TikTok Food Critic Keith Lee Has A Message For Fans Who See Him In Public

TikTok famous food critic Keith Lee is still getting used to his quick rise to fame and people recognizing him everywhere he goes.

Closing in on 11 million followers on TikTok and 573,000 additional on Instagram means everywhere he goes, he's likely to be noticed by someone. Lee recently explained what he would like his fans to do and not do when they run into him in a public place.

"I am a normal person. I do normal people activities. I be out with my family. If you see me outside, please come give me a handshake, a hug, a high-five, whatever you're comfortable with, or just give me a nod," he began his video. "But please, do not follow me and my family, take pictures of us, stare at us non-stop. It makes us very uncomfortable."

In many of Lee's previous videos, he explains that he suffers from social anxiety. He reiterated that in his new video as well, explaining how random people staring and following him around makes him and his family feel.

"Now those people who are really fans of my content and really watch me and know I got social anxiety, I appreciate ya'll being respectful, and not wanting to bother me. But I promise you, if all you want is a picture or all you want to do is say hi, or tell me you appreciate me, that does not bother me one bit," he continued.

"But what does bother me is staring at me walk into a store, walk out of a store, follow me into the next store, take pictures of me and my family in the next store, that's what bothers me."

He then told the story about his recent trip to the mall where people were following him and his family into the parking garage. "That gives me social anxiety," he said.

"It's not even that much about my safety because I can handle myself. I will protect myself if I need to. Please listen to me when I say that. I will protect myself if I need to and I will protect my family if I need to."

Lee, who was a professional fighter before finding popularity on TikTok by helping dying food establishments come back to life with honest food reviews, wants people to know he can take care of himself if it ever gets to that point. But for anyone who watches Lee, they know that's not something he wants to have to do.

"Please, if you just want a picture, just come take a picture. But don't make me uncomfortable," he said. "I will protect myself. I'm him. So please, I don't want no problems, I'm not a confrontational person. I want to take every picture you want to take. I want to give every hug you want to give, every handshake you wanna give. I'm here for it. I appreciate ya'll. This is an adjustment period for me. I'm not used to this."

He said as a professional fighter, he would only take one or two photos a week with fans. Now, he said he's taking about 100 pictures per day. "I'm getting used to it," he added. "I'm thankful, I'm appreciative, I'm grateful. Please don't follow me."

Many of Lee's loyal fans left their thoughts in the comments of the TikTok video. "Ppl forget get this man was a MMA fighter?," one person wrote.

Another added, "Y’all gotta have some self composure, Keith is a family man… stop before we’re rating how you hit the ground 1 thru 10. Stay safe Keith and blessed!"

One fan pointed out it's about boundaries. "Love that you're laying healthy boundaries for you and your precious family. Love your content." Another person kept with that theme saying, "The reminder that you’re him. ? I love it, establish those boundaries."