"Whassup?!"
As a reminder for us all to prioritize check-ins with loved ones amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Budweiser has brought back its iconic "Whassup" commercial with a timely twist that reflects the current state of the world.
On Thursday (April 23), the beer company released the remake of its beloved commercial, which had us all saying "Whassup" for all of 1999, featuring a slew of famous faces.
The 90-second spot shows Dwyane Wade and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, checking in on his former Miami Heat teammate Chris Bosh, 2x WNBA MVP and Los Angeles Sparks star Candace Parker, and DJ D-Nice, the breakout DJ of quarantine, who's known for his popular ‘Club Quarantine’ dance parties.
Gabrielle kicks things off by asking the group, "Whassup?!" They then collectively recite the catchphrase with each hilariously trying to outdo the other. "Staying connected matters more than ever right now," the ad concludes. "Checking in, that's whassup."
“Thanks to modern technology, we’re able to remain virtually connected in ways that otherwise we would not have been able to within the current distance-mandated climate,” said Monica Rustgi, Vice President of Marketing for Budweiser. “In times like these, something as simple as a hello, or in this case ‘whassup,’ means a lot. Following the unbelievable success of the original ad campaign, we found this to be a meaningful opportunity to revisit the original spot’s simplicity and focus on human connection in a time when people may be feeling hopeless, uncertain, and alone. Our hope is that by getting people to check-in, we can play a small part in bringing the world closer together during these trying times.”
“My wife and I wanted to partner with Budweiser because we believe the message is crucial,” D-Wade said in a press release. “We both remembered the original ‘whassup’ ads and love the idea of bringing them back as a genuine PSA to connect with each other. We encourage everyone to take a moment out from their day to check-in with their friends and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Budweiser has partnered with The Salvation Army as part of the campaign and will make a donation to organization for essential support of those in need due to COVID-19.
Additionally, every day at 6:00 PM ET, Budweiser will be offering its community the chance to say “whassup” through a host of interactive activations on its social platforms, including “whassup” live chats every Thursday via Instagram Live on @BudweiserUSA where different celebrities will check in while having a Bud and answering questions submitted by fans.
The program will kick off with Dwyane Wade on Thursday, April 30 at 6:00 PM EST.
Photo: Budweiser