Through Maria Spiller
December 20, 2025
The food critic and influencer was honored in Los Angeles for his impact on small businesses and community-focused content across the platform.
TikTok has named food critic and influencer Keith Lee its first-ever Creator of the Year in the United States, in recognition of his meteoric rise and widespread influence at the platform’s first U.S. TikTok Awards.
Lee, 29, received the honor on December 18 at a ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. The event marked the first time TikTok has hosted its awards ceremony in the US, following previous ceremonies in Australia, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Germany, among others.
“I never in a million years thought I would be on this stage,” Lee said as he accepted the award and appeared emotional as he addressed the audience.
If reported Through People, Lee has gained national attention in the past year for his down-to-earth food reviews, many of which spotlight independent restaurants. His posts are said to have generated significant sales for small eateries across the country, often after providing candid feedback about his dining experiences.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Lee said the platform offered him more than just visibility. “This means more to me than I can explain,” he said, referring to his upbringing and the opportunity TikTok gave him to share his story.
He also highlighted how the app has allowed him to lift others up, saying it gave him “a platform to showcase small businesses across the country,” a mission that has become central to his online presence.
Lee acknowledged the personal challenge of embracing recognition, noting, “It’s hard to do something for myself because I always put other people before me, but this is for me.”
During his speech, Lee thanked his wife Ronni, who attended the ceremony, and credited her with encouraging him to post food content that ultimately launched his success.
In recognition of Lee’s win, event host LaLa Anthony announced that TikTok would donate $50,000 to Feeding America, tying the honor to Lee’s community-oriented values.
The awards ceremony, themed ‘New Era, New Icons’, was streamed live on TikTok and Tubi and featured performances and recognitions from creators. Singer Ciara headlined the evening with a live performance, celebrating her influence on viral music and dance trends on the app.
Other notable winners included “Love Island USA” Season 7 contestant Jeremiah Brown, who received Rising Star for expanding his content into book discussions and community engagement, and Mariah Rose, who earned MVP of the Year for her sports commentary on the NFL and NBA.
The ceremony highlighted the growing impact of digital creators and TikTok’s expanding role in shaping modern entertainment and culture.
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