SPILL Calls Out Advert Company For ‘Misappropriating’ Their Model

[ad_1] by Jeroslyn JoVonn August 22, 2025

SPILL is looking out 72andSunny advert company for the alleged "tried theft" of their model.

The creators of SPILL are pushing again after world advert company 72andSunny launched a UK information platform that seems to repeat the Black-owned app’s identify, branding, and audience.

On Aug. 21, SPILL Chief Development Officer Kenya T. Parham known as out 72andSunny on LinkedIn after the company introduced SPIL*, a Gen Z information platform in Europe, “constructed from scratch” by its Amsterdam staff. The publish was shortly deleted after SPILL customers flooded the feedback with backlash over the putting similarities, prompting Parham to slam the company for what she known as an “tried theft.”

“They tried it, we clocked it, and immediately. And thank God the tradition all the time retains receipts,” Parham stated in a video explaining the controversy.

She went on to notice how the publish not exists as a result of 72andSunny eliminated it resulting from “getting cooked within the feedback so unhealthy,” Parham stated.

“However fortunately, we’ve obtained the receipts,” she added.

With video taking part in behind her, Parham confirmed 72andSunny’s since-deleted publish, which marketed SPIL* as a platform “made for younger folks, by younger folks” that gives “various views” on at this time’s information and data.

“Fascinating selection of phrases,” Parham stated, additionally noting their declare of constructing SPIL* “from scratch.”

She adopted up by highlighting SPILL’s 2023 launch and speedy rise as a profitable Black-owned social media platform, which incorporates securing monetary backing from notable figures resembling Kerry Washington.

“We went primary within the Apple App Retailer in July 2023. We’re really the one Black-owned app to ever be primary within the social part,” Parham defined.

Together with being featured in quite a few main information retailers like Quick Firm, Mashable, TechCrunch, Enterprise Insider, CNN, and Inc., SPILL was additionally acknowledged as Apple’s App of the Day within the App Retailer. Provided that visibility, it’s onerous to imagine a worldwide advert company wouldn’t have recognized about SPILL earlier than launching a virtually an identical platform identify, simply swapping the second “L” for an asterisk.

Parham additionally pointed to SPIL*’s web site, noting what she described as clear replicas of SPILL’s branding — from the font model to the intense colours on a black background and even the animated captions.

“What you’re seeing now could be a display recording of the web site that 72 and Sunny put up for his or her cultural misappropriation of our platform,” Parham stated. “A easy search on the web would have proven you that not solely does the spill app exist already, however we're already servicing various communities.”

Parham stated the state of affairs underscores the significance of platforms like SPILL and the illustration they supply for marginalized communities.

“We began constructing Spill in 2023 as a result of we have been uninterested in seeing Black, brown, and queer creators having their developments co-opted and stolen with out correct credit score,” she stated. “And we all know we want secure areas now greater than ever earlier than to assemble on-line.”

Parham closed by sarcastically thanking 72andSunny for uplifting SPILL’s creators to launch their very own company, which they’re jokingly calling “69andShady.”

“So thanks, 72and Sunny. I believe we’re going to create our personal company. Go to 69andshady.com to study the way forward for social media,” she quipped.