Social media persona and meals critic Keith Lee took residence the very best honor of the 2025 TikTok Awards after he was named Creator of the 12 months on the inaugural ceremony.
Lee, a well-liked meals reviewer who highlights small companies, was visibly choked up in his acceptance speech after being handed the award by presenter Paris Hilton.
“When folks say they didn’t assume they had been going to win, that’s not an understatement,” Lee stated. “I by no means in 1,000,000 years thought I’d be standing on this stage.”
The previous MMA fighter spoke about TikTok altering his life — imbuing him with a confidence he beforehand did not possess.
“I couldn’t speak. I could not be in rooms with folks. I doubted myself. I nonetheless doubt myself to this present day,” Lee stated. “TikTok permits folks to highlight the underdog.”
Mashable Pattern Report
The TikTok award present showcased a various vary of creators, together with magnificence influencers, musicians, and extra. You’ll be able to take a look at all the small print on Mashable’s reside weblog of the occasion. We even have a listing of all of the winners, together with Lee.
Who’s Keith Lee?
Lee is maybe the preeminent meals reviewer on-line. His affect in that world earned him a spot on Mashable’s listing of the 101 most influential creators of 2025. In our profile, we wrote that he “has the facility to single-handedly save a enterprise with a constructive meals evaluation — and he is achieved it.”
With over 17 million followers on TikTok, Lee’s attain is huge.
Lee grew to become recognized for a trademark supply fashion, which is a mixture of deadpan and staccato. It is immediately recognizable when Lee delivers his catchphrase, “I received it, let’s attempt it, and price it 1-10.” His brother, Kevin Lee, knowledgeable MMA fighter, sometimes seems in his movies.
Lee additionally clearly cares about meals and the individuals who make it. He is made it some extent to focus on the locations that possibly get neglected. As part of the award, TikTok introduced it will donate $50,000 to Feeding America in Lee’s honor, which looks like a becoming tribute.
