Swiped (2025)
Director: Rachel Lee Goldenberg
Writers: Rachel Lee Goldenberg, Bill Parker, Kim Caramele
Stars: Lily James, Ben Schnetzer, Myha’la, Jackson White, Dan Stevens, Ian Colletti, Mary Neely, Ana Yi Puig, Aidan Laprete, Pedro Correa, Coral Peña, Pierson Fodé, Joely Fisher, Hannah Marks, Kai Van Moorsel, Olivia Rose Keegan, Michael Nouri, Hunter Sansone, Julia Cavanaugh
Release dates: September 9, 2025 (TIFF); September 19, 2025 (Hulu)
Plot: Whitney Wolfe (Lily James) is a recent college graduate with an idealistic vision for an app that connects volunteers with charities. After facing rejection from numerous “tech bros” at an industry conference, she catches the eye of Sean Rad, a tech CEO who offers her a job at his startup incubator, Hatch Labs.
Whitney quickly proves her value, pitching the name “Tinder” for the company’s new dating app and spearheading the highly successful marketing campaign that makes it a sensation on college campuses. During this rapid rise, she begins a relationship with co-founder Justin Mateen. However, as the app grows in popularity, the work environment becomes increasingly toxic and sexist. Whitney’s ideas for improving user safety, particularly for women, are dismissed, and her contributions as a co-founder are downplayed by the men in charge.
When Whitney and Justin’s personal relationship sours, the workplace harassment intensifies. Facing a hostile environment and a lack of support from Sean Rad, Whitney leaves the company and files a high-profile lawsuit against Tinder for sexual harassment and discrimination. The fallout is public and brutal, leading to a period of intense online bullying and personal struggle for Whitney.
At her lowest point, she is approached by Andrey Andreev, the CEO of Badoo, who offers her a chance to build her own dating app from scratch, with full control and funding. Inspired by her negative experiences and a desire to create a safer, more respectful online space, Whitney develops Bumble, an app where women are required to make the first move, challenging traditional gender dynamics in dating and the tech world. The film follows her path to overcoming industry resistance and eventually becoming the youngest female self-made billionaire.
* * *
Swiped (2025) | Full Transcript
You desperately need me back in there? Okay.
Sorry. I’m on my way.
Hey, lady.
Shit.
I’m launching a new company which utilizes mobile technology to connect volunteers with orphanages throughou…
I’ll stop you there.
Our firm already gave to some green energy thing this year.
But I, uh… I’d take your number.
Shit.
These orphanages really…
Yeah.
You know, I’m sort of like an anarchist libertarian so I kind of let the free market take care of, like, whatever you’re going on about.
Okay. Thanks. Bye.
You micro dose?
Hi. I’m…
Probably shouldn’t stand there.
Let’s disrupt the way the world drinks juice!
We got a new flavor! Let’s hear it for Mountain Berry Blast!
To connect volunteers with orphanages…
Oh. I’mI’m sorry. I thought…
Oh, no. [stammers] Why are you sorry?
Typically, at these start ups, they only invite industry people, so 500 guys, three women.
So they hire a bunch of hot girls to even the numbers.
[chuckles] Ma’am.
Yes, please. God, get me out of here.
Hi.
Ticket?
Twenty bucks? [exhales sharply]
[sighs]
No, it’s uh…
I’m not in the mood.
You’re not Megan Conway.
Your thingy.
Yeah. Megan’s, like, a foot shorter and would, uh, definitely have a drink in each hand at an open bar.
Guilty. [chuckles] Ah.
I’m Sean Rad.
Hi.
I mean it says it right here, but I think we’ve established the lanyards are not to be trusted.
[chuckles] Well, if you were using an alias, I’d hope you go with something less fake sounding than Sean Rad.
Sounds like a rollerblading super spy. [chuckles] Okay. Well, what are you doing here?
What are you, looking for free juice?
No. I… The plan was to make connections for work, but, uh, I’m new to LA.
I guess I’m not used to the charm of the tech crowd.
Uhhuh.
Well, they’re taking forever with the cars and you’ve got the CEO of the industry’s hottest new startup trapped beside you, so why don’t you tell me your deal?
You?
Yeah.
[chuckles] Okay.
Yeah. All right.
Um… [sighs] My name’s Whitney Wolfe.
Also sounds very madeup, but continue.
Born and raised in Salt Lake City.
I majored in international studies at SMU.
I-I-I graduated summa cum laude.
Yeah. I wouldn’t admit that here.
These… These people, they prefer the myth of the genius college dropout.
So just, like, say that you founded a startup in your dorm room.
I did found a startup in my dorm room.
Junior year.
After the BP oil spill, I created a company that sold bamboo tote bags to raise money for the cleanup effort.
Then I graduated, and I’ve spent the past six months volunteering at an orphanage in Thailand.
Uh, but I realized that the system could be working way more efficiently.
So I’m raising capital to launch an app that connects orphanages with volunteers…
And this is what you wanna dedicate your life to?
Maybe.
Uh, my whole life?
Yeah. I don’t know.
I mean, I have so many ideas.
Okay.
Gonna tell you right now, you need a better answer than that.
[sighs]
Well, I know what I don’t wanna do.
I don’t wanna sell people things they don’t need.
I don’t want to have a job that I have to pretend is interesting when I tell my friends.
And I don’t wanna do something that I have to tell myself has value when actually it kind of doesn’t.
Okay. Um, stop by Hatch Labs.
It’s my incubator. Any time.
I know everybody. So I can make some investor intros.
Sup, man?
[chuckles] Oh. It’s okay.
Hi. It only opens from the outside. It’s… [chuckles]
[♪ “Drive” playing on car radio]
[vocalizes]
♪ It’s driven me before ♪
Come on, Kia.
♪ That everyone
else gets around ♪
♪ Lately I’m… ♪
Hi. [chuckles] Hi.
You said any time.
I did. I did.
Uh, less than 12 hours later is technically any time.
I can come back if you want.
Um…
Sorry. I’m late to pitch Cardify to Outback Steakhouse.
They’re, uh, actually a really big deal.
Which is why I’m willing to go to godforsaken Burbank.
Why don’t come with me so I’m not outnumbered.
[chuckles, stammers] I don’t even know what Cardify does.
It’s fine. Just smile and act like everything I’m saying is genius.
Which, uh, won’t be hard ’cause it is.
Oh. Um… Oh.
And so 75% of the people who walk out your doors do not become repeat customers? Guys.
I mean, this is a problem.
Cardify is the solution.
Cardify is a loyalty rewards app that is redefining loyalty from the ground up.
Rewards instantly transfer to your account.
Program becomes a game that your customers will wanna keep coming back to play.
Okay.
Maybe they’re working towards…
Thank you.
…20 loyalty points for a free bloomin’ onion.
Maybe they’re working towards 10,000 points to share an Outback steak with, uh… with Jay Leno.
[chuckles] I love Leno.
We can get Jay Leno?
[chuckles] Can we…
Whitney, can we get Leno?
[scoffs] I’ve got him on speed dial.
[chuckles] Whoa. I prefer that Kate Upton, myself.
[chuckles] [chuckles] Easy, Ed.
What? She’s very talented.
Well… Then you know what?
Then I say we get Upton.
The point is when you can track loyalty points over years, you can get creative with bigticket rewards.
[grunts]
[groans] I don’t know.
Yeah. It just sounds like a whole lot more work.
Ed. [clears throat] Think of it this way: imagine you’re taking me out to dinner…
Oh! That’s an option?
[chuckles] When the check comes, do you really wanna pull out an old, tattered punch card?
I do not.
Well, with, uh, Cardify…
Cardify.
…It’s all invisible, you know?
You are smooth, sophisticated.
You get the rewards and a second date.
[inhales deeply]
I like it.
What the hell. Let’s give it a try in a few markets and see if it catches on.
You’re hired.
[chuckles] I’m serious. I want you to join the team.
I’m flattered. But you know I can’t just give up on my…
Because you’re trying to change the world?
Let me ask you. Your BP oil spill project.
How much did those bamboo tote bags actually end up raising?
Well, we did okay for such a small co…
Or the orphanage in Thailand?
You feel like you made a real lasting change in the region?
Well, no. Which is exactly why…
Look. Look.
I know you wanna make the world a better place.
But I also know that those who actually affect change do it from a place of power and influence.
Bill Gates cured polio or malaria or something, but you know what he did first?
He made a hundred billion dollars.
Hmm. You know, men run 92% of tech.
So Bill’s chances were a little better than mine.
Half of CEOs in nonprofit are female.
I prefer those odds even if I have to start small.
Okay. Well, at Cardify you’d be starting big.
You’d be our fullfledged marketing director.
And you’d start tomorrow.
You know Cardify is basically dead, right?
Wait. [chuckles] Wh… What?
General rule of thumb:
a startup has to reach one million users in the first year to be considered a success.
We’re ten months in, and we’re at about 18,000 users.
Jesus. I literally just signed my start paperwork.
Oh. Cardify’s just one of our ventures.
Technically, we all work for Hatch Labs.
Right. Right.
[coworker] Tisha and, uh, Whitney.
Time for the All Hands meeting.
Right. So we’re all working on a number of start ups in hopes that one of them will stick, right?
So we have this online auction thingy that makes bidding feel like a game.
And a car rental app that makes renting a car feel like a game.
And an online dating app that makes searching for dates…
Feel like a game.
We count how many times Sean says the word “gamify” during the week and then put that many drinks on the company card on Friday.
All right, everybody.
Today’s gonna be quick.
Um, first I’d like to introduce you to our official marketing director, Whitney Wolfe.
Hi. How are you? [chuckles] Hi.
Really looking forward to getting to know you all.
Hopefully you still wanna work here after that.
Um, so you should all have the latest Cardify numbers in front of you.
Sean, we wanna talk about Match Box.
Cardify is the lead right now.
Yeah, but look.
We made a logo.
[employees muttering]
I like the part about it being a game.
