Getty ImagesKeith Lee won the “Creator of the Year” award at the inaugural TikTok Awards in the US.
Hosted by TV personality La La Anthony at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, the fan-voted awards ceremony handed out logo-shaped trophies to content creators on the platform in fourteen categories, including Storyteller of the Year and Living Creator of the Year.
Among the presenters were heiress and icon of the 2000s, Paris Hilton, and American gymnast Jordan Chiles.
The ceremony, which took place in front of a live audience and streamed on TikTok and Tubi, took place on the same night that TikTok's Chinese owner agreed to sell its US division.
Comedian Adam Waheed and influencers Christy Sarah, Alix Earle and Brooke Monk were also nominated in the Creator of the Year category.
American Love Island star Jeremiah Brown (@findjeremiah) took home the Rising Star of the Year award, while Tini Younger (@tinekeyounger) took home the Storyteller of the Year award. Zach and Pat Valentine (@valentinebrothers) were awarded the TikTok for Good award.
Bretman Sakayanan (@bretmanrock) won Video of the Year for his video featuring his creator and a flock of chickens and the soundtrack to Doechii's “Anxiety.”
The ceremony featured performances from R&B star Ciara and Mr. Fantasy, an online character who many speculate may be the alter ego of “Riverdale” actor KJ Apa.
The award ceremony took place on the same day as TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, has signed binding agreements with US and global investors. for most of its business in America.
Half of the joint venture will be owned by a group of investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and Emirati investment firm MGX, according to a note sent by CEO Shaw Tzu Chu.
ByteDance will retain 19.9% ​​of the business, while Abu Dhabi-based Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX will each hold 15%.
Another 30.1% will be owned by affiliates of existing ByteDance investors.
The deal, due to close on Jan. 22, will end years of efforts by Washington to force ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations on national security grounds.
TikTok said in a memo that the deal will allow “more than 170 million Americans to continue to discover a world of limitless opportunity as part of a vital global community.”
Correction, Dec. 19: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Bethenny Frankel was among the hosts.
