- Hulu’s new film, Swiped, is inspired by the rise of tech entrepreneur and Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd.
- Whitney isn’t sure if she’s ready for Hollywood, as she attempted to scrap the film altogether.
- However, she admitted she’s “flattered” by the movie’s casting of Lily James.
Let’s be real—apps have changed the way we navigate dating in the age of technology, and Bumble is definitely at the forefront of this era. It’s a pretty big deal, which is why Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd’s life recerntly received the biopic treatment from 20th Century Studios and Hulu. But as it turns out, the tech entrepreneur actually tried to scrap the film all together before its release on September 9.
During an interview with the CNBC Changemakers and Power Players podcast on September 19, Whitney admitted, “So, I can’t make it through the whole trailer. It’s too weird for me.” During the episode, which will be fully available on September 30, she also revealed that she had no direct involvement with the film, which is loosely inspired by her rise to becoming the world’s youngest billionaire.
“Frankly, I was informed about this movie after it was already off to the races. I think they had already written the script and done all these things,” she added. “I even was asking my lawyer two years ago, like, ‘What do I do? I don’t want a movie about me. Shut it down!’”
Whitney then shared her lawyer’s response, which was, “There’s nothing you can do, you’re somewhat of a public figure, there’s public information out there, they’re going to do what they’re going to do.”
Although she can’t handle the trailer, Whitney admitted she doesn’t know if she’ll tune in to the film starring Lily James from Pam & Tommy (which, if you recall, was another biographical project that led to some controversy).
“I don’t know if I’m going to watch it or not,” she continued. “I'm obviously both terrified and maybe slightly flattered? But I think the strangeness and the fear of it outweighs any flattery. Listen, we’ll just see. I guess I gotta get some popcorn and stay tuned. But I am honored that they chose Lily James. She’s a talented actress.”
Speaking of honors, Lily took on the role because she wanted to tell Whitney’s story of resilience. In 2012, Whitney co-founded Tinder, which she later left because of sexual harassment and discrimination. Two years later, she sued the company, and the lawsuit was quietly resolved.
“Whitney was so young when she was a part of not one, but two of these world-changing dating apps,” the actor told People and Entertainment Weekly at the Toronto International Film Festival studio on September 8.
Lily added, “She created Bumble as a direct response to the adversity and challenges that she faced as a woman in the tech space, as an entrepreneur, as a human. And to channel that negativity into something so powerful, to me is such a strong message, such a strong, inspiring, important story to share.”