[stammers] I’m still not sold on the name Match Box though.
It’s too like… Well, it’s too like Match.com.
Okay. Well, we have a couple other options.
We also, uh… We’re playing around with Court.
Like you’re courting someone. Courtship.
Courtship? Is this… Are we in a Jane Austen novel?
Come on. It’s gotta be sexy.
I actually spent the weekend…
We really like Hook.
You know, like hooking up but also, you’re fishing for a partner.
Trying to catch them on your… [whistles] hook.
Hook is an app for serial killers.
[coworkers chuckle] Um, I still like Canoodle.
I’ve got Flirt…
Match Stick was one.
But it’s still got the match.
Just something more…
Torch…
No, Torch is like fire.
I’ve got Spoon. Is that too, like… Just… TLC.
Ooh. I know. Wait, wait. What about… What about Tinder?
You know, uh… Like, uh, the initial spark.
Starting a fire.
That’s kind of what you were going for with Match Box.
Just adding a little heat.
I don’t hate it.
But as I was saying, guys, Cardify’s the lead. So…
[tour guide] All right.
On your left you will see the regal home of slain actor, George Reeves.
Reeves may have played Superman on the screen but in real life he was not faster than a speeding bullet.
He was shot dead.
They found him in the upstairs bedroom, naked, shot through the face.
Hey, this is, um…
You know, this is actually the perfect introduction to LA.
Really? Is it? Are you sure?
I was a little bit worried that my casual obsession with, like, horrible murder was maybe too weird for a first hang.
I mean…
Grabbing a drink probably would’ve been, like, more chill.
Well…
[gasps] [Whitney chuckles] Wow. Day two, and you’re already my favorite coworker.
Yes! [chuckles] Not like the competition is, like, very steep, but, I mean…
Okay, yeah, so tell me, what is the vibe there?
Like, uh, Sean seems cool.
Yeah. They’re all…
[sighs] …fine.
I mean, Cardify’s my third job in tech, and every startup is exactly the same.
It’s just, like, a bunch of white dudes not liking it when I call them on their bullshit.
Huh.
It’s good, though. It pays the bills. I make good money.
I get to gig with my band on the weekend, so it’s…
Hey, you have a band.
Hmm.
Well, you know what?
When we’re in charge, uh, you’ll make better money, and the dudes’ll have no choice but to like it.
Okay. Is that, like, the goal?
To, like, run shit?
[tour guide] Ladies, you with me?
Yeah.
Sorry.
[tour guide] Elizabeth Short, aka the Black Dahlia…
[chuckles] …arrived in Los Angeles with big dreams.
Instead, she ended up mutilated, dismembered, and left for dead in a vacant lot.
Hey I’m not gonna take that as a bad omen. [snorts] Totally ignore the last part.
[breathes deeply]
The new Cardify numbers.
Oh, right. Thanks, Stephanie.
Well, eHarmony is my first.
And how’d you find the signup process?
Is this a date or an interrogation?
[chuckles] I’m just curious.
Well, signup took forever, especially when the pictures are what’s most important anyways.
Okay.
What do you look for in a Christian Mingle profile?
An unwavering devotion to Christ.
A strong belief in traditional family values.
Mmm.
And nice feet.
Okay.
Have you considered trying any other dating sites?
Filling out the questionnaire was like taking the SATs.
I don’t think I’ll subject myself to that again. [chuckles] [stammers] Okay.
So, is that why you joined OkCupid?
Yeah, like I said on my profile, I’m… I’m mainly just looking to have some fun. [chuckles] Okay.
[breathing deeply, moaning]
How often do you go on dates?
Oh, uh, [chuckles] very rarely. You?
Here’s your usual.
And what will tonight’s gentleman have?
Thank you. Okay.
Your story was depressing. Had to cut it.
That’s the third time.
I will make it up to you.
Okay, make it up to me by letting me chase the Bixel lead.
[sighs]
You know, the insider trading story.
Yeah, I know.
I gave it to Peters. Here.
This is a good one.
This just says “online dating.”
Do we really wanna report on sad divorcées?
I’m on eHarmony.
Look, [sighs] we’ve never covered the topic before.
You can be the Sally Ride of sad divorcée reporting.
And why me?
Look, if I give that to one of the guys, their wives are gonna be angry at me.
I’m angry at you.
You wanna find your big scoop?
Your big scandal? Find it there.
[squeaking, thudding]
[employee] Whoa!
Oh.
Whoa. Ow.
[groans] Ow. Shit…
Oh. Oh.
[chuckles] Hi, I’m Whitney.
I’m Justin.
[electricity crackles] [both] Oh.
Sorry.
Oh.
It’s from the…
Yeah.
The slide. Yeah.
The slide and the static electricity.
After you.
I, oh…
Thank you. [chuckles] After you. Yeah.
Justin and I go way back.
[employee] Oh, man.
And he’s been working behind the scenes with me here for the past few weeks.
Some of you know him already.
He’s all right. Kidding.
He’s a good dude, and this guy has a Rolodex a mile long.
Okay, he could sell condoms to a nun.
[whistles] So along with his cofounder designation, all department heads will report directly to Justin.
You’re all fired.
[all chuckle] No, I’m… I’m just joking around.
This is gonna free up more of my time as we focus on scaling up.
So, does anyone have anything for Cardify?
Anyone?
And how about Tinder?
[clamoring] I got a little something.
Excuse me, folks. Sorry.
What’s… What’s happening? I don’t…
Fellas, coming through.
Excuse me, sorry.
So, I’m getting out of the shower.
[Diego] Ooh, sexy.
[all chuckling] And, for context, I like my showers hot.
‘Kay, the whole bathroom fills up with steam, so, I go to wipe off the mirror, and what do I see?
I see this beautiful face staring right back at me.
I thought to myself, “Okay, this is fun.” [chuckles] So, so, so I let the mirror fog up again, right?
I wipe it away again, this time to the left.
And now I’m thinking to myself, “Okay, this is…
This is really fun.”
This is why he’s always late?
[all chuckling] Look… look, in the app, we’re using buttons right now to say “yes” or “no” to somebody’s dating profile, but it is clunky.
It is sluggish.
However, swiping in one direction if you like the person’s profile, swiping in the opposite direction if you don’t like the profile, it makes it all one… one smooth, fluid motion.
It’s organic. It’s how the mind already works, and it’s fun.
Mmm. What do you guys think?
[employees murmuring] Yeah, I kinda like that.
Yeah, no, actually I think what this does best is differentiate us from…
Y’know, I like the swipe.
The swipe is cool. But, uh, we won’t have time to program it before my campus marketing push.
Well, this would be a good time to say that Tisha and I have actually been programming it for the last week, and it is already in the new update.
I’ll need to be briefed on that first.
Right, Sean?
[Sean] But does it work?
See for yourself.
Okay, everybody, uh, check your phones because right now, ladies and gentlemen, the swipe is live.
Uh, it says I need to update.
Yeah, you gotta do the update first, obviously.
If you just… That one there.
[Sean] Okay, yeah.
It’s just installing. Do you have it yet?
Mmm.
It’s still… still cooking.
[Sean] Give it a second.
[phone chiming] All right, all right, I got it. Um…
[employee 3] Oh, you got it?
Oh, yeah, this is pretty slick.
[employees] Look, yeah, check it out.
[Sean] Okay.
[employee 1] Dude, this is impressive.
[Tisha] Okay, so…
Oh!
You sign in?
[employee] That’s me. Look at that.
[employee 2] Good picture, man.
[employee 3] It’s intuitive.
[employee 4] I’m beginning to like it.
Oh. [chuckles] I’ll swipe on you.
Yeah, it’s like dealing cards. Hell yeah, JB.
[chuckles] Thanks. And Tisha.
Can we load up some more starter accounts?
So that they’re not, like, staring at blank screens?
I think we should go with this version tomorrow.
Definitely. Email Brent right now.
[Sean] Yeah, thank you.
Guys, this is how you gamify.
Mmm, yeah, but her face is kinda beat.
When has that ever stopped you?
Bro, shut up.
You know what I’m talking about.
The redhead is way, way hotter.
No. No, she’s dressed like a pirate’s…
Oh, yo, uh, we’re doing the…
Hey.
Getting some photos selected for the demo.
Pictures for the demo.
Yeah.
Yeah?
Mmm.
Okay, let me see.
[chuckles] Yep.
Okay.
No, not… not her.
Yes! Do the redhead.
[Justin] Mmm. [scoffs] Whew, she’s super hot.
Whitney, you dog. Thank you.
What’d I say?
[chuckles] You wanted to see me?
Yes, yes, I did.
Um, care to talk over a game?
Ping-Pong?
Yeah, Ping-Pong.
I could try.
Yep!
[grunting] Oh!
[grunts, exclaims] Fuck!
[laughs] Oh, my God. [groans] I got it, I got it.
Come on. Go again.
[Whitney] Ready?
Come on, come on.
You’re actually really good at this.
Yeah, I grew up with a Ping-Pong table in our rec room, so…
Yo! No! No! [chuckles] Yes! That’s right. Oh, yes!
[exclaims] Okay, go ahead. Sorry.
Wait, uh, what’s the score?
[groans] Uh, 17 you, 14 me. Whoa.
Whoa. You knew I wasn’t ready. [chuckles] [exclaims] That’s incredibly unsportsmanlike.
You’re gonna have to make it up to me.
Uh, how about a work dinner?
[chuckling] Tomorrow night. Catch me up on your marketing plan.
No, I can’t. I-I leave for SMU in the morning.
Well, then come tonight.
It’s my uncle’s birthday dinner.
My mom always makes way too much food anyway.
Oh, what, at your family’s house?
Uh, I don’t wanna in…
No, no, no. [stammering] They’ll love you. They liked Diego, and he’s like the worst person I’ve ever met.
Fuck you, bitch.
Oh, he heard me.
Whoa.
Hey, Diego, my cousin has a boyfriend now, so don’t do the thing…
Bro, I know. I’m just here for the food.
