By Arianna Guyer / USF Z News
Content creator Keith Lee expressed to students that success will come when it is meant to. “If I wasn’t supposed to be here, I wouldn’t be here,” said Lee during his lecture at the Marshall Student Center on Feb. 24.
“If it’s something you’re passionate about it will happen when it is supposed to happen,” said Lee. When talking about his 10-year-long rise to fame he said, “what takes a long time, lasts a long time.”
Lee is most known for his food reviews on Tik Tok where he has 17 million followers. His videos have allowed him to travel around the world to places like mom-and-pop shops, staple local establishments and ethnic representation style restaurants to help their attendance.
Lee spoke to hundreds of students during the University of South Florida’s Guest Lecture Series to motivate students that admire him.
The special event was to celebrate Black History Month and highlight a rising black creator. Lee was honored to be a guest speaker at a school that takes part in advocating the importance of the black community. “I hate being the center of attention, but I am so grateful to be here right now,” said Lee.
Lee revealed his struggles with social anxiety and how he is “very much introverted.” He started making videos to get over that fear. He said that knowing his content inspires other people out there, especially young black people, motivates him a lot. “I love everything about us,” said Lee talking about black culture.
“We are excellent in what it is that we do,” Lee said referring to black owned businesses but then followed with the claim that they have to do 30 times the amount of work to get the same recognition.
Junior Dervil, a freshman at USF who is a fan of Lee’s felt “excited and thankful” that USF brought someone who is well known by young people. “He is a great role model for aspiring black creators like myself,” said Dervil
Gabriela Serra, a freshman studying criminology, attended the event to support Lee as she has been following his journey for a few years. “I thought it was so cool that someone with such a big platform who has changed many people’s lives came to talk to college students like us,” said Serra.
Lee acknowledged and appreciated the fact that he would not have the success he has without his fans. “As long as I’m with my family that’s when I feel like I thrive and you guys feel like my family,” said Lee.
