Why the World's Biggest TikToker, Khaby Lame, Never Speaks in His Videos

Ever wonder why one of the world's most prominent TikTokers stays silent in all his videos?

Khaby Lame, also known as @khaby.lame, rose to stardom on TikTok during the COVID-19 pandemic after losing his factory job due to lockdown restrictions. Initially, his content consisted of dancing, reacting to video games, and creating comedy sketches. However, he has since carved out a unique niche for himself.

And it's been a massive success.

Today, Khaby is known for his reactions to life hack videos, a genre abundant on the platform. What sets him apart is that he never utters a single word in his clips. With just a shrug, a gesture, or a facial expression, he expertly mocks the often overly complicated life hack videos.

But why the silence?

@khaby.lame I hope one day you will teach me how to be a ninja🥷🏾🤲🏾🥷🏾 #comic #learnfromkhaby #ufc ♬ suono originale - Khabane lame

Khaby explained to CNN back in 2022 that his silent reactions were his way of embodying the expression "shaking my head" or "smh," showcasing his exasperation with life's absurd complexities.

"I came up with the idea because I saw these videos circulating, and I liked the idea of bringing some simplicity to it," he said. "The type of gesture came by chance, but the silence didn't. I thought of a way to reach as many people as possible. And the best way was not to speak."

With his humorous facial expressions eliciting laughter from viewers, Khaby found that this simplicity resonated with people. "Maybe because my facial expressions are funny and they make people laugh, this simplicity makes people laugh and I love it," he added.

Khaby has surpassed Charli D'Amelio to become the most followed account on TikTok, boasting over 160 million followers and 2.4 billion video likes.

However, he emphasizes that it's not the follower count or likes that drive him to create content. Rather, it's the joy of making people laugh during challenging times. "I don’t care if I’m first or second or fourth most popular on TikTok. I started making videos because I wanted to make people laugh in that period of lockdown," he shared. "And I keep making videos with the same ideals. I’m happy about my accomplishments, but those are not my main things."

Looking ahead, Khaby has grand aspirations. He dreams of one day collaborating with Will Smith on a movie, citing the Hollywood star as one of his fans.

So, while Khaby's videos may be silent, his impact and ambitions speak.