TikToker Khaby Lame reportedly lost followers after posting an anti-racist message online, having hit back to say he 'doesn't care about the numbers', only his fans' 'hearts'.
The 21-year old, whose full name is Khabane Lame, reportedly posted a message on his Instagram Story last month that said: "Say no to racism."
News outlet Dexerto posted what is thought to be screenshots of the post, which is no longer live, and said he 'appears' to have lost followers due to the anti-racism message.
Dexerto did not say how many followers Lame had before the 'exodus', but he appeared to address the issue in a later Instagram Story, suggesting he believed he had lost followers as a direct response to his previous message.
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According to a screenshot, he said: "I'm seeing a lot of comments where people say: I unfollow you because you did this video.
"I don't mind guys, we are almost in 2022 and people still use racism because they have nothing to do in their life. Be happy, follow your dream and save the planet."
Lame's follower count on Instagram is currently a whopping 48.2 million and he is also TikTok's second most-followed account in the world.
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Lame turned to TikTok after being thrown into unemployment during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.
Using the app's duet and stitch features, Lame was able to mock modern 'life hack' trends by responding to various tricks and tips online - humorously showing there is often a much easier and simpler solution, which is usually the most obvious.
Speaking to the New York Times, he explained: "It's my face and my expressions which make people laugh."
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His muted reactions, he said, are a 'global language'.
According to the outlet, Lame - who is originally from Senegal - had been a young factory worker in the northern Italian industrial town of Chivasso when he lost his job in March 2020.
The New York Times says he returned to his family's 'modest apartment', and - despite his father begging him to apply for another job - began spending hours each day on TikTok.
The rest, as they say, is history, with Lame now sitting pretty on 115.1 million followers and a staggering 1.7 billion likes.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Instagram, Entertainment, Celebrity, TikTok