connection to an elder to get the latest information on how elder exploitation works. I can imagine a face-to-face talk with an aging loved one telling that person in one’s own words about scams and raising awareness so that you, yourself become a trusted source of these warnings.

Conclusion

Elder financial abuse is a significant problem that affects millions of people worldwide. It is essential to raise awareness about this issue and to educate families and caregivers on how to prevent it. By working together, we can reduce the incidence of elder financial abuse and protect our loved ones from exploitation.

FAQs

Q: What is elder financial abuse?
A: Elder financial abuse is the exploitation of older adults for financial gain, often through scams, theft, or coercion.
Q: How much do elders lose to financial exploitation each year?
A: According to AARP, adults aged 60 and older lose an estimated $28.3 billion per year to financial exploitation.
Q: What can families do to prevent elder financial abuse?
A: Families can educate themselves and their loved ones about the risks of elder financial abuse, monitor financial transactions, and be aware of potential scams and exploitation tactics.
Q: What is the role of AI and deep fakes in elder financial abuse?
A: AI and deep fakes can be used to create convincing scams, such as emergency calls from a relative, making it more difficult for elders to distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent requests.
Q: How can I report suspected elder financial abuse?
A: Suspected elder financial abuse can be reported to Adult Protective Services or law enforcement.