Okay.
[partygoers chattering]
[Justin] Hey, what’s up, buddy?
Britney, how you been?
Come on, man.
[child] Justin!
[chuckling] Hey, what’s going on, buddy?
Whoa! [chuckles] Justin. Hi, sweetie.
Hi, Aunt Gayle. Hi, hi.
This is Whitney.
Oh.
Hi, how are you?
Hi. I’m Whitney.
Oh, Whitney, this is Ella.
[gasps] Oh, hi, Ella.
Aw.
Oh, she smiled. Oh, my God.
Hey, what’s going on?
Hi.
Good to see you.
Hi.
[Justin] Good to see you.
What’s going on?
[partygoer] Justin!
Hey! What’s happening?
[partygoer] There he is!
[Whitney] Sorry!
What’s the matter with you?
Showing up two hours late. Dinner’s over.
I showed up.
[groans] Hi. Mom, this Whitney from work.
Look at you.
Oh. You’re adorable.
Hi.
Sit down. Please, make her a plate.
[Whitney] Oh.
[Justin’s mom] Plenty of leftovers.
Okay. [chuckles] So you work with my Justin?
Yes, ma’am.
Been there about, uh, six months.
I don’t think it’s right to meet people on the Internet.
I think if you’re a good man, you have no trouble meeting a nice girl.
My Justin’s a good man.
[Justin] Oh.
Aw. [chuckles] I raised you right.
Mom!
Well, thank you for having me.
Your family is so warm.
[glass shattering] Oh.
[sighing] Oh, God. Excuse me.
Oh, God.
Can I help?
No, eat.
Thank you.
All right, nobody touch anything.
[Whitney laughing] What’s going on?
Uh, it’s chaos. Do you…
Do you eat everything? Yes?
Oh, wow. Yes, please.
Wine? Okay, um.
Yes.
Pitch me on this dating app idea.
Sean says you’re obsessed. What’s going on?
Okay. Um. My first revelation, uh…
Oh, I can help. [chuckles] Nobody wants to do paperwork.
[Justin] Right.
Seriously, it’s, like, make the signup process under two minutes max.
So next is demographics.
You look at your Match.
come, your eHarmonys…
Uh-huh.
…and it just… it becomes clear really quickly that young people are just not using these sites.
Yeah, they’re not cool.
Right.
It’s like you’re ad-admitting failure or social ineptitude if you have to rely on a dating site in your 20s.
Wow, that looks good. [chuckles] I mean, on the other platforms, I have to really dig to find any decent guys under 40.
Mmm. So you use the other sites?
Yeah, f… for research.
Oh, for research. Of course. Of course.
[chuckles] And the other thing, right, is that they’re all websites.
[Justin] Yeah.
So Hatch’s future…
Well, the future of everything, it’s just… it’s apps.
Mmhmm.
But, at the moment, we’re in the unfortunate position of trying to launch a dating app when young people don’t date online, and old people don’t do apps.
Okay, you’re making me a little nervous.
Am I jumping on a sinking ship?
No. No.
What’s going on?
I look at this data, and all I see is potential.
Okay.
You know, if we can just break through that stigma, suddenly we’ve got complete market share of all millennial dating…
Wow, thank you.
Mmhmm.
The demo that does most of the dating.
Mmhmm.
You know, all we need is just one…
[chuckles] …youthful epicenter to adopt the app, and I just… I…
I really think it’ll catch like wildfire.
Mmm.
Which is why I said to Sean, you know, “Just give me 600 bucks and a plane ticket and I will come back with the next Fortune 500 company.”
That is sick.
Justin.
Hey… [groaning]
[child laughs]
[laughs] Buddy! Oh, my…
[laughing] What did you do?
I don’t know.
[stammers] Why SMU? Why is Dallas our-our youthful epicenter?
Please, walk me through that. Keep going.
[laughs] Okay. Well, I went there…
Go Mustangs.
So, I know the lay of the land and the Greek life.
Okay. Just ’cause…
Hey, honey.
Mmm.
Hey.
You don’t have some college sweetheart waiting for you, huh?
No. No, God no.
Why-Why-Why “God no”?
What does that mean?
Uh… [sighs] I just had a really…
A toxic boyfriend back in high school.
Hmm.
It’s actually, like, not much better in… [laughing] …college.
Guys suck.
Yeah, thanks. [chuckles] So, like… [stammers] Are you, uh…
Currently you don’t…
you don’t have…
Right now?
Yeah.
No. [chuckles] Oh, okay. Okay. That’s… No, that’s good.
For the best. Don’t wanna have some jealous guy fighting me when I take you home tonight.
When I drive you home tonight.
When I drive you home.
Like, after this. Like, not…
[snickers]
[laughing] Oh, my God.
I’m freaking…
[♪ “Bulletproof” plays]
[pants] I graduated not even a year ago.
Why do I feel 40 years older than these… [chuckling] …girls?
I mean, these girls scare the fuck out of me, but you are, like, one of them. They’re gonna love it.
I don’t get it.
[stammers] We throw, like, mixers, parties, uh, cookouts, and formals.
[stammers] Meeting guys is, like, what we do here.
Yes. No, I get that, uh, totally.
Um, okay.
[exhales sharply]
Have you ever been in a party and there is this cute guy, and you’re thinking about approaching him, but you don’t [chuckles] ’cause you’re nervous he won’t be interested?
Actually, no. Don’t answer that.
[chuckling] You are like the most gorgeous person I have ever seen in my life.
[Kappas chuckle] But for the rest of us, you know, how many of you can relate to that?
Kinda? Yes, okay, great.
With Tinder, you’re always starting a conversation with someone who you already know is interested.
You know what? Let’s just, uh, let’s see who’s on here. Okay.
So, here we go.
Okay. All right.
Now this is what I’m talking about.
He’s a good-looking guy.
Okay, let’s keep look… Ugh. No. Mmmmm.
But look, he’s Gryffindor, I’m Ravenclaw.
[scoffs] That is just not meant to be.
That’s a no, so I am swiping left. Nope.
Okay. Ooh, Kyle.
Do we like Kyle?
Hmm. You know. Kinda cute.
Uh, oh, wait.
I’m pretty sure he dated my friend forever ago.
Pfft. And Kappas don’t date Kappas’ exes.
[murmuring] Mmmmm.
Good. That’s a no, so swipe left.
Next.
Huh. This I could get into.
He has, you know, nice eyes, decent dresser.
I’m swiping right.
Oh! And look at that, we matched.
Okay, so that, that basically means that we both swiped right on each other.
And he’s already sent a message.
“Hey, Whitney.
Love your profile.
Want to grab a coffee at The Arnold tomorrow?”
Hmm. Sure, [chuckles] don’t mind if I do, Justin.
[Kappas chuckle] Okay, so, what do you think?
[inhales deeply] Did I mention that Sigma Sigma Delta and Beta Lambda have already signed up?
Oh, they have been matching all morning.
Wait, BG has been matching with the Sigs?
They’re all on there?
Yes.
[chuckles] Uh, h-how do I download it?
I wanna see this.
Yes, um, great.
[all murmuring] Great. Okay, so Tisha here, she’s gonna walk you through it.
Super easy.
[stammers] Gotta make a quick phone call.
[pants] Stall them for like 15 minutes.
They’re gonna find out no one they know is on this app so unless they sign up.
Stall them.
Hi.
[students chattering]
[panting] Hey, you guys. Hi.
Um, how would you like to meet the hottest girls on campus?
[students clamoring] Yes!
Oh, yes! That’s what I’m talking about.
Okay, get out your phones.
Hey, guys, so you’re really, really gonna wanna choose a profile photo carefully.
Don’t obsess over your photo ’cause you can always change ’em later. That’s great.
Take your time. [chuckles] And start swiping, guys. Let’s do it.
[students chatter] I’m not seeing any of the Sig guys on here.
Yeah, I don’t recognize any of these guys.
They definitely don’t go here.
Okay, uh, like I said, I don’t think this is gonna be a fit for us.
Oh. [sucks teeth] [gasps] Oh, my God.
Andrew Thompson’s on here. Look.
[Kappa] What?
Oh! And Keshawn Brooks!
Wait. What? Keshawn?
Well, do not swipe right on Keshawn.
I’m swiping!
[student] I wanna see!
[student 2] This is good.
I matched with Sophie.
And Gabby! Whoo!
Thanks, guys.
Oh, tell your friends!
Hey, wait!
What’s your profile name?
Jackie!
There’s a woman here saying everyone is on this app except for Beta Gamma.
[Jackie] What?
[panting] Hi!
I love this photo.
Definitely use that photo.
You know what? Just get any…
Everyone, everyone’s on it.
You’ve gotta download it.
Here. You put these everywhere.
Everywhere. In the dorms, in the…
I’ll do it if you download it! If you download it, I’ll do it. Okay.
[cheering]
Great! Give me your phone! Download Tinder!
[panting, retches]
Hey… Ooh!
Hey! What are you doing?
[chuckles] Hi, you guys.
Uh, sorry to stop you. Uh, my name is Whitney. I’m here to tell you, uh…
Oh, my God. [pants] Hey! How was it?
[laughs] Oh! So good.
Look at these numbers.
[panting, laughing] Next stop, UT.
[both laughing]
[ringing]
[gasps] Oh, shit.
[ringing]
Hi. Hey.
Hey! There you are.
What’s up? How’s New York?
Oh, yeah… No, uh, NYU is tomorrow.
I’m still in Utah tonight.
Oh, okay. Are you… Are you gonna see your parents while you’re there?
Oh, no. I just… I’m too busy unfortunately.
How are you? Um, hey, how was golf? Did you win?
Did… Yes.
Well, no ’cause Sean cheats, but if he didn’t, then I would’ve won.
I’m so jealous you get to travel everywhere.
It’s so fucking boring here.
Wait. Oh.
No, I saw your, um, uh, USC push worked.
Oh, yeah. [chuckles] The nightclub idea was a huge hit.
