Venmo Rival Zelle Enlists "Hamilton" Star for Ad Campaign
Venmo rival Zelle shakes traditional advertising up by enlisting Hamilton star Daveed Diggs for its latest ad campaign. They've teamed up with the actor to launch the TV commercials on the biggest stages, including the NFL playoffs. Daveed Diggs joined us on Cheddar to share why he thought the payments company chose him as an ambassador for the brand.
Diggs said his project with Zelle was a rare opportunity for an artists because the company gave him so much creative control over the advertisement. While the process was collaborative, he explains that he had a lot of say in the writing of the lyrics for the raps used in the ads. The Hamilton star expresses that he thinks Zelle is intentionally trying to make sure people know the app is for everyone.
We also discussed the next big projects in Diggs' pipeline. He said he has a film that he has been writing for the last decade going to the Sundance Film Festival. When asked whether he'd return to broadway, Diggs said he would like to continue performing in theater, but broadway is not particularly important to him.
Some small grocery stores and neighborhood convenience stores are eager for the U.S. government shutdown to end and for their customers to start receiving federal food aid again. Late last month, the Trump administration froze funding for the SNAP benefits that about 42 million Americans use to buy groceries. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says about 74% of the assistance was spent last year at superstores like Walmart and supermarkets like Kroger. Around 14% went to smaller stores that are more accessible to SNAP beneficiaries. A former director of the United Nations World Food Program says SNAP is not only a social safety net for families but a local economic engine that supports neighborhood businesses.
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