Keith Lee, known for his viral food reviews on TikTok, will speak at USF as part of the University Lecture Series (ULS) on Monday.

The event will be held at the Marshall Student Center’s Ballroom. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m., with the event beginning at 8 p.m. 

Lee will speak at the ULS in honor of Black History Month. The social media food reviewer’s visit has sparked a variety of emotions among students.

The university is paying Lee $30,000 for his lecture. For the last ULS, the university paid actor Dylan Sprouse $60,000.

The Campus Activities Board reduced the number of lectures from two to one a semester in 2023. The change was made to increase attendance at the event by allocating a bigger budget for one lecture rather than two.

However, Ebony Lamar, the director of student programs for the Center for Student Involvement, said there might be another ULS this semester during USF Week in April. 

Related: ULS events reduced to one per semester to improve attendance

Lee initially gained recognition as a MMA fighter, competing under the name “Killa” from 2017 to 2021. 

However, after the birth of his first daughter, Karter Lee, he struggled in the ring, causing him to lose his contract. This led him to look for other means to support his family, according to Rolling Stone.  

Lee began posting videos of him going on late-night food runs to satisfy his wife’s, Ronni, pregnancy cravings when she was pregnant with their second child, Riley-Rae.  

However, his claim to fame would be his restaurant reviews.  He gained over 16 million followers on TikTok as viewers watched him review a variety of foods and restaurants. 

Junior mass communications major Jamal St. Louis said he is excited about Lee’s upcoming lecture. He said he is a fan and admires Lee’s impact on restaurants. 

Lee’s visits often resulted in a boosted business for different restaurants, St. Louis said. 

Hector Garcia, co-owner of Joy-Burgers in Las Vegas, witnessed the effects of Lee’s impact firsthand.

“The day after his video, there was a line outside before we even opened,” Garcia told a reporter from Bon Appétit. “The number of people visiting our restaurant basically tripled.”

St. Louis said he feels he can gain from the lecture because his field of study, mass communications, aligns with Lee’s work. 

“I hope he has some tips about social media,” St. Louis said. “What are some things I can do to stand out or sell myself on social media?” 

St. Louis’s dream is to write entertainment news stories and report on TikTok, he said. 

Related: USF welcomes Dylan Sprouse to talk about early career, future projects: ‘Just try it’

While St. Louis is excited to gain insight into the social media field from Lee’s lecture, some students are going for other reasons. 

Laura Pierre, a freshman studying psychology, has followed Lee on TikTok “since the start.” 

However, what draws Pierre to Lee are the videos discussing his faith in God. 

Pierre isn’t going because Lee is TikTok famous — but rather connecting with him over their shared identity. 

“That’s so inspiring to me because I am a Christian,” Pierre said. “It reminds me that there are people who do not let success get to their head.” 

On the other hand, Bryce Sims, a sophomore studying chemical engineering, is simply hoping for a photo with Lee. 

“I would just like a photo with him,” Sims said. “I’ve never seen a well-known person in real life.” 

For Sims, attending the event is more about seeing a celebrity in real life rather than for deeper insights.

Other students have no intention of attending at all, such as Jack Argetsinger, a freshman majoring in artificial intelligence and business analytics.

“I’m just not interested in going,” Argetsinger said. “I’d rather see someone like Cliff Nettle. He’s a Christian preacher and he’s pretty popular on the internet.” 

When an Oracle reporter mentioned Lee’s religion, Argetsinger said he still had no interest in attending the event. 

While some students such as Argetsinger have no interest in attending the event, those who do hope to receive valuable insight from Lee.

“I think it’s an opportune moment to hear from someone who’s recently gained success,” St. Louis said.