JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – “Duval Day” is an event that draws hundreds of people to Myrtle Avenue in Jacksonville’s New Town neighborhood every summer.
The event, hosted by comedian Lil Duval, has brought celebrities to the city. Comedians, athletes, and rappers have all made their way to Myrtle Avenue over the years. And this year was no different. TikTok food influencer Keith Lee made a surprise appearance in the River City Saturday afternoon for the annual event.
Lee is a TikTok creator who specializes in food reviews. Currently, he has more than 16.4 million followers on the platform. He is known for bringing an influx of business to the restaurants and businesses he reviews on his social media, which is known as the “Keith Lee Effect.”
He posted a video on his TikTok account Saturday vlogging his experience of “Duval Day.”
@keith_lee125 Spend Duval Day With Us 💕 would you try it ? 💕 #foodcritic ♬ original sound - Keith Lee
In the video, Lee said, “This is easily one of the most fun things I’ve done in such a long time,” adding that he really needed [his experience at “Duval Day”] and said that it was a “great grounding moment.”
Rumors of Lee’s appearance in Jacksonville were speculated on social media Friday after people saw him at Jacksonville International Airport. Lee himself added to the rumors by reposting a picture with a fan on his Instagram story.
At that time, it was unclear if he was in town for his famous food tour. During his food tour, Lee and his family travel to cities across the country and review food from local restaurants. In May, his food tour made a stop in Miami. The series of videos reviewing the Miami restaurants were viewed nearly 45 million times on TikTok.
It is unclear how long the food influencer will be in the city or if he will review any local restaurants. However, local restaurants from all over Northeast Florida have made social media pitches to get Lee to come and review their food.