Oh, yeah, it was massive. It was…
It was… I, what, download the app and skip the line…
Yep. Turns out bribing works.
I mean, only losers wait in line in the first place, but…
Oh, well they didn’t all look like losers.
I, uh, I saw your picture with all those girls. Like, um, they were…
You’re the jealous one now.
No.
Oh, no, no. I didn’t…
Oh, no, no, I know.
No, I… No, I didn’t either.
I’m not jealous.
I didn’t mean it like that.
I mean, I’d be cool if you were jealous ’cause that would mean that you like me a little.
And I would, uh… I would like if you liked me a little.
Ah, shit.
Sorry. I’ll take that back. I…
No, it’s… No. Mmmmm.
It’s okay. I… I, um… I, uh… I…
I do. I-I like you a little.
[snorts]
[Stephanie] Please God.
[Sean] Looks good.
Great.
Nice.
Uh, hey, JB, are we good to go?
Getting closer.
Couldn’t we just put our subscription numbers on, like, a big flatscreen or something?
[JB] Absolutely not. This is analog. This is much cooler.
Sup, papichulo.
[chuckling] What you doing?
Really? Okay, great. I think Sean’s gonna be here any minute.
Oh, hey. Hey. Not at work.
What? Don’t tell me Sean gave you the little… little talk too.
It’s fine, he can’t stop us from dating.
Wait, you told Sean about us?
Of course I did.
He’s my best friend.
Wait. No, he’s our boss.
I’m your boss too. So what?
[Sean] Guys, have you met Hugh?
This is… This is Whitney Wolfe and Justin Mateen.
The two I was telling you about.
It’s a pleasure.
Well, I’m a cofounder.
I hear the whole college marketing push was a big success.
You kids just might have something here.
Oh, yeah, there’s no denying it.
I mean, you put together the fact that no one has successfully tapped the millennial dating scene, and that millennials are the ones doing most of the dating, it became very clear what our mission statement was.
[Hugh] Keep this guy around.
Oh, no.
[chuckles] It was nice to meet Hugh… you. Uh, Mr… Hugh.
[scoffs] What? [stammers]
Wait, that was my thing.
You were just standing there not saying anything so I just…
I just… I just covered for you.
Sorry. That’s my bad.
[Whitney] I…
Let’s…
How we looking JB?
Yeah, just about there, brother.
Yeah, we’re good.
Okay.
[JB whoops] Is it working?
Yeah.
[employees cheering]
[groaning]
Damn it.
[cheering]
Oh, my God. I gotta…
[stammers] I gotta say I’m shocked this thing actually works.
[employees cheering]
You know what? Maybe I should stop being shocked by success after the past few months we’ve had.
That’s right!
Come on!
Justin, JB, get up here.
Come on. Let’s go.
[Diego] Get ’em, JB.
I’m proud to have you jerks as my cofounders.
Whitney, you too.
Oh, okay.
Okay.
As you all know…
As you know, Whitney has been a one-woman wrecking ball, strongarming every college student who dares cross her path into joining Tinder and-and…
[employees cheering] Judging by these numbers, guys, they’re telling their friends. Okay?
So I’d like to officially announce that Whitney is the newest, and certainly the most feminine, cofounder of Tinder. Yes. Yes.
Oh, my God.
My God!
You didn’t tell me.
[stammers] I didn’t know. I…
Get up… Get up here.
Oh, my God. Sean.
Yeah! [laughs] Oh, my God. Thank you so much.
Um. [squeals] I, uh… [stammers] Okay, I just wanna say a few things.
Um, I feel so lucky, uh, to work alongside such talented, hardworking, inspiring people…
[cheering]
Individuals who are also just my closest friends.
And I’m not just saying that because we work together nonstop so… [blows] …you’re basically my only friends.
[employees chuckle]
Okay, I don’t wanna make a big speech…
Too late.
You’re literally giving a speech right now.
Okay, okay, okay.
[employees cheering]
I guess we gotta get back to work!
We gotta get back to work, you heard her. You heard her.
Sup.
Sup.
♪ Let’s raise the bar ♪
Yes!
Oh, my God. Hi. Is it… Salt?
Yes.
Whoa, Justin, that was rude.
Sorry.
I’m sorry.
Yo, yo, yo, yo. Read this.
Read this. Read this.
“Tinder slut.
A girl that sleeps with men using the popular dating app Tinder.”
Urban Dictionary!
Urban Dictionary! Yeah!
♪ We’re up all night to get lucky
We’re up all night to get lucky ♪
Like, this is a dream come true. Thank you. Thank you.
Hey.
[skater] Hey, Nate.
Come on in.
[sighs]
Hey, Diego. Diego.
Take a picture.
Her checking her email.
It’s gonna look so good.
Girls, hi. Can you put these on?
And can everybody say “Swipe right.”
[party guests] Swipe right.
[Justin] Yeah. Perfect. Get that shot.
[Diego] Okay. Hold on. Hold on.
[party guests cheering]
[Justin] Hey! Are you kidding?
[yelps] What?
[screams] Come on. What are you doing?
What are you doing?
The fuck are you doing?
I am working.
And the winner of this year’s Best New Startup is…
Looks like they’re the ones getting lucky tonight.
Tinder.
Tinder.
[audience cheering]
[announcer] Accepting the Crunchie on behalf of Tinder are cofounders Sean Rad, Justin Mateen and Jonathan Badeen.
[Sean] It has been… It’s been an incredible year, with a lot more to come.
Uh… [chuckles] Thank you.
We hope that we can live up to this honor. Guys, thank you so much.
And thank you for swiping right.
[chuckles] Whoo!
I’m not meaning to. I’m not trying to. It’s just… This is… This is just…
[Whitney] Okay.
Yeah, absolutely.
You know, we would love to keep talking strategy.
Uh, you should come by the new office this week.
[Tisha] Hey, Whit.
Um, one sec.
Can we all chat for a second?
Oh. O-Okay.
Okay. What’s up?
Show her.
Uh, I have friends sending me insane screenshots of dudes being awful on the app.
They report and nothing happens.
And there’s a VICE article about how pervasive the dick pics are.
[sighs] This is terrible.
So you’ll speak to the guys?
I mean… Well, we delete the dick pics.
Uh, well, I mean, Beth deletes them, which is in and of itself fucked up.
Beth graduated from Cornell Business.
She did not sign up for that.
And nothing happens to the guys who send them so they just keep doing it.
I’m starting to recognize some of the dicks.
[sighs] Okay. Yes. We absolutely need to address this. Um…
I’ll-I’ll be sure to find a time to bring it up with the guys.
Uh, there’s the four o’clock this afternoon.
[sighs, clicks tongue] Thank you, Stephanie. [chuckles] Whit, what is with the hesitation?
There’s no hesitation.
I’m just, um…
I’m the only woman in there and it’s…
I’m trying… I have to come off in a certain way.
It’s… You…
It’s hard to explain when you’re not in there.
Oh. Well, try.
Tisha, I’m not disagreeing with you, all right?
I’m just… You are the one who told me that a startup isn’t anything until it hits a million users.
We’re not there yet, you know.
And the more we grow, the stronger footing I have to really make a change.
Okay, but are we saying that we can’t do the right thing until we’ve crossed some imaginary finish line?
I just kinda feel like that’s an excuse to not confront the real iss…
Okay. I will bring it up. I will bring it up.
Thanks, Whitney.
No, yeah, you… you got it.
So projections are good. I mean… Yeah, they’re really good.
[JB] True. [chuckles]
But they’re really good…
[JB] They’re really good. [chuckles] …but that doesn’t mean it’s time to get complacent.
Copycat apps are popping up left and right. So we can’t let up.
Anything else for right now?
[Justin] No, it’s…
Well, uh… [clears throat] Apparently, um, some female users are, you know, they’re feeling that we are not responsive enough to harassment complaints.
And there’s also the, um…
You’re gonna say the dick pic article.
Yes. I-I think there could be room to toughen up our policies.
I don’t know, babe. It-It sounds like clickbait to me. Not an actual problem.
Well, I mean, it is an actual problem if, you know, it starts driving women away from the app.
I mean, you know it’s kinda hard to run a dating app without ’em.
Look, I think most of these chicks are just reporting harassment on guys who reject them. Probably.
You can’t be serious.
That’s what this sounds like.
Justin, that is… You do not really mean that?
No. What? I’m serious.
That is just really…
Guys. Excuse me. Okay? Okay?
[Justin] Sorry.
Um, I’m just not sure that it’s our place though to tell people what they can and cannot say.
Uh, sure. First Amendment. Right, exactly.
I mean, I-I don’t think there’s something wrong with taking a look at our policy.
Right.
We’ve not really made any changes since we first started this so…
Guys, we are netting over 10,000 new signups a day.
That means the formula is clearly working, why mess with it?
Yeah, I mean, we need to be practical, not emotional. Right?
We don’t wanna get in the habit of overreacting to every piece of bad press.
Like…
[Justin] That’s true.
I mean, is there… is there a way to confront the conversation headon though?
Like, kind of control the narrative and reframe it somehow.
[Justin] Mmm.
[sighs]
Well, I think it’s this.
Um…
[sighs] It used to be that if you want to meet someone, you would go to a bar on a Friday night, right?
And you might get hit on by the occasional creep.
It’s not on the bar owner. Doesn’t mean you burn down the bar.
[Sean] Yeah.
[Justin] IRL, guys say stupid shit to girls all the time… at like a club.
Doesn’t mean it’s the club’s fault.
Yes. That.
[Justin] Yeah.
Good. Sweet. Okay. Nice work.
Um… What’s next?
I can’t do this anymore.
Are you serious?
Yeah.
Are you kidding me?
I really wanna be focusing on work right now.
Okay?
On work. You-You work for me.
Justin, come on.
What? You do.
No, no, I don’t work for you.
I’m your colleague, okay? I’m a cofounder.
Who is he? Who are you flirting with?
You’re talking to someone, I can tell.
