Social media character and meals critic Keith Lee took dwelling the best honor of the 2025 TikTok Awards after he was named Creator of the Yr on the inaugural ceremony.
Lee, a preferred meals reviewer who highlights small companies, was visibly choked up in his acceptance speech after being handed the award by presenter Paris Hilton.
“When individuals say they didn’t suppose they have been going to win, that’s not an understatement,” Lee stated. “I by no means in one million 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 individuals. I doubted myself. I nonetheless doubt myself to this present day,” Lee stated. “TikTok permits individuals 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 try all the small print on Mashable’s dwell weblog of the occasion. We even have a listing of all of the winners, together with Lee.
Who’s Keith Lee?
Lee is probably the preeminent meals reviewer on-line. His affect in that world earned him a spot on Mashable’s checklist 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 optimistic meals assessment — and he is performed it.”
With over 17 million followers on TikTok, Lee’s attain is huge.
Lee grew to become identified for a trademark supply type, which is a mixture of deadpan and staccato. It is immediately recognizable when Lee delivers his catchphrase, “I obtained it, let’s attempt it, and price it 1-10.” His brother, Kevin Lee, knowledgeable MMA fighter, often 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 ignored. As part of the award, TikTok introduced it might donate $50,000 to Feeding America in Lee’s honor, which appears like a becoming tribute.
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