TikTok Awards 2025: Stay updates from the pink carpet, winners checklist, performances, and extra

The evening’s most coveted award, Creator of the 12 months, was offered by Paris Hilton — and went to Keith Lee, drawing the largest cheers of the night. Contained in the venue, the group erupted into chants of his identify: “Keith! Keith! Keith!”

Preventing again tears, Lee made it clear this win was something however anticipated.

“When individuals say they didn’t suppose they had been going to win, that’s not an understatement,” he stated. “I by no means in one million years thought I might be standing on this stage.”

Reflecting on his journey, Lee spoke candidly about self-doubt and the way TikTok helped change his life.

“I couldn’t speak. I could not be in rooms with individuals. I doubted myself. I nonetheless doubt myself to today,” he shared. “TikTok permits individuals to highlight the underdog.”

Pausing, overwhelmed by the second, Lee added merely: “That is for me. That is superb.”

Within the spirit of Lee’s Creator of the 12 months win, TikTok introduced on the finish of the present will probably be contributing $50,000 to Feeding America.

If the room wanted a reset, Ciara delivered it.

Working by means of a medley of her biggest hits — a number of of which have loved main resurgences on TikTok — Ciara did not simply carry out for the app, she carried out with it. The choreography leaned instantly into TikTok-familiar strikes, making the set immediately recognizable to anybody who has scrolled the platform up to now few years.

Mid-performance, Ciara mirrored on how grateful she is for TikTok, particularly as an unbiased artist, crediting the app with giving her music new life and continued relevance. In a present that’s had its share of technical struggles, her efficiency introduced a noticeable surge of power and pleasure again into the room.

It was a reminder of TikTok’s full-circle energy within the music business: songs from earlier eras, revived by the algorithm, now fueling the evening’s strongest reside second.

Bretman Rock took residence Video of the 12 months on the 2025 TikTok Awards, although he wasn’t in attendance to simply accept the glory.

The profitable video options Bretman and his flock of chickens set to “Nervousness” by Doechii, a clip that has garnered greater than 8.6 million likes on TikTok.

As a substitute, he despatched in a video message — and made positive it was peak Bretman. “I actually want my chickens had been right here to simply accept this award,” he stated, “however they’re at residence cockadoodling proper now and attempting to not get in hassle with the HOA.”

Even from afar, Bretman’s character carried the second, reminding everybody why his movies proceed to dominate the platform.

Accepting MVP of the 12 months on the 2025 TikTok Awards, Mariah Rose took a second to zoom out.

“There are such a lot of extra vital issues happening than the issues that we stress about,” she stated. “And we’re so blessed to have the ability to make foolish movies for a residing.”

She closed by thanking “the ladies and the gays” for holding her down.

Zach and Pat Valentine, identified collectively as @valentinebrothers, took residence the TikTok For Good Award — accepting the glory onstage with their mother.

They wrapped their second with a heartfelt line about their mission: to alter views one coronary heart at a time.

Accepting the I Was In the present day Years Outdated Award for academic creators, @lawbymike shared the mission behind his content material.

“I began making movies as a result of I wished to make the regulation appear much less intimidating and to assist individuals keep calm in nerve-racking conditions,” he stated.

The award acknowledges creators who flip complicated subjects into accessible, sensible information, and @lawbymike’s calm, clear strategy to authorized training has helped thousands and thousands really feel extra knowledgeable and fewer overwhelmed.

Elizabeth Esparza (@eliesparzaa) has gained TikTok LIVE Creator of the 12 months on the 2025 TikTok Awards.

Could not have stated it any higher, Mr. Fantasy.

Issues took a delightfully unhinged flip when a Labubu cannon appeared onstage, with Rei Ami and Ashby Florence firing Labubu plushies into the group.

“Open vast,” Ashby informed the viewers because the cannon launched. The second rapidly escalated from playful to barely overwhelming — together with a hot-mic second the place Ashby was caught saying, “Jesus Christ, it’s a weapon,” whereas strolling off the stage.

