Issa Rae, Daveed Diggs and More Join Bud's Revived 'Whassup' Campaign From Quarantine

Mouths open. Tongues out. Now, everybody say: WHASSUP?

Former NBA standout Dwyane Wade and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, connect via video chat with some of their pals in Budweiser’s latest lockdown-themed “Whassup?” PSA. Developed with VaynerMedia, the work reminds folks to check in with family and friends as coronavirus confinement continues across much of the world:

Actors Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Emmy Raver-Lampman and Broadway artist Daveed Diggs perform the famous catchphrase with gusto. That’s also true for Union and Wade, who appeared with different celebs last week in a similarly themed spot:

Both PSAs turn quiet toward the end, stripping away the veneer of fame, letting viewers relate to the stars for who they truly are: human beings like the rest of us, trapped in a strange and scary situation, seeking comfort, contact and a few good laughs.

The ads close with the line, “Checking in, that’s whassup,” and a toll-free number for the Salvation Army’s helpline. Bud will make a donation of $100,000 to support the organization’s Covid-19 relief efforts.

Fans can join in the horseplay—and in some cases win free swag—through various interactive activations. Tomorrow, Wade and Union hit Instagram Live to answer your questions. (Please, try to ask something more original than “Whassup?”)

Working with director Charles Stone III, ad agency DDB created the original, uber-iconic “Whassup?” commercial, which dropped during Monday Night Football on Dec. 20, 1999. A follow-up aired in the Super Bowl shortly thereafter, and the line has bubbled up a few times since.
 
“We found this to be a meaningful opportunity to revisit the original spot’s simplicity and focus on human connection,” says Bud vp of marketing Monica Rustgi. “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.”

CREDITS

Marcel Marcondes: U.S. Chief Marketing Officer, Anheuser-Busch
Monica Rustgi: VP Marketing, Budwieser
Marisa Siegel: Sr. Director, Budweiser
Nick Kelly: VP, Partnerships, Beer Culture & Community
Matt Davis: Director, Budweiser
Marni Hamberg: Sr. Brand Manager, Budweiser
Mattie Shook: Brand Manager, Budweiser
Eddie Moye: Director, Marketing Communications
Lacey Clifford: Sr. Director, Marketing Communications
Rob Lenois: Chief Creative Officer, VaynerMedia
Adam Lock: Group Creative Director, VaynerMedia
Adrian Flores: Creative Director, VaynerMedia
Florian Marquardt: Creative Director, VaynerMedia
Evan Elberson: Associate Creative Director, VaynerMedia
Jamie Shin: Associate Creative Director, VaynerMedia
Nick Miaritis: Executive Vice President, VaynerMedia
Joe Leotta: Vice President, Group Account Director, VaynerMedia
Lindsay Faulkner: Account Director, VaynerMedia
Donald Spampinato: Senior Account Executive, VaynerMedia
Chloe Heller: Senior Agency Producer, VaynerMedia
Juliette Hashemi: Project Management, VaynerMedia
Aaron Kovan: Chief Production Officer, VaynerMedia
Laura Sorrentino: Executive Post Producer, VaynerMedia
Naina Gulati: Senior Post Producer, VaynerMedia
Haley Insley: Assistant Editor, VaynerMedia
David Benoit: Sr. Account Manager, 160/90
Eric Flinn: Creative Director, draftLine
Keslie Watts: Associate Creative Director, draftLine
Deniz Yegen: Associate Creative Director, draftLine
Diana Labrecque: Senior Producer, draftLine
Traktor: Director
Daniel Bergmann: President, Stink Films
Fran McGivern: Executive Producer, Stink Films
Natalie Jacobson: Producer, Stink Films
Paul Anastasiadis: SVP, M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment
DJ Hardy: Vice President, M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment
Vicki Scarfone: Account Director, M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment