Over the years, food critics and food reviews have become increasingly popular on social media sites. Some of the most well-known influencers have reached their social status by rating new foods and letting their followers know if it is worth a try.
Keith Lee, a former mixed martial artist, debuted on TikTok in November of 2020. He began his social media account with the purpose of sharing cooking videos and combating his social anxiety. Now with 16.6 million followers, Keith Lee’s opinions are widespread and can be highly beneficial or detrimental to businesses.
Keith Lee has critiqued restaurants in some of the biggest cities in America, including New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and now Washington, D.C. For small businesses, a recommendation from Keith Lee could mean constant orders and customers traveling from all over to taste their food. On the other hand, a negative review can offend business owners or even change the minds of those considering their dishes.
Jermaine Edwards Jr., a third-year public relations scholar, believes food critics have an overwhelming influence over restaurants, but nevertheless, it should always be up to the customer to make the final decision.
“I feel like the only reason a person shouldn’t try a restaurant is if there’s something wrong health-wise, not more so the taste.” Edwards shared.
This is a statement many agree with. Despite what food critics say, we should still make the effort to support small and large businesses. When we give food critics like Keith Lee, who are just using their platforms to entertain and inform, the overwhelming decision of determining whether a restaurant is worth trying, we put too much pressure on the content creator.
Many fans of Keith Lee and restaurant owners felt disappointed by his opinions on his recent food tour. This issue has gotten to the point where Keith Lee has refused to post most of his reviews from his tour of Washington, D.C., as the ratings were not preferable.
Aja Waseem, a fourth-year broadcast journalism student, understands what it’s like to be a part of the food industry, working at a local restaurant. Waseem believes we should always take note of what food critics have to say.
“I think it should be considered, but it should not be the end all be all,” Waseem commented.
In the end, despite Keith Lee’s efforts to protect restaurants’ reputations, he was still targeted on social media with an onslaught of negativity.
Takeira Nettles, a fourth-year broadcast journalism scholar, witnessed this issue taking place on social media.
“It was sad to see Keith Lee being put down just for having an opinion; his influence doesn’t have to be seen as a bad thing,” Nettles speculated.
Despite what is said online, we should always be open to trying new restaurants regardless of others’ opinions. In the process, you may even find a new restaurant that you can recommend to your peers. Plus, many food critics are only able to try a small portion of a menu, so don’t be afraid to broaden your palate; you may discover a dish you never knew you would enjoy.