I have said before, there’s no one.
What am I supposed to tell my family?
My mom trusted you.
What am I supposed to say?
I know. I’m sorry, okay?
I know this sucks.
No, no. It doesn’t suck.
Have you any idea the kind of Tinder trim I’ve been turning down?
Okay. Okay. Have at it.
[chuckling] Oh, yeah, walk… walk away.
Yeah. You got what you wanted.
[Whitney exhales deeply] Fuck the boss to get ahead.
[shushes] Then you drop him once you’re there.
Who you gonna blow next?
Sean? Under his fucking desk?
[gasps]
Damn it. Shit. I heard how that… I’m sorry.
I know that’s too far. Sorry.
Can we just go back to my place and talk about this?
I really did not mean that.
Have you… Have you been in this relationship for the past six months?
You make me feel like shit, Justin.
I’m sorry.
[exhales sharply] Let’s just leave it there, okay?
Let’s just leave it there.
You’re doing it again.
[blows]
What am I doing?
The toxic boyfriend in-in high school and then again in college and now me.
I’m the toxic boyfriend.
You notice a pattern here?
It’s not the guys, Whit, it’s… it’s-it’s you.
There’s something wrong with you.
You can tell yourself you’re the victim, okay?
The truth is there’s a guy here who really cares about you…
[scoffs]
…who’d be willing to forgive you.
I’m leaving.
Really?
Just all I ask is that we just please keep this professional at work.
[groans]
Yeah, I’ll be professional as fuck. Don’t worry.
They are swiping on profiles, you know, matching with cute singles, you know, maybe they’re even coordinating their next hookup.
And as a result, uh, their, um…
[phone buzzing] …adrenaline, their dopamine, it’s just like…
It’s flooding through their bodies and that is their state of mind when your client’s ad pops up.
I feel pretty confident that’s the message we can sell to our board members.
I’m so sorry. I just… I really…
I thought that my phone was on silent.
No worries, please.
Listen, I-I think we have enough here to take back to our clients.
I’m so sorry about that.
I was distracted. I, um…
Yeah. We-We’re… We’re good. Thank you.
Um, p…
[Tisha] Whitney.
[sighs] Hi.
Come on, you’re a basic white woman, Phil Collins should be like a god to you.
[blows raspberry] I love Phil Collins. That was Phil Collins? [laughing] [sighs] Oh, God.
I mean, disrespectfully, it was.
But yeah.
[groans] Sorry. I’m sorry. I just, um…
Justin’s been derailing me all week so I’m behind… I’m really behind on work. I just need to send this last…
Well, maybe you should just take a break from all that, right?
Just for like a second. It’s Sunday. It’s the Lord’s day.
And also we…
Are c… We’re celebrating your birthday.
[chuckles] Yay! Yes. Absolutely.
I’m so… I’m so sorry. I’m right back with you. I’m here.
[Tisha] Okay.
Look, Whit, if this asshole’s really affecting your work this much, I think you should speak to Sean.
No. No way.
Don’t. I’m… I’m fine.
I’m dealing with it. It’s… It’s…
I don’t wanna cause any drama.
Just so embarrassing. Um…
Well, maybe… I, uh… I think you should speak to him anyway.
Not just about the Justin thing.
Um. Okay. Why?
Um. [sighs] The… You know, the Time profile that we all interviewed for?
Mmhmm.
Um…
[clicks tongue] It doesn’t list you as a cofounder.
[mumbles] Wait, what? I can’t…
I can’t do dinner. I’m sorry.
Yeah.
Yeah. [chuckles] [Sean] Dude, I d… I don’t know how this happened.
I’m sorry. I-I saw it.
It was an oversight.
You somehow didn’t realize you were posing for a photo?
Hey, Whit, it is one stupid article that no one’s gonna read.
It’s Time magazine.
Look, it’s…
Hey, you know that I’m your biggest cheerleader, right?
Whit, I, like, brag about you to everyone.
[sighs] What’s…
What’s going on? You okay?
You’re usually, you know…
You’re eyes on the prize.
[sighs] I still am.
Okay.
[sighs] Okay, this is just… This is not just about the article.
Like, I don’t want to make this a big deal or anything, all right?
But I’m having sort of a…
um, a problem with Justin.
Mmhmm.
[sighs] Since we’ve broken up, you know, things have gotten… intense.
All right. Just come sit.
Yeah. That’s… Um…
[clicks tongue]
You’re both adults.
And couples break up.
You know, I think…
I really think the best thing you can do is just…
I think you guys have to just get over this and move on, right?
Exactly. That’s exactly what I wanna do.
Okay.
Do you think maybe you could say that to him?
I think it might be a bit of a bad look if I were to step in here.
I just… People talk. I… I just… No, I… [stammers, sighs] Okay, look, I really didn’t wanna have to bring you into this, um…
[sniffles]
It’s got pretty bad.
Whoa.
[Whitney sighs]
Um…
I’ll talk to him.
Okay.
Okay.
[phone vibrates]
[gasps]
[grunting]
[panting] Okay.
Did we make it in time?
I don’t know. I don’t know.
[grunts] Did we make it in time?
[shushes]
[muttering]
Oh, what the f…
Oh, shit.
Dude.
I-I’m on it.
Oh.
[groaning] Oh, God.
Oh, my God. Wait.
Wait. Look. Look.
[cheering]
Oh, my God. Holy shit. We did it.
Oh, my God. [chuckles] Oh, my God!
[whistles] Hey, losers!
Who here can remember just one year ago when every blog and tech rag and pundit told us that Tinder wasn’t gonna make it?
[booing]
Well, today we have one million reasons why they can shove it up their asses.
[cheering] Tonight we celebrate.
Everyone go home and get dressed, you all look insane and beautiful.
Stephanie! Stephanie!
Hold on. Yes?
I want you to invite the whole town.
I’m on the phone with the fire department.
After that then.
Then I should probably call the insurance company.
[cheering]
They can’t stop us now!
What the fuck? Hey! What the fuck?
You guys are animals! You’re animals!
Tinder shots! Tequila!
Viagra! And Rohypnol!
Oh shit! [laughs] [gasps] Diego!
Oh, my God!
[sighs] Thank you.
[chuckles]
He’s crazy. [sighs] Do you work here?
[grunts] Yeah, yeah.
I’ve been here since the beginning. I’m, I’m Whitney.
[stammers] Marta. But I-I’m just a plus one. [chuckles] Oh.
[chuckles] Oh, what’s it like, uh, working here?
Feels like a real bro zone. [chuckles] [chuckles] Yeah.
Uh, no it’s going great. Thank you.
I mean, it’s pretty all-consuming.
Um… you know we’re together all the time.
It’s kind of like a big… it’s a big family. You know? [chuckles] Yeah. [inhales sharply] You know, families can get messy. [chuckling] Right?
[chuckles]
It’s great. It’s going great.
Um, it was really nice to meet you. Um… I gotta run.
Bye.
Bye.
[gasping, clamoring]
Holy moly! Oh, my God!
Okay. We need champagne.
I will be right back.
You must be famous Whitney Wolfe.
Oh. I’m not… I’m not sure about that first part but yes.
Andrey Andreev. CEO of Badoo.
We are, uh, biggest online dating platform in…
In all of Europe. [chuckles] Yes, hi.
And as of a month ago, all of South America.
Well, depending on how you look at the numbers.
Let’s look at the numbers that way.
[chuckles] Aren’t you, um, based out of London?
Yes, but uh… I keep office in the Bay and uh… when I get the invitation this afternoon, I-I jump in the helicopter and come down. Why not?
I was gonna take my chopper here too but, you know, it’s in the shop so…
They can be very temperamental.
I found this to be true.
Oh no. I was…
I don’t…
You make a joke. I also make a joke.
[chuckling] Oh.
I know that I am very rich.
That is my burden to bear.
[chuckles] But listen I want to be very upfront with you.
This is not a chance interaction.
I know that you are the brains behind this, uh…
[blows raspberry]
This Tinder explosion.
[chuckles] Wow, uh, no.
This, this was a team effort.
No. Marketing, college campus strategy, even the name.
My people tell me this was you.
Come be my CMO.
Uh…
Tinder have one million users, start with very little.
It’s not bad. This is okay. But, uh, Badoo?
We have 377 million users.
190 countries.
Now we are biggest online dating platform in the world.
But, uh, not yet household name in America.
Hmm? This is where Whitney Wolfe come in.
[chuckles] Hmm?
Wow, um… [sighs] Badoo is… it’s already Badoo.
So any success I might have there could never feel fully mine.
I’m, you know… Tinder is literally my whole world.
Tinder is, uh, great, big dream cake for you, huh?
I know this probably sounds just crazy but, um… I, I can’t take you up on your very generous offer.
Hmm.
Then I will crush you and your company.
Just kidding. I make another joke.
[chuckling] No. This, this is your baby.
You, you want to stay? I would do the same. But, uh…
You can’t blame a girl for trying.
[chuckles] And now I must leave you.
There are very many beautiful women here and, uh… having your own helicopter has its perks.
[chuckles] I bet it does. [sighs] Hey, how are you?
Hey.
All right. [sighs] Oh, my God.
[sighs]
Hey, Whit.
Who the hell were you talking to out there?
I don’t know what you mean.
Oh, God.
I don’t care what you do outside of the company. I really don’t.
But when you bring your boyfriends around here, we got a problem.
Oh, my God. Justin…
No, I’m serious, I’m serious.
Okay, if you hurt my pride, y-you will be fired.
It’s as simple as that.
Oh, my God.
Okay, please. I do not wanna do this at work.
You’re telling me not to bring our shit to work?
You’re the one playing victim to Sean.
No, no, no. I just wanted him to ask you to stop because, you aren’t listening to me.
And you thought he would side with you?
Heard you cried to him about the Time article too. Is that true?
Oh, boy.
Having a female cofounder makes us look like a joke.
[breathes shakily]
If you talk to me about anything besides work from now on, it will not be good for you.
