Steve Harvey partners with Black-owned startup PopViewers
Chris Witherspoon, the founder and CEO of PopViewers calls the partnership 'surreal'
Get ready for some Steve Harvey on PopViewers. The Black-owned TV & film recommendation app has announced a partnership with the Family Feud host.
Launched back in 2020, PopViewers has become a popular app for pop culture fans, focusing on amplifying diverse voices in conversations surrounding the biggest titles in media. With Harvey’s partnership, the app will “elevate its mission of not only helping users find what to watch next but making sure the viewers’ voices are heard,” according to Deadline.
“PopViewers is creating a more inclusive viewing experience and building a space which represents the voices and perspectives of viewers from diverse backgrounds,” Harvey shared in a statement obtained by the outlet.
“Most media critics don’t look like me or Chris, and this impacts how movies and shows are sold to wider audiences. This is why I like the vision and why I decided to do this partnership. By bringing in more diverse voices, we can elevate great talent, making sure that it can be recognized and appreciated globally.”
Chris Witherspoon is the CEO and founder of PopViewers. Witherspoon shared in his statement, “Growing up in Warren, Ohio I used to watch The Steve Harvey Show after school. Through the screen, he taught me valuable life lessons. I told myself then that if Steve Harvey could dream big enough to make it out of Cleveland, Ohio to be on my TV, I could do the same.”
In 2020, theGrio‘s Jared Alexander sat down with Witherspoon as he broke down his inspiration for the app during its launch. “I want to democratize the voices of those who watch, consume, and pay for all of this entertainment. It empowers them to pull up a chair at that table,” he shared.
Since the launch, the app has certainly found success, seeing “a growth in installs of 10-14% per week.”
“One of the most important things I’ve learned on my journey as a founder and CEO is to have a clear, unwavering vision – no matter the obstacles before me – and to lead with passion and conviction. I learned that from a talk Steve Harvey gave years ago which makes it feel surreal to have him as a partner to help PopViewers flourish,” Witherspoon shared with Deadline.
PopViewers is available to download now in the Apple App Store.
TheGrio is now on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!
