The Internet's Biggest Content Creators Hit VidCon and the Pickleball Courts
VidCon 2025 took place this past weekend in Anaheim, California. And for the first time in its 14-year history, it had a pickleball activation.
Let that sink in.
For those unfamiliar, think of VidCon like Comic-Con, but swap the superheroes for influencers, viral stars, and Gen Z icons.
This year, the convention hosted thousands of die-hard fans, brands, and creators, and right in the middle of it all? Pickleball.
Thanks to Viewws, a content tech company that helped launch Dink + Smash 2025 Pickleball, attendees had the chance to either square off in 1v1 matches or kick back and watch creators dink it out.
VidCon Featured creators didn’t just wave from a distance. They picked up paddles and played. Youtubers, TikTokers, and meme gods like Jools Lebron, Lil Tay, Jenny Hoyos, QCP, and DangMattSmith all hit the court.
Sydney Steinaker, a pickleball content creator and friend of The Dink, also joined in and played alongside them, helping to show just how accessible and fun the sport can be when placed in front of younger audiences.
She also gave us an exclusive look into what it was like being part of the action.
Sydney told us Viewws was behind the activation, bringing in big-name creators to play and promote their new platform. She wasn’t originally scheduled to appear, but after a last-minute invite, she stepped in to help run the court.
Creators like tryNsomethingnew, Kylin Milan, Dhar Mann, Jenny Hoyos & DangMattSmith out on the court with Sydney
“I just wanted to make it fun and judgment-free,” she said. “A lot of the creators felt more comfortable learning from someone who’s solid, but still relatable. Now some of them want to keep playing, collaborate, even bring pickleball into their own content.”
According to Sydney, the reaction didn’t stop there. In the days following VidCon, managers of several creators have been sliding into her DMs, asking how their clients can get more involved in pickleball.
Looks like VidCon introduced more than just fans to the game.
Some Familiar Faces Brought the Heat
We saw major names bring their online personas to life with a paddle in hand. Two in particular stood out, not just because of their massive followings, but because of how they showed up on the court.
Jools Lebron
A breakout TikTok star known for her viral “very demure, very mindful” satire. Her wit has earned her 2.3 million followers, a Jimmy Kimmel Live! appearance, and a growing list of brand deals.
Lil Tay
The internet’s original “youngest flexer of the century” is back. After skyrocketing to fame in 2018 and disappearing in a cloud of controversy and a fake death hoax, Lil Tay re-emerged in 2023 with new music and her same chaotic charm. Now, she’s taking her talents to the pickleball court.
Why This Was So Cool (Especially to Me)
Personally, this one hit different. I’ve been watching YouTubers and creators for as long as I can remember, and if you know, you know. VidCon has long been the space where the internet’s biggest names show face.
So to see pickleball not just present, but fully integrated with a court on the convention floor? It was proof that pickleball is crossing into creator circles and reaching younger audiences, the ones who start the trends, not just follow them.
Huge shoutout to Viewws and VidCon for making it happen.
And if the vibe on that court is any sign, this won’t be the last time pickleball pulls up to a creator convention.