[chuckles] Scary. Very scary.
Oh, God.
[breathes shakily]
No, not really.
What does that even mean?
She’s like a… She’s just, I don’t know, she’s young. She’s immature.
You were the one who slept with her.
I’m not saying…
[breathes shakily]
Yeah.
[Diego] Hey, Justin.
There’s the whore.
[laughing]
What?
Oh, uh, I-I don’t…
Whitney, hey. Um… not a great time. What’s up?
[sighs]
Dude, please tell me this isn’t about you and Justin.
You know I don’t wanna bring you into this. [pants] Yeah. Uh, yeah, you mentioned that last time.
Sean, okay you… you know me.
It’s okay. I do. I do. What…
Hey, hey. What’s going on?
This just, um… [breathes deeply] [laughing] …this is just all feeling a little…
Come, just sit down here.
This is just feeling really out of control. [sighs] Yeah. What’s going on?
He’s, uh, cutting me out of meetings.
Um, he’s… [sighs] …he’s sent me a thousand more texts since the last time we talked.
Horrible texts.
I was just…
They just called me a whore, um, in front of a bunch of people.
People I have to work with every day.
And he gets them to laugh with him at me.
It’s unprofessional. It’s affecting my work, it’s affecting his.
It’s humiliating.
It’s… It’s… I cannot take it anymore.
If you can just ride this out and tough it out a little bit longer.
Sean, no.
He’s gonna get over it. I’m telling you, I know him.
I-I cannot work here with him.
I can’t.
Okay.
[sighs] Okay. Okay.
[sighs]
So are you telling me that you are resigning?
I mean you said that you can’t work here, right?
I did, yeah.
[sighs] Okay.
Um, so you need to email me saying that you are quitting and I need you to give a reason, which I presume is because you want to move to Texas to start your own company.
I know that you’ve mentioned that.
Sean, why are you doing…
Don’t, don’t treat me like a stranger.
Sean, please.
Your employment continuing here is not likely an option at this point.
So just send the email.
Why are you being all weird and lawyery?
You will be paid through the end of the week and IT can help with any and all outboarding that needs to take place.
Obviously if you need an employer reference, you can speak to Stephanie and she’ll sort you out and put it on my my letterhead.
[gasps] [echoing] Any meetings you have scheduled will be automatically suspended.
We’ll need to get a refund on flights and lodging for that upcoming conference, but we can handle that on our end.
Your password to the portal will expire, um, automatically at midnight tonight.
[speaks indistinctly]
No. I do not want to sign an NDA.
Okay. Well, this settlement’s gonna be a nonstarter for them without the NDA.
I don’t under… I don’t understand. I, um…
When we filed the suit, you know, you said we had a strong case.
And we do. You demonstrated a pattern of abuse that is systemic and companywide.
Right.
And the picture these text messages paint, well, Justin Mateen wouldn’t exactly cut a sympathetic figure for a jury.
I mean he was suspended.
Which is why we were able to get this settlement figure so high.
No, the money is nothing.
It’s not nothing to me, it’s a crazy amount to me, but for them it is a slap on the wrist.
I just want what I deserve.
I built Tinder with them.
I’m a… I’m a fucking cofounder.
They contest that interpretation.
[grunts] [sighs]
[Robert] Whitney, you want to take this to court, we take it to court.
This is your decision.
[sighs] Okay.
What would that look like?
Well, we’ll be spending a lot more time together.
They have the resources to drag this out three, four, five years.
And if this becomes a public trial, uh, you have to think about how you’ll be perceived.
For Tinder, uh, a suit like this will certainly be a blemish on their reputation, but you… [sighs] …you will always be that woman who sued Tinder for sexual discrimination.
It will follow you.
And if history is any indication…
[sighs] …it will define you.
Even if you win.
[scoffs]
There’s a reason less than 15% of these cases go to trial.
Signing gives you the freedom to move on to the next chapter of your life.
We did not discriminate against Whitney in any way.
Now, I’ve learned a lot through this process.
Guys, I recognize, yeah, I could’ve handled things better.
But we take gender equality very seriously here.
And none of this bullshit is gonna slow us down.
[cheers] Yeah, yeah.
Okay?
Whitney Wolfe? Do you regret starting a relationship with Justin Mateen?
What?
[Robert] Someone leaked the settlement.
How? [breathes shakily] How did it get out?
Well, we know it wasn’t us and there’s only one other party that had access and opportunity.
But that’s completely speculative. We have no proof.
Well, now I get to tell my side of the story.
Unfortunately, this leak does not absolve you from the NDA.
How is that even possible?
So they can just write anything they want about me and I have to stay silent?
Anything they want?
If you say anything, they can sue.
[sighs]
[phone ringing]
[sighs] This is Marta Medina [Jessica] Hi. It’s Jessica.
You emailed me last week.
Um, thank you for, for getting back to me.
Yeah, I don’t wanna go on record at all. Um… But those guys.
They deserve to go down.
For a bunch of things.
D-Do you have any documentation?
I don’t want anything coming back to me, but you said you looked into Magic Lab, right?
It’s impossible to untangle all the different subsidiaries.
It’s not just the shell companies, it’s…
It’s just kind of crazy there.
Um, you should really just talk to some of the other women.
Hi. I’m so sorry I’m late.
You know how impossible it is to get out of there sometimes.
No, I don’t anymore actually.
Oh, I didn’t, um, mean, like, um…
Sean is being forced to step down as CEO.
He didn’t have to leave the company, but, like, he has to step down.
[chuckles] Okay, that doesn’t help me get a job. So…
You’re not gonna have a problem getting a job, Whitney.
How many people cofounded a top app at 24?
According to Tech Monthly, former employees said that Wolfe never held nor deserved her cofounder title.
I don’t think it’s healthy to be memorizing the negative comments.
Have you Googled me? I wouldn’t hire that insane person either.
I’m sorry. It’s really unfair.
It’s not so unfair that you’d have a problem still working for them.
I know you don’t think that I should quit my job.
No, I’m not… No, no, no.
You do whatever is good.
If you feel good working for them then… [exhales sharply] You didn’t seem to have such a problem with them, Whit, when that situation was working in your favor.
Oh… [scoffs, chuckles] You do not know what it was like for me. You were not in those meetings.
No, I wasn’t.
How could I possibly know what was happening?
Because once you climbed up the ladder, you never reached back down.
Where the hell is all of this coming from?
It’s not fucking new, Whitney.
You’re just too selfish…
Oh, now you figure is the time to tear me apart when I am at my lowest.
I’m not trying to tear you down.
But as your friend, I would appreciate if you would just acknowledge your…
your inherent… your…
Dude, it’s just easier for you, Whit, it just is. It’s easier.
Oh, my God, if it has been so fucking easy for me then how come you’re still the one with the fucking job.
You know what, I don’t wanna do this actually.
Okay.
I need a break from the Whitney show.
[scoffs]
Enjoy your drink.
[customer] Bitch.
Have you seen this?
Yeah, man, she’s crazy.
[echoes] Can I help you?
[breathes shakily]
[sobs, breathes heavily]
[breathes shakily]
[breathing heavily]
[breathing heavily]
[breathes heavily]
[breathes shakily]
[sobbing]
[sighs]
[sighing]
[breathes heavily]
[breathes heavily]
[breathes heavily]
[phone vibrates]
Hello?
[Andrey] Whitney.
Andrey?
You’re very difficult to get hold of.
My people have been trying you, text, email. But, uh, nothing.
Oh. Uh, yeah, I’ve been really, um… I’ve been busy.
I’m deep in R & D on a new project.
Okay, sounds good.
Well, I’m in town and, uh, you wanna meet and talk the next steps?
Next steps?
Can you be at Los Angeles theater tonight at, uh, eight o’clock? Uh, we see a show and then, um, maybe we can chat.
Uh, Andrey, wait, um… I am not at Tinder anymore.
Yes, yes, I know. I hear the whole story. It sounds like, uh, bullshit.
But, uh, I’m very happy because it means I can poach you more easily.
You said at eight?
Okay. See you then.
[sighs]
[driver] This is the address.
Yeah, sorry, can I just have a minute?
Uh, I already ended the trip in the app, so… Yeah.
[sighs] Okay.
[Andrey] I’m sure you have seen the show many times, but for me it was first.
Oh, no I hadn’t seen it either.
Really? You are, uh, Mormon and you did not see this funny show?
I’m not Mormon.
But you are from Utah?
[chuckles] Yeah, but they let non-Mormons live there too.
You know, I don’t actually think Mormons…
[inhales sharply] …they don’t really love the show.
Huh. Well, great it all works out. [chuckles] You want, uh, wine?
Uh, sure.
Uh, this.
Got it.
Okay, time for Mr. Straight To Point.
[sighs] What is this big, uh, secret project you are developing, huh?
It’s a social networking app called Merci for women only.
Huh.
Yes and where the only currency…
The only way to communicate will be through compliments, kindness.
Okay. But, uh…
Really I want you and me to do something that we do best, you know? Dating app.
[scoffs] No. Hmm. There’s no way.
I cannot go back into dating.
But, yes you can. I read the court documents.
There is no noncompete clause. It’s crazy business.
[chuckles] I know. I mean, I…
I wanna work on something I can be proud of.
[sighs] Actually, you know, do some good.
[sighs] That’s very… very noble, but, uh, are you sure that you want to do this with a kindness app? [scoffs] [chuckles] Um…
Okay, Andrey…
Listen, when I was a… a freshman, I was the only girl in my computer science class and… [chuckles] …I remember one day I walked in and I just…
Like, there was this giant photo of a naked woman on the projector and at first I thought, you know, they’re playing some kind of prank on me obviously.
But it turned out the professor had projected the photo Wow.
It was Lena Forsén, the 1972 Playboy centerfold.
Just happens to be the first image ever digitally transferred.
It wasn’t some kind of joke. It was a lesson.
In the foundation of computing history.
Hmm.
