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.
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Spain's government has fined Airbnb 64 million euros or $75 million for advertising unlicensed tourist rentals. The consumer rights ministry announced the fine on Monday. The ministry stated that many listings lacked proper license numbers or included incorrect information. The move is part of Spain's ongoing efforts to regulate short-term rental companies amid a housing affordability crisis especially in popular urban areas. The ministry ordered Airbnb in May to remove around 65,000 listings for similar violations. The government's consumer rights minister emphasized the impact on families struggling with housing. Airbnb said it plans to challenge the fine in court.
Roomba maker iRobot has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but says that it doesn’t expect any disruptions to devices as the more than 30-year-old company is taken private under a restructuring process. iRobot said that it is being acquired by Picea through a court-supervised process. Picea is the company's primary contract manufacturer. The Bedford, Massachusetts-based anticipates completing the prepackaged chapter 11 process by February.
Serbia’s prosecutor for organized crime has charged a government minister and three others with abuse of position and falsifying of documents related to a luxury real estate project linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The charges came on Monday. The investigation centers on a controversy over a a bombed-out military complex in central Belgrade that was a protected cultural heritage zone but that is facing redevelopment as a luxury compound by a company linked to Kushner. The $500 million proposal to build a high-rise hotel, offices and shops at the site has met fierce opposition from experts at home and abroad. Selakovic and others allegedly illegally lifted the protection status for the site by falsifying documentation.
