Emmy-winning actress Kerry Washington has invested in Spill, a Black-owned social media platform that aims to create safer spaces for historically marginalized groups, including LGBTQIA+ and people of color.
Founded by two former Twitter employees, Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell and DeVaris Brown, Spill positions itself as a next-generation social platform that puts culture first.
Kerry Washington Backs Spill
With Spill, Washington is not only an investor but also an enthusiastic user.
“In a digital world where marginalized groups, especially Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA folks, rarely feel prioritized, Spill stands out,” she shared in a statement.
Washington has been active within the platform, hosting live video sessions—referred to as “Tea Parties”—and having conversations with the Spill community about voter registration.
“She’s incredibly accessible and knowledgeable, especially around these topics, and is not scared in any way, shape, or form about really engaging with people directly,” Terrell told TechCrunch.
“I think it really does represent the kind of environment we want to cultivate on Spill.”
Supporting the creator economy
Spill is exploring ways to empower creators on the platform through rewards, including financial compensation.
“Money gets talked about a lot in the creative economy, understandably,” Terrell told Digiday. “But the other issue that we’ve seen, especially when it comes to Black, queer, and creators from underserved groups, is credit.”
The platform is looking to introduce blockchain-based technology to help creators maintain ownership of their content and earn compensation for their contributions.
Attracting advertisers
Spill’s appeal to advertisers is growing rapidly, thanks to its highly engaged, diverse user base. Brands like Paramount+ have partnered with the platform, recognizing its ability to reach audiences often overlooked by mainstream media.
Terrell notes that the platform’s ad spend per campaign has surged by 400%, driven by the high engagement levels within the Black and LGBTQIA+ communities.
“We have the data to prove that Black [communities], queer communities, other marginalized communities, historically, are just over-indexing on content performance and engagement on the platform,” Terrell told Digiday. “It’s just good business.”
With a strong foundation of user loyalty and engagement, Spill is projected to cross $1 million in annual revenue by next year.
Image credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
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