THR Celebrates Viral Stars at Beverly Hills Dinner

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The Hollywood Reporter (THR) hosted a star-studded dinner on October 15, 2025, celebrating viral creators who are making waves both online and offline. The event, organized in collaboration with Gersh and Blacklane, took place at the renowned Matsuhisa restaurant, featuring a seated dinner of sushi staples.

Among the attendees were social media stars such as Drew Afualo, Boman Martinez-Reid, Michael Blaustein, and David Dobrik. The night kicked off with welcome remarks from THR editor-in-chief Maer Roshan and publisher Lori O’Connor, followed by a fireside chat led by THR writer-at-large Peter Kiefer with Meta‘s VP of Product, Ime Archibong.

Archibong discussed the significance of Facebook in engaging its vast audience, which reaches 3 billion users monthly. He highlighted the value creators find on the platform, stating, “When they come to Facebook, there’s an engagement that they have with real, authentic people.” He also noted that creators can monetize content across various formats on Facebook.

As the conversation shifted to artificial intelligence (AI), Archibong described the excitement of AI’s potential, sharing how recent advances allow content to be automatically translated between languages, enhancing creators’ ability to connect with their audiences. He emphasized the importance of safety in AI development.

Later, Roshan moderated a panel titled “The New Fame,” featuring Afualo, Blaustein, and Martinez-Reid, among others. Participants discussed strategies for standing out amidst the online noise. Political commentator Hasan Piker shared, “My ‘secret to success’ is being very stubborn and very consistent.”

Blaustein added humor as his secret weapon, stating that he uses comedy to give audiences a taste of his live performances. “If they can’t afford the live show, they can at least nibble on a little portion of my show,” he said.

The panel also explored the boundaries between personal lives and public personas. Piker expressed the need for privacy in maintaining mental health, while Afualo asserted the importance of speaking freely without fear of repercussions.

The event concluded with a reflection on the demanding lifestyle of today’s creators, as Piker noted that unlike traditional actors, creators are always “on.” “They are brands and businesses, constantly presenting themselves,” he remarked.

Among those in attendance were reporters Taylor Lorenz and several members of the Gersh team, along with Meta employees who contributed to the evening’s discussions. The dinner not only celebrated influential creators but also fostered important conversations about the future of social media.