The Internet is supposedly some kind of transformative revolution, right?
Freedom. Democratization.
You know?
But according to whom? Apple.
Amazon. Facebook. Twitter.
The rules of online behavior have been written exclusively by men.
[chuckles] And the result is that most of the online experience is pretty fucking shitty for women.
Maybe we can fix this problem… with dating.
[chuckles] Oh, my…
Come on, Andrey, everything that is wrong with Internet culture is at its peak with online dating.
It is regressive, it is full of creeps who can spam, harass women night and day with no accountability.
It reinforces outdated gender roles and… [sighs] We need to change dating.
There it is. I knew you’d come up with something great.
A dating app that is actually a good experience for women.
Like the Merci version of dating.
Yes.
Exactly. Made by women for women.
Yes! [inhales sharply] Wait… Um…
Just to be clear… [sighs] I am not for hire.
Okay, uh… whatever this is…
[sighs] I need to be the founder…
Of course.
…and CEO.
Maybe you want, uh, my helicopter too. Huh? [chuckles] [chuckles] Sure. Why not?
Whitney this is your ship. Captain Whitney.
[laughs] [speaking Russian]
[employees shouting, clamoring]
Hey. [sighs] Can I walk you to your train?
It’s gonna be here in two minutes.
Okay. [sighs] Uh, I’ll keep it short. Well, short for me.
Um…
Okay, listen, I’m sorry, all right?
The last time I saw you I was…
You were right, okay?
Look, I’d… I ignored how bad it was there until all of this happened to me.
And I, I bought into the idea that there was only space for one woman in the room.
And I made sure it was me.
And the… the worst part is I liked it.
It felt cool being the only girl in the club.
[sighs] And it wasn’t just that I didn’t push back on the toxic shit.
I-I’d feed into it to prove I could hang.
[sighs]
Tish, I’ve had some real blind spots.
I need to do better. I will.
Okay? I’m sorry. Okay?
You really pissed me off.
[sighs] I know.
Like a lot.
I know.
But…
I appreciate the apology.
And I’m sorry that I couldn’t be there for you in the ways that you really needed me to be.
[chuckles]
[Whitney chuckles, sighs]
[chuckles] I mean, I kind of owe you anyway.
You’ve been to, like, every single one of my shows even though we suck so bad.
No.
Don’t lie to my face.
[chuckles] I thought, like…
I thought we just, like, had a moment. [chuckles] Okay. Listen, Tish.
I’m starting something new.
And, you know what? It’s gonna be empowering and intersectional.
Intersectional, new vocab.
[chuckles] Okay, it’s fully funded, and I need you to come and work with me.
Yeah. Obviously I’m in.
I understand if you need more time.
No, I need zero time.
And we…
I’m giving those bastards zero notice.
We would be relocating to Austin, Texas.
I love Austin. Lets be weird, lets do it.
It’s the fastest growing city in the country and…
Whitney!
Let’s fucking do it.
[chuckles] Let’s go. Let’s go. Let’s do it.
[“Shut Up and Let Me Go” playing] [Whitney] Okay.
What’s the-the thing?
Our identity, you know? We’re missing that one, big hook.
The thing that we’re missing is a name.
I really think that Bumble is a winner.
Oh, I don’t… I don’t know. I just… I think of like, bumbling, stumbling.
Let’s just keep talking big picture.
Okay, uh, banning harassment.
How do we actualize it?
Um, like a report feature.
Kind of like Twitter’s.
It’s just that… [sighs] When I was going through the worst of it, I was reporting tweets left and right.
And the next day, the same creep would just be right back at it.
All right. So we need a zero tolerance policy.
You harass once and you’re booted forever. Bye.
Yes, I love it. No second chances. Got it.
Yeah. And can we do no unsolicited dick pics?
Mmm. Yes.
[Whitney] Absolutely.
And I was also thinking some…
And we should really create…
Sorry. Please.
Oh. Uh, no. That’s fine.
Yeah. I was just, um, I was thinking no shirtless selfies.
‘Cause, you know, people, they think Tinder, and they think one-night stands, and really cheesy shirtless selfies.
So, it’s, like, um, you want a fuckboy, use Tinder.
But you want something more, like a meaningful relationship, or even just like a decent person to bang, uh, come on over to…
We need a name.
Yeah. Come on over to our app…
Careful. It’s really hot.
Thank you.
…where you’ll find better people, or at least, um, better behaved people. But, I don’t know.
Oh. No. No, no, no, no. Beth.
Beth, I love it. We’re doing it.
[chuckles] Okay.
Okay.
And while we’re at it, uh, no photos of people holding guns.
Okay. So, keep your shirt on and your gun locked up and your dick in your pants.
It’s so cool that we can just say stuff, and then, it’s real.
Also, every startup I’ve ever worked at was 90% dudes.
Right. Oh, so, we will hire a 90% female team here in Austin.
Can’t do that.
[gasps] David. I forgot that you were back there.
You can’t discriminate based on sex.
Well then, why is every other startup all men?
Look, let me rephrase. You can’t explicitly discriminate based on sex when hiring. Legally.
[chuckles] Okay. So, we won’t explicitly hire a 90% female team.
You can’t say it like that either.
[Whitney] Okay.
[Andrey] Hello, ladies.
[Tisha gasps] Andrey.
[Andrey] Hello.
[all] Hi.
Wow. There’s a big wave of energy from the room there.
This is… It’s great.
So there’s someone I want you to meet. This is Charlotte.
She’s new PR person. She know everything.
Hi.
Hi.
Hi, Charlotte.
I’ve heard a lot about you, and I’m so excited to come down there, see the operation in person sometime soon.
Thank you.
We can’t…
Oh.
She is very expensive.
She charge me a lot of money per word, so I-I cut off.
Um, but I see whiteboard.
A lot of ideas there.
Can I set a meeting with the engineers, uh, get things started going?
Oh, no. No, no. We’re still missing something big here.
Including the name of the company.
And we just… We need a feature, right?
That just in no uncertain terms says that we are here and we are different and we are a hell of a lot better than anything you’ve tried before.
Yes. Yes.
But have monumental breakthrough very quickly.
You know I have board here, very itchy toto start monetizing.
Yeah.
All right. I know it’s hard to have, uh, big idea in this shitty little room.
Uh, you know, you get out see new city. Try the local cowboy drinks.
Okay.
Only if David comes with us.
[Whitney] Oh, yeah.
[Tisha] David?
[Whitney] Oh, yeah.
Oh. It-It’s almost my bedtime.
Uh. David.
David, come on.
[Whitney] You can come.
Well… [stammers] Come on.
David.
[chanting] David. David. David.
No. There’s no way.
David. David.
David. David. David.
I can’t believe David didn’t come.
Yeah, it really seemed like that chanting was gonna work.
[patrons cheering]
[upbeat country music playing]
[no audible dialogue]
Whit. Um, there’s a guy who I think is checking you out over there.
I don’t wanna talk guys. I wanna talk app.
I think we should go with Bumble.
Come on. It’s, like… Okay.
Uh, bumblebees, right?
The app becomes your hive.
And what is at the center of a hive?
The queen bee.
Exactly.
It’s female-centric.
It’s inclusive and safe.
It’s literally everything that we’ve been looking for.
Um, Whit. That cute cowboy at the end of the bar keeps looking over here.
[sighs] I really don’t have time for guys.
We need to focus on Bumble.
Thank you. It’s good.
Perfect.
I hear you, but I think you should…
Jesus.
Mmhmm.
[Whitney] Whoo.
[chuckles] Yeah.
[chuckles] You know, I mean, I don’t know.
I, um, haven’t been out with anyone since my life imploded.
Yeah. Well, it’s time to get back on that horse.
Or maybe just on the cowboy.
But what if the guy googles me?
Come on. What is he gonna see?
Like, a thousand articles saying that I might be a lying whore.
That’s something that you can bring up on a second date.
Or maybe even a third.
Or we could not play three-dimensional chess and just focus on this palpable sexual tension.
Oh, yeah. Give him some signals.
Wow.
Come on. Maybe he’ll come over here.
Maybe I just go introduce myself.
Yeah.
Oh, I don’t know.
I feel, like, it’s better if he comes over here.
You don’t want to come off as, like, desperate.
Desperate? What do you mean?
Listen, I don’t think that. It’s…
I-I think… Some people think that. Um…
You know, like, that the guy should come to you.
[Tisha] Mmm.
[stammers] I…
Um… Wait… I need a, um…
Okay. We have a lot to discuss, but first, I gotta see a man about a beer.
Okay.
Okay, good.
That’s good. I’m glad she’s doing that.
[mellow country music playing]
Hi.
Hi. [chuckles] Hi, I’m Michael.
Um, can I… Can I buy you a drink?
Oh, well, that depends. Um…
Will you just read this article about me?
And then you can just let me know if you’re still interested.
Uh, yeah. Yeah, all right.
Thanks. [chuckles] Yeah, sure.
Whitney.
Yes.
Got it. Yeah. Okay.
Oh.
[inhales sharply] Yeah, sorry.
I-I don’t think, uh, I can buy you a drink, after all.
Yeah. Yes.
Yeah, because according to the article, you’ve got a million dollars.
Which means you should be buying me a drink.
[Whitney chuckles]
Yeah, that can be arranged.
Um, should I sit? Yes, I’ll sit.
Yeah. You wanna sit? Yeah, please sit.
How can we create an online space that feels safe and empowering, right?
Which leads us to our core principle…
Women make the first move.
When members of the opposite sex match on Bumble, women have to send the first message.
This is gonna shift outdated gender dynamics, encouraging equality from the get-go.
[Bumble team talking indistinctly]
Come on y’all, download Bumble!
[Bumble team cheering]
Let’s talk about reprogramming.
But with respect, why reprogram code that’s already working?
This is not a plug-and-play of your existing product and API.
We need to use thoughtful UX UI, innovative machine learning models, very secure back end infrastructure and new safety systems to build the safest place on the Internet for women.
