Leading with integrity over the dollar sign is food reviewer Keith Lee’s mantra.

Keith Lee is renowned for his social media presence, where he shines a spotlight on small-owned businesses, helping them gain widespread attention.

With 16.8 million followers on TikTok and a staggering 794.2 million likes (as of this writing), his influence is undeniable. Beyond amplifying businesses, Keith is also known for his restaurant reviews, many of which have gone viral. His reviews carry significant weight, often referred to as the “Keith Lee Effect” — a phenomenon where his endorsement can skyrocket a business’s popularity, while a less favorable review might have the opposite impact.

As previously reported by AFROTECH™, Keith Lee’s platform played a pivotal role in supporting Soul Prime Chicago, founded by Shonya “Chef Royce” Williams. At the time, the restaurant was facing financial struggles just four months after opening, struggling to pay its staff. Following Lee’s video, customer traffic surged, transforming the restaurant’s outlook. Today, Soul Prime Chicago continues to thrive, a testament to the profound impact of Lee’s visibility.

“The blessing that Keith Lee was to us was just absolutely amazing,” said Willie “Unique” Hearan IV, Royce’s nephew who is employed at the Soul Prime, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “That day changed our lives forever.”

Not only did Lee leave an impressive review, but he also demonstrated his generosity by leaving the restaurant a $2,000 tip. This act of kindness is just one example of the support he consistently shows for small Black-owned businesses, amplifying their stories and helping them succeed.

“We’ve been a part of changing 150 families lives that look like us,” he expressed on Shannon Sharpe’s podcast, “Club Shay Shay.”

Lee’s impact has also opened doors for collaborations with companies such as Chipotle. In February 2024, he landed his own menu item, the “Keithadilla.” More recently, he partnered with Microsoft during the AFROTECH™ Conference 2024 to support their initiative of introducing artificial intelligence tools to empower businesses.

Reportedly Turning Down A Deal Worth Nearly $1M

Lee claims he also had the chance to partner with a major fast-food company, he shared while appearing on “Club Shay Shay.” He would have received a commercial and a deal valued at nearly $1 million. However, he chose to turn it down despite having a conversation with the CEO.
“They was offering almost a million dollars and I wasn’t making nowhere near that, but they was having a conversation and they asked me do I eat that food and I don’t. Instead of saying, ‘Of course I eat it’ trying to get the money, me, as a person of integrity I told him straight to his face I was like, ‘No I don’t. I’ve never ate it as a kid. I don’t eat it now. I don’t really eat fast food,'” he explained to Sharpe.