Should food critics have the final say? – The Famuan

Over the years, food critics and food reviews have become increasingly popular on social media sites. Some of the most well-known influencers achieve their social status by rating new foods and letting their followers know if they are worth trying.

Former mixed martial artist Keith Lee debuted on TikTok in November 2020. He started the social media account to share cooking videos and combat his social anxiety. With 16.6 million followers now, Keith Lee’s views are widespread and can be very helpful or detrimental to businesses.

Keith Lee has criticized restaurants in some of America’s largest cities, including New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and now Washington, D.C. For small businesses, a recommendation from Keith Lee can mean repeat orders and customers traveling from all over to try his food. On the other hand, a negative review can upset business owners or even change the minds of those who thought about his food.

Third-year public relations major Jermaine Edwards Jr. believes food critics have a huge impact on restaurants, but he still thinks the final decision should always be up to the customer.

“I think the only reason someone might not try a restaurant is because there’s a health issue, not because of taste,” Edwards said.

This is a statement many agree with. Despite what food critics say, we should still make an effort to support businesses, small and large. When we give food critics like Keith Lee, who use their platforms solely to entertain and inform, the overwhelming decision of whether a restaurant is worth trying, we put a lot of pressure on the content creator.

Many fans and restaurant owners of Keith Lee were disappointed with his comments on his latest food tour, to the point where Keith Lee refused to publish most of his comments on the Washington, D.C. tour because the ratings were not favorable.

Fourth-year broadcast journalism student Aja Waseem gets a taste of what it’s like to be a part of the food industry by working at a local restaurant. Waseem believes we should always pay attention to what food critics say.

“I think it should be taken into consideration but it should not be the end all be all,” Waseem commented.

Despite Keith Lee’s efforts to protect the restaurants’ reputation, they continued to be the target of negative criticism on social media.
Fourth-year broadcast journalism student Takeira Nettles has witnessed this issue play out on social media.

“It’s sad to see Keith Lee belittled for simply having an opinion; his influence is not necessarily a bad thing,” Nettles speculated.

Despite what people say online, we should always be open to trying new restaurants, regardless of what others think. In the process, you may even find a new restaurant to recommend to your friends. Also, many food critics only try a small portion of a menu, so don’t be afraid to expand your palate; you might just discover a dish you never knew you would like.