James Bond Meets TikTok Star Khaby Lame in 007 First Light

Developer IO Interactive has revealed that James Bond will encounter social media influencer Khaby Lame in the upcoming game 007 First Light. The announcement has puzzled some Bond fans, not only because Lame appears in the game but also because his cameo was revealed before the game's general release, spoiling the surprise.

Lame is known for his deadpan TikTok reaction videos, where he makes an exasperated gesture to mock obvious things. Unsurprisingly, Bond fans will see Lame replicate this gesture in 007 First Light when James Bond asks for directions while standing right in front of a signpost. In a video clip posted to Instagram, Bond approaches Lame for directions, only for Lame to point at the sign—which already has the answer. The implication: Bond may have had one too many martinis.

"You will meet a familiar face in Vietnam," IO Interactive wrote. "Khaby Lame joins the cast of 007 First Light and is part of a globetrotting adventure as James Bond sets out to #EarnTheNumber. We worked closely with Khaby to get him scanned and design his outfit for this re-imagined origin story."

Responding to a Bond fan questioning why IO Interactive highlighted the cameo early, video game industry analyst Daniel Ahmad suggested the reveal targeted a different audience beyond traditional Bond fans, following a more conventional marketing campaign so far.

Lame rose to social media stardom over the past few years and remains the most-followed user on TikTok. Beyond social media, he appeared in Fortnite's 2023 battle pass, served as a judge on Italia's Got Talent the same year, and made a cameo in the 2024 Will Smith sequel Bad Boys: Ride or Die. In January 2025, he licensed his likeness for AI reproduction for $975 million.

Over the weekend, IO Interactive released a portion of the opening mission from 007 First Light after copies leaked to the public days before launch. The game's early access begins today, May 26, with full release on May 27.