Is the backlash surrounding Keith Lee in the DMV deserved?

WASHINGTON — TikTok influencer and food critic Keith Lee has been making a lot of waves during his recent trip to the D.C. region. The 27-year-old Lee has more than 16 million followers on TikTok and 2 million on Instagram. 

He has risen to prominence since he began posting videos in 2020. The videos are geared toward spotlighting small businesses, restaurants and mom-and-pop shops that have good food, but struggle when it comes to marketing and getting the word out. 

Lee has helped the restaurants he's visited by getting the word out to his followers, and by leaving big tips for the workers behind the counters. He left a $2,000 tip at Okonomi, a recent victim of DoorDash scams. 

But some of his comments about the DMV have drawn ire from the food scene itself. In his post about Cane, Lee made a comment that D.C.'s restaurants are "geared toward alcohol" and he doesn't drink.

"If you don’t drink, it seems like it’s slim pickings,” Lee said.

Users on Reddit and elsewhere have said they don't understand the statement. Lee also got some heat for not going to some of the District's more well-known establishments. 

Fans are quick to point out that he didn't build his following by going to a city's most popular culinary destinations. 

"It's less about actually reviewing food, and more so about supporting and promoting local businesses his audience recommends," one Reddit user said. "It's very cool he uses the money he makes and gives it back to the businesses and community."

"He mostly goes to places that are having trouble getting business. People avoid these places and think they are struggling for a reason," another Redditor pointed out. "He tries the place and puts the word out if they are worth trying. People are always looking for new things to try but are generally unwilling to go first. Keith takes care of that part. DC is not really a good place for this style of review. We’re already very good at word of mouth. Just think about how Roaming Rooster got popular for an example."

In his most recent video post, Lee admits that he and his team visited about a dozen restaurants while in the DMV, but did not post about them because they weren't "constructive." He did not name the restaurants he visited, but noted some disappointing experiences.

While Lee's videos may have stirred the pot of the DMV food scene, they may have also started a larger culinary conversation around D.C., Maryland and Virginia. More people are jumping on the platform to share their favorite spots, getting the word out without the "Keith Lee effect."