Social media character and meals critic Keith Lee took house the 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 suppose they had been going to win, that’s not an understatement,” Lee mentioned. “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 today,” Lee mentioned. “TikTok permits folks to highlight the underdog.”
Mashable Development Report
The TikTok award present showcased a various vary of creators, together with magnificence influencers, musicians, and extra. You may try 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 probably 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 optimistic meals evaluation — and he is completed it.”
With over 17 million followers on TikTok, Lee’s attain is very large.
Lee grew to become identified for a trademark supply model, which is a mixture of deadpan and staccato. It is immediately recognizable when Lee delivers his catchphrase, “I acquired it, let’s attempt it, and charge 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 a degree to spotlight 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 seems like a becoming tribute.
