Kerry Washington Invests in Black-Owned Social Media Platform “Spill”
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Emmy Award-winning actress Kerry Washington is putting her money and influence behind Spill, a Black-owned social media platform created by Alphonzo Terrell, a former Twitter employee. Terrell launched Spill after being laid off from Twitter two years ago, and Washington has now become its newest investor.
Washington, who has been using Spill to host virtual events called “Tea Parties” on topics like voter registration, felt it made sense to support the platform as an investor.
“In a digital world where marginalized groups, especially Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA folks, rarely feel prioritized, Spill stands out,” Washington said. “I’m proud to be part of this community as both a user and an investor.”
This isn’t Washington’s first time investing in companies. She’s previously invested in startups like the teeth-aligner company Byte, the celebrity fundraising platform Omaze, and the now-closed women’s co-working space The Wing.
Alphonzo Terrell, Spill’s founder, praised Washington for being an active and supportive investor. “She’s very involved and not afraid to engage directly with users,” he said. “Her involvement represents the type of community we’re building on Spill.”

Washington’s investment comes as Spill celebrates its second anniversary. The platform has been growing steadily, especially with its popular Spades game feature, which keeps users on the app for more than 30 minutes at a time. Terrell explained that the Spades feature was inspired by Black family gatherings where the game is commonly played.
In addition to user growth, Spill has also seen success with advertising. The platform has had a 400% increase in ad spending per campaign and is expected to earn over a million dollars in annual revenue by next year.
Terrell highlighted the rising importance of multicultural ad spending in the U.S., which has grown into a $45 billion industry.
Spill also continues to be a space for marginalized communities to gather and share their voices. Washington’s investment was announced shortly after the platform’s users mourned the execution of Marcellus Williams, a Black man who spent over 20 years on death row for a crime he said he didn’t commit.
Despite objections from some Supreme Court justices and no DNA evidence linking him to the crime, Williams was executed on September 24.
“The tragic execution showed us just how much we need community support,” Terrell said. “People need a space where they feel supported and not alone. That’s what we want Spill to be.”
With Washington’s backing and a growing user base, Spill continues to stand out as a platform that supports and uplifts marginalized voices in the digital world.
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