Keith Lee takes top honour at first US TikTok Awards
Content creators spanning dance, music, sports, fashion, entertainment and education gathered in Hollywood for the inaugural US TikTok Awards, a high-energy celebration of the platform's most influential digital stars that blended viral internet culture with the spectacle of a traditional awards show.
The event featured an array of playful, social-media-inspired moments, including Labubu dolls launched from a T-shirt cannon, a giant group selfie challenge, live skits, and reenactments of viral TikTok trends that have dominated feeds over the past year. Designed to reflect the creativity and spontaneity that define the platform, the ceremony leaned heavily into the visual language and humor that have made TikTok a global phenomenon.
Livestreamed on TikTok and Tubi, the ceremony was hosted by lifestyle influencer and television personality La La Anthony, who guided viewers through a fast-paced programme aimed squarely at the app's digitally native audience.
The show marked TikTok's first major US-based awards ceremony, underscoring its growing ambition to position itself alongside established entertainment platforms.
Food critic and content creator Keith Lee was named "creator of the year," while internet personality Bretman Rock received the award for "video of the year." Accepting his prize on stage, Lee reflected on the role the platform has played in shaping his career and amplifying voices that might otherwise go unheard.
"TikTok provided me a platform to be able to show small businesses around the country," said Lee, whose content focuses on family life and spotlighting local eateries. "It's hard to do something for myself, because I always put other people in front of me, but this is for me," he added, drawing applause from the audience.
Other winners highlighted the diversity of TikTok's creator ecosystem. DJ and media personality Paris Hilton was awarded "muse of the year" for inspiring trends and creative expression across the platform, while Jeremiah Brown, a former Love Island USA contestant, was named "rising star of the year."
Brown has built a large following through lifestyle and entertainment content since transitioning from reality television to social media.
"A muse doesn't follow trends - we help create them," Hilton said during her acceptance speech, reinforcing TikTok's emphasis on originality and influence rather than traditional celebrity hierarchies.
The ceremony also placed a strong spotlight on social impact and advocacy.
The "For Good" award, which recognises creators using the platform to drive positive change, was presented to Zach, a creator with Down syndrome who shares his daily life to promote inclusion and representation.
The award was shared with his brother Pat Valentine, who uses TikTok to educate audiences about Down syndrome and challenge stereotypes.
Their recognition drew particular attention to TikTok's role as a space for underrepresented voices, aligning with the company's efforts to emphasise the platform's cultural and educational value amid ongoing political scrutiny.
Near the end of the evening, Grammy-winning pop singer Ciara delivered a live performance featuring a medley of her most popular songs, including Goodies, 1,2 Step and Level Up.
The performance bridged the gap between traditional music stardom and TikTok-driven virality, reflecting how the app has become a key promotional and discovery tool for artists.
Beyond the glitz and entertainment, the ceremony came at a pivotal moment for TikTok as a company. Earlier on Thursday, TikTok's Chinese parent firm ByteDance, led by CEO Shou Zi Chew, announced it had reached a binding agreement with three major investors to sell just over 80% of TikTok's US assets to American and global investors. The move is aimed at averting a potential U.S. government ban of the app.
The deal represents a significant step toward resolving years of uncertainty surrounding TikTok's future in the United States. Since August 2020, when then-President Donald Trump first attempted to ban the app, TikTok has faced persistent scrutiny over national security concerns, including fears that China's government could exploit the platform to spy on Americans or conduct covert influence operations.
TikTok has repeatedly denied such allegations, arguing that it stores US user data domestically and operates independently of the Chinese government. The company has also pointed to its cultural and economic impact, noting that more than 170 million Americans now use the app regularly.
For many creators attending the awards, the timing of the event carried particular significance. "I've been really involved with the opportunities to save TikTok from the very beginning," said.
Alexandra Doten, an educational content creator, speaking to Reuters on the red carpet before the ceremony. "I was in DC talking about it, so I'm just so excited."
"This platform does so much to spark creativity and to make people smarter and more inspired," she added, echoing sentiments expressed by several attendees who credit TikTok with transforming their careers and communities.