The gang liked it. Ashby appeared mildly terrified. The Labubus flew anyway.

Paris Hilton accepted Muse of the 12 months on the 2025 TikTok Awards and closed her remarks together with her signature phrases: “hold sliving” and “that is scorching.”

The phrase — a mix of “slaying” and “residing” — has turn out to be DJ Hilton’s newest calling card, completely becoming for an evening celebrating internet-shaping affect.

Tini Youthful has gained Storyteller of the 12 months on the 2025 TikTok Awards. Whereas she wasn’t in attendance, Youthful despatched a message to the TikTok neighborhood that performed through the present, thanking followers and reflecting on the ability of the storytellers on the app.

She was additionally one of many Mashable 101 nominees, our package deal highlighting creators shaping web tradition, making the win an particularly becoming second for a creator identified for sharp, private storytelling and culinary abilities.

Jeremiah Brown, identified on-line as @findjeremiah, has gained Rising Star of the 12 months, offered by e.l.f. Cosmetics, on the 2025 TikTok Awards.

Brown has constructed a quickly rising following — greater than 850,000 followers throughout platforms — due to his star-making look on Love Island USA.

The ceremony is being streamed reside without cost on TikTok’s official platform and on Tubi, the occasion’s official streaming associate.

On TikTok: Open the app and search for the reside occasion banner in your For You feed or the Stay tab. The complete awards present — together with the primary program and pink carpet protection — is on the market to stream instantly within the app.

On Tubi: You’ll be able to watch the awards reside without cost on the Tubi app or at Tubi.com. Seek for TikTok Awards and hit Watch Stay as soon as the published begins. A free Tubi account could also be required.

The winner of the My Present is On Award [Film & TV], offered by Trixie Mattel, is @dayanechrissel.

Contained in the venue, Mashable’s Christianna Silva experiences that some creators are already voicing frustrations. A number of attendees have complained that the seats are uncomfortable, including to the stressed power within the room.

The larger concern, although, seems to be technical. With the screens nonetheless not totally functioning, the present feels muted — and a bit of awkward — as visuals supposed to anchor the expertise aren’t touchdown as supposed.

It’s a disappointing hiccup for an evening constructed round spectacle and screen-first storytelling, and it is clearly impacting the environment because the present continues. However opener Mikey Angelo — singing a 2025 web recap — is bringing the power again up.

After practically an hour-long delay, Kim Farrell, TikTok’s World Head of Creators, took the stage to deal with the room.

“We’re working a bit of late as a result of that is fairly a strong room,” Farrell stated, experiences Mashable’s Christianna Silva. “You’re so highly effective since you blew out our screens.”

What precisely which means stays unclear, nevertheless it seems technical points are behind the delayed begin. On the time of writing, it is also unclear whether or not this portion of this system is being streamed.

Mashable reporters stay within the venue because the present prepares to get totally underway.

The present is beginning greater than 45 minutes late, nevertheless it’s lastly about to start…perhaps?

In keeping with the Mashable crew contained in the venue, the DJ has stopped taking part in music, and individuals are formally being ushered to their seats.

Contained in the venue, the pre-show power is…unexpectedly chill. Mashable’s Christianna Silva noticed Mr. Fantasy casually taking part in catch with a bouncy ball, which feels precisely proper for this second. What a man.

Much more stunning: not that many individuals have their telephones out. If they’re on their telephones, they’re principally checking them — not recording. A number of attendees are snapping selfies, however the vibe feels nearer to a standard live performance than a room filled with creators documenting each second.

It is a uncommon phone-down second at an occasion constructed across the web.

Workforce Mashable is contained in the venue, prepared for the present to start.

“We made it inside! All of your favourite creators are taking a seat and preparing for the present,” experiences Mashable’s Christianna Silva.

Credit score: Courtesy of Christianna Silva

Credit score: Courtesy of Christianna Silva

The pink carpet is winding down, with only a handful of interviews left earlier than consideration shifts inside for the beginning of the present, experiences Mashable’s Christianna Silva. Remaining arrivals are trickling by means of because the press traces skinny and the power strikes indoors.