You heard her.
Hey, what have we got?
So Tinder’s parent company is suing Bumble for trademark infringement.
Why, drama just follows this woman around. Maybe this time she’ll buzz off.
We swipe left on your past attempts to buy us.
We swipe left on your current attempts to intimidate us.
No comment.
Instead of focusing on us, you should spend your time taking care of bad behavior on your own platform.
[no audible dialogue]
Which is why we are so, so, so proud to invest in BIPOC female founders.
But the laws haven’t caught up with this new reality.
We need accountability for bad behavior.
If indecent exposure is a crime on the streets, then why is it okay on your phone or computer?
Let me know if this feels all right.
I appreciate it.
Good right here?
How’s it looking out there?
One sec.
Okay, baby, you have all day. [chuckles] You really don’t need to put that on now.
Yeah, good. ‘Cause I think this is gonna take all day anyways.
[chuckles] Okay, Whitney, let’s check levels.
You could rehearse whatever you’re gonna say tonight.
Okay.
No, no. She’s more of a wing-it gal.
[chuckles] Okay, something like:
After a billion romantic matches, our new feature, Bumble for Friends, um, is the culmination of everything I have been working towards.
[Michael] Whoo-hoo! Yeah!
BFF will transform our company into a community-driven, female forward social network.
Yeah.
Sounding great. Thank you, Whitney.
[chuckles] You’re gonna crush it.
[chuckles] Okay. I am taking this…
Thank you.
…because I know you don’t wanna wear it.
I hate it. I hate it so much.
[phone dings] Oh.
Okay.
All right, I have to go back to the office for another interview.
[Michael] Mmhmm. It’s fine.
Sorry. Um, but I will see you tonight?
Yes.
Love you.
Hi. Hi, I’m Whitney.
Uh, Marta Medina. Forbes.
Um, well, welcome.
Uh, you are here during, probably what is the most exciting week.
[Marta chuckles]
Oh, we’ve met before.
At a Tinder party years ago.
[chuckles] You remember that. [chuckles] Oh, well, you know.
I don’t forget faces or names, or anything really.
Well I…
Yeah, I knew there was a story there, but I-I-I got scooped by, uh…
By your lawsuit.
I’m not legally allowed to comment on my time at Tinder.
I wish you would’ve discussed it then.
Maybe I do too.
You know what? We’re here to talk about Bumble BFF.
What can I tell you?
Uh, well, I’m… I’m actually here to talk about something else.
Oh, okay.
[stammers] A piece I’ve written about your current parent company.
Badoo or Wide Vision or MagicLab, depending on which tax shelter we’re referring to.
Um… I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand.
This is the article. It goes live at 5:00 p.m. today.
I’m here to give you a chance to comment.
[stammers] [exclaims]
[stammers] I’m sorry, I don’t… Um…
[stammers] I’m sorry. This doesn’t…
No, this doesn’t make sense.
[exclaims] I thought it would after everything you’ve been through.
Oh. No, no, no. Those guys were…
Um, Andrey is… I mean, he’s…
Bumble wouldn’t exist without Andrey.
[stammers] No, he’s… He’s always been a supporter of us and women.
And he…
People can be more than one thing.
I have never seen Andrey take part in any of this stuff.
He’s an advocate.
He’s my friend.
Is that your comment?
This is so fucking awful.
All the major outlets will be in there tonight.
And they are gonna want answers.
We could cancel.
Look, we spent months on a multi-million-dollar BFF roll out.
There is gonna be thousands of people filing into the theater in less than an hour.
You could open with an acknowledgement.
Acknowledge what? The drugs, sleaze and misogyny or the sexism, racism and tax evasion?
Well, all of it.
[chuckles] She’s already commented.
I said that Andrey was supportive, a good guy and my friend. Jesus.
You told the truth.
But I was caught completely off guard.
Well, your instincts were good.
But it wasn’t enough. You should use tonight’s platform.
Close with a strong unequivocal statement of support for Andrey and Badoo.
If you do that this all can blow over.
Sorry, what? [chuckles] All of this happened on a completely different continent.
We shouldn’t be doing anything to bail out those assholes.
It’s not that simple.
Of course it is.
Whitney. Think about all of these women who’ve come forward for this story.
And think about how the narrative is being framed.
Everything in this article is about Badoo but Bumble is the name in the headline.
They’re trying to drag you into this because it is a better story.
Do not take the bait. We need to stay out of it.
Okay, do that, and Bumble closes its doors by the end of the week.
Badoo is not only your parent company, they also own all your servers.
If they go down, so does Bumble. Literally.
The majority of female founders lose their company within the first three years.
You told me that in our first meeting.
And that my job was to protect you and your company.
So fight for what you’ve built.
Make the statement.
Whit, this is a bad idea.
We need to stay out of it.
I’ll think about it.
Whitney. Hello.
[sighs] Hi.
It’s a full house out there.
Uh… [clears throat] Very enthusiastic.
Thank you for, uh, your words in the article.
It means a lot.
[scoffs] I’m very sorry about…
[exclaims] …all of this.
No. How could…
How could you let this happen?
I was blindsided. [stammers] The Forbes lady, she come and pretend to be all nice girl, but how could I know that it would be a big press story.
I’m talking about what was in the story.
[exclaims] She exaggerates everything.
Okay, what exactly was she exaggerating?
Everything. I mean, come on, the team, they work very hard.
And, sure, sometimes, okay, they want to blow off the steam and, uh, maybe they go a little bit far. Okay?
Like, cocaine at a party with adults.
[stammers] Ooh, big story.
No, it is not a big story, okay?
And personally, I saw nothing, okay?
What about the prostitutes?
[stammers] The company never paid for any prostitutes.
[sighs] I just…
How do you think a female employee feels at one of these parties?
Where male employees are openly getting blow jobs.
Yeah… [stammers] It was different time.
It was four months ago.
[sighs] Look, it’s a very big wake up call, okay?
And-and we change many many policies but…
Look, you have been around long enough to know that this behavior is not very out of the norm.
But we’re not supposed to be the norm.
Bumble was created to be a rebuke of this toxic bullshit.
You are destroying all of that.
[stammers] But put in perspective, okay?
Badoo has been put in this, uh, American Me Too stuff.
It is ridiculous. It’s not fair.
Okay, what about Jessica?
Your CMO, who was asked to give a male job applicant a massage to sweeten the deal.
That a part of her job was to look sexy?
[sighs] Is that why you offered me that job?
Whit, no. Come on. I…
You and me… [stammers] …we have worked together, side by side, for a long time.
And have I ever treat you with anything but respect and-and dignity?
No.
No, so, you know that I am not aa bad guy.
[sighs]
[sighs]
This is… [stammers] This is big lesson for me.
And I will change culture at Badoo.
I promise you.
What you have done already for women, it goes so far beyond, uh, dating.
We can move forward, we can grow, we can change the world, okay?
Captain Whitney. [chuckles] From position of strength.
But first, we… we must, uh, push past this together, and-and-and we can move on.
[audience applauding, cheering]
Well, it can be really hard to make new friends as an adult.
You know, we’ve gotten to the point where it’s easier to go on a date than it is to make a friend.
[chuckles] Okay.
Speak for yourself.
[audience laughs]
Um, you can use Bumble BFF to, uh, find a movie buddy, uh, grab a coffee, grab a smoothie, walk your dog. Whatever you want.
Even start a business.
Uh, I love that.
A woman in business getting more women in business.
We need those kinds of champions.
Isn’t that cool?
[audience cheering]
You know… Um…
[smacks lips] Sometimes that can be harder than it seems, in all honesty.
[stammers] Now, I haven’t always been great at women.
Sometimes I’ve been guilty of, you know…
laughing at sexist remarks or…
You know, putting other women down to make myself feel like I was the cool, smart one at the table.
Well, now that you have some perspective, you’re using those lessons to fight sexism and inequality.
Hmm. I could be doing more.
You’re a 30yearold running an incredibly successful feminist business.
I would actually just like to say something about my partnership…
With Badoo and Andrey Andreev.
[audience murmuring]
I feel saddened…
And honestly, I’m sickened to hear what has transpired at Badoo.
[whispers] I don’t think you…
I want to acknowledge that me not personally seeing the bad behavior in no way negates or excuses it.
No one deserves to be marginalized or mistreated in the workplace.
Accountability is not something you can…
[audience murmuring]
[scoffs]
Accountability is not something that you can reason your way out of.
If you don’t condemn it, you are supporting it.
I will not stand for toxic behavior.
[murmuring intensifies]
Is it still…
Crazy in there? Yeah.
And Badoo’s stock fell 15% on the Nikkei.
[clicks teeth]
Sorry.
I’m not.
[chuckles]
Oh.
Howdy.
You did good.
[blows raspberry] I just blew up my life.
Let’s get you home.
Whoo!
[laughs] [chuckles]
[sighs]
[knock on door]
Hey. Sorry. I don’t mean to just show up on your doorstep, but I felt it best to have this conversation in person.
I’m Matthew…
Matthew Slate.
Uh, Blackstone Investment Group.
So, to get right to it, Blackstone’s bought out Andrey.
Okay. Of what exactly?
Everything. We’re about to become majority shareholders of Badoo, Magic Lab and Bumble.
It’s not official for two or three weeks, but in light of recent, um, events…
We feel it’s a good time to make changes. Drastic ones.
And fast.
If you’re gonna sell off Bumble, then I need to have the chance to raise the capital to buy it from you first.
No. That’s not gonna happen.
Bumble’s far too valuable an asset.
[stammers] But your position, that is something we need to discuss.
I won’t step down without a fight.
No. That’s not…
Uh, we want you to stay on, Whitney.
As CEO.
CEO of all of it.
Magic Lab, Badoo and Bumble.
There’s no more-qualified candidate.
You start as soon as possible.
In that case, I have a few ideas.
Already. [chuckles] Well, that’s great. Um, we have ideas as well.
First, we’ll…
Matthew. How about I go first?
