Tiktok food critic Keith Lee seems hesitant to continue his food tour after receiving violent attacks on him and his family.
Lee, who has amassed over 14 million followers and is known for his honest and often critical reviews of restaurants. Lee had been traveling across the country to sample different cuisines and share his thoughts with his millions of followers.
Keith Lee’s food tour has been faced with safety concerns after he visited two popular Atlanta restaurants: Kandi Burruss‘ restaurant Old Lady Gang and The Real Milk & Honey.
Keith Lee’s review of Kandi Burruss’ restaurant Old Lady Gang sparked controversy, as he described his experience of having trouble making a reservation, facing long wait times, and being unable to order takeout on the weekend, despite being invited by a member of Burruss’ team. He also felt that his family was treated differently because they were not celebrities.
Lee’s review of The Real Milk & Honey was also an unpleasant experience. He said that he left the restaurant empty handed because the restaurant had a number of unique “rules” that made it difficult for customers to dine there, such as not taking phone orders or being closed during scheduled business hours.
Both of Lee’s reviews sparked controversy online, with some people defending the restaurants and others agreeing with Lee’s assessment. However, it was the backlash from his The Real Milk & Honey review that led to the violent attacks on Lee and his family.
In a video statement released on Wednesday, Lee seemed hesitant to continue his upcoming food tour out of concern for his safety.
“I can understand everyone is going to have an opinion on the situation. You can disagree with me, you can not like what I say. Completely understand, I’m ok with that.,” Lee said in a video statement. “But when my safety and my family’s safety start coming into play, that’s where I draw the line at.”
“At the end of the day, I just want to eat food, walking my path. If you want to be on a journey with me, you are more than welcome.”
The Impact of Death Threats on Food Influencers
The death threats against Lee are not an isolated incident. In recent years, there has been a growing trend of food influencers being harassed and threatened online.
In 2019, a Los Angeles woman received threats from a restaurant owner who was upset by her negative review.
And in 2009, a food critic in New York City was beat up after he gave a negative review to a restaurant.
These threats are having a chilling effect on food influencers. Many influencers are now afraid to post negative reviews, even if they are honest and justified.
This is a problem for both consumers and food influencers. Consumers rely on food influencers to provide them with honest and unbiased reviews of restaurants. And food influencers play an important role in helping restaurants to improve their food and service.
The death threats against Lee are a serious problem. It is important to remember that food influencers are entitled to their opinions, and they should not be threatened or harassed for expressing those opinions.
Social media platforms, law enforcement agencies, and consumers all have a role to play in protecting food influencers from harassment and threats.