Earlier than wrapping, host La La Anthony shared her phrase of the yr with Mashable: “Change.” Calling 2025 “a yr of adjusting and evolving,” she stated.

Alexis Nikole Nelson informed Mashable her phrase of the yr is “daring.”

The creator was nominated for TikTok for Good this yr and can also be a Mashable 101 nominee, making the selection really feel particularly becoming as she continues to make use of her platform to teach and make an affect.

KPop Demon Hunters star Rei Ami simply hit the TikTok Awards carpet in a gown Zoey would completely approve of — it has pockets, aka the right place to place your cellphone.

Pockets!
Credit score: Mashable

Including a softer word to the word-of-the-year debate, KJ Apa’s wayward pop alter ego, Mr. Fantasy, informed Mashable that his decide is “love, solely love.” Certain!

Credit score: Mashable

Creator and The Bachelor Season 28 winner Kelsey Anderson (@kelseyalexandraan) shall be presenting the Storyteller of the 12 months award tonight. Her decide for 2025’s Phrase of the 12 months? “Interval.”

Credit score: Mashable

A couple of attendee has landed on the emphatic punctuation-as-statement, calling it their phrase of the yr. The that means is evident: finish of dialogue.

The word-of-the-year debate continues on the TikTok Awards carpet. Trixie Mattel informed Mashable her decide can be “Are we cooked, chat?”

Truthfully? Extraordinarily on-line. No notes.

Credit score: Mashable

The word-of-the-year dialog on the carpet took a flip when presenter Tan France shared his decide: “C U Subsequent Tuesday.”

For readability, he wasn’t referring to the phrase itself — however to the phrase it spells out. France joked that it has lengthy been widespread within the UK and stated he is glad to see it gaining traction within the U.S. as effectively. (Mashable wrote in regards to the phrase’s broader on-line resurgence in 2023.)

Credit score: Mashable

The TikTok Awards pink carpet stays precisely what you’d count on: uncensored and really on-line.

A snapshot of the TikTok Awards pink carpet: crowded press traces, high-impact lights, and Trixie Mattel showing within the background, as one does.

Credit score: Mashable

Ashby Florence — aka The Lorax on TikTok — simply hit the carpet in a vivid pink gown emblazoned with the phrases “I Coronary heart Ashby.” No Lorax costume in sight, however the assertion nonetheless delivers.

She appears nice, and sure, the message is loud and clear.

Credit score: Mashable

Additionally, her phrase of the yr is “conundrum,” which feels apt for the yr we have had.

We caught up with Josh Richards on the carpet and requested one burning query: What’s your phrase of the yr?

After Merriam-Webster topped “slop” the official phrase of 2025, Richards had a distinct reply. His decide? “Damnit” — impressed by the way in which his girlfriend says it. (Relatable.)

Elizabeth Esparza went with “reside,” whereas Jeannette Oak stored it quick and decisive: “Interval.”

Yasmine Sahid informed Mashable her decide is “fandom,” which feels particularly on-theme for an evening constructed solely on on-line communities and collective obsession.

Mashable senior tradition reporter Christianna Silva, social supervisor Lily Kartiganer, and social media editor Mike Benavides are on the scene.

Credit score: Courtesy of Christianna Silva

Earlier than the pink carpet even formally opens, creators are already doing what they do finest: turning the hours main as much as the TikTok Awards into content material.

Throughout the app, nominees and attendees are posting match checks, GRWMs, and last-minute glam movies as they head to the 2025 ceremony. Storyteller of the 12 months nominee Logan Moffitt — higher often known as “Cucumber Man” — shared a match verify of his glossy grey go well with, full with a pocket reveal. Inside: Listerine spray, lip gloss, and eye drops.

Presenter — and Mashable 101 nominee — Jools Lebron posted a GRWM as she defined her disco glam search for the night.

After which there’s Los Angeles–based mostly style creator Juhm, who posted their Coach-filled GRWM (peep that jacket!) as they ready to go away for the TikTok Awards.