"It's about embracing the things that make you unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable."
Musician, actor, and activist Janelle Monáe joined Cheddar on Monday to talk about an ad campaign she's working on with Belvedere Vodka that emphasizes inclusion and diversity.
"We have a shared vision about making this world much better. Inclusion is at the top of my list. Inclusion for women, minorities, and my brothers and sisters in the LGBTQIA+ communities," said Monáe.
The venture, which began last year, is called "A Beautiful Future," and involves a coordinated limited edition bottle, a social media campaign, and a video series led by female directors.
The bottle is available beginning this month.
"It's the whole idea that inclusiveness is really the mainstream now," said Rodney Williams, the president and CEO of the vodka brand.
The campaign began at a 2018 brunch co-hosted by Monáe and Belvedere. The event was in support of Monáe's Fem the Future movement, which aims to encourage those who identify as women working in the media, cinema, and arts fields.
"It's really to highlight women's voices, and to say — hey — we're noticing that there is a gender gap. And there's not a lot of women who are behind the cameras. I'm in front of them, where are the producers? Where are the engineers? Where are we?" said Monáe.
"We're here. And we can compete at a high level, but we have to be given those opportunities."
Brian Vendig, president of MJP Wealth Advisors, joined Cheddar News to discuss the market ahead of the Federal Reserve's meeting on Wednesday and as investors digest JPMorgan's takeover of First Republic Bank, which was recently seized by regulators. A slew of earnings are also slated to be released this week as well.
The saga of Adidas' high-profile break-up with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, continues. Investors have filed a class action lawsuit alleging that executives were aware of Ye's behavioral issues well before Adidas ended its relationship with him last October.
The top financial concern for Americans in 2023 is inflation. Sudha Chandrasekharan, SVP, of Global E-Commerce at Auctane, joins Cheddar News to discuss how this outlook will change consumer spending habits, and why e-commerce is playing a vital role in the economy.
Charlie Munger, vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, told the Financial Times that the U.S. commercial property market is in trouble. “It’s not nearly as bad as it was in 2008,” he said. “But trouble happens to banking just like trouble happens everywhere else.”
Labor strife is coming to a head in the entertainment industry, as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) said it's prepared to strike at midnight Tuesday if it doesn't come to terms with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
