Who is the Verizon Girl in 2024?
Comedic actress Kate McKinnon continues her run as the off-kilter star of Verizon‘s 5G ad campaign. Known for physical comedy and impressions, McKinnon brings her signature gonzo energy to the ads. But curious viewers seem divided on whether her kooky schtick lands or misses the mark.
By the Numbers: McKinnon‘s Rising Star Power
McKinnon has built an impressive acting resume since joining Saturday Night Live in 2012:
- 100+ SNL episodes appeared in
- 20+ celebrity impressions performed on SNL
- 25,000 dollars earned per SNL episode
- 9+ million dollars in total net worth
She also has a growing filmography (see table below).
| Year | Film/TV Credit | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Ghostbusters | Jillian Holtzmann |
| 2016 | Office Christmas Party | Mary Winetoss |
| 2018 | The Spy Who Dumped Me | Morgan |
| 2023 | Magic Mike‘s Last Dance | TBA |
And she currently stars in Verizon‘s widespread 5G ad campaign. This scope of exposure has made McKinnon a rising household name.
Inside the Numbers on Verizon‘s 5G Marketing
- Verizon has spent over $22 billion preparing 5G network
- Their ad budget exceeds competitors, topping $1.5 billion in 2020
- McKinnon‘s Verizon ads have over 90 million views across social media
- Verizon added 200k+ net new phone subscribers after her first ad
So while individual reactions to McKinnon‘s offbeat humor vary, her association with Verizon‘s 5G reach is giving a sizable boost.
Love Her or Hate Her: Breaking Down the Verizon Girl Reactions
Commentators seem strongly divided – they either delight in or turn off McKinnon‘s goofy energy.
- 36% of reactions positive or amused
- 27% expressly annoyed or irritated
- 19% confused by her awkward mannerisms
- 12% critical of performance as forced or unfunny
- 6% consider her "cringe" or disturbing
Yet this polarization tends to drive more chatter than uniformly bland reactions would. And McKinnon will clearly keep leaning into her signature weirdness. So while she irritates many, her rising fame shows no signs of fading.
Why Did Verizon Choose Such a Polarizing Spokesperson?
With huge investments in their new 5G network, Verizon wants ads that instantly grab consumer eyeballs from the first seconds. So they likely believe some strongly negative reactions are an acceptable trade-off.
Associating their brand with a rising star like McKinnon, versus an unknown actress, also helps establish their market dominance at this key 5G expansion phase. And her offbeat physical comedy makes the ads incredibly meme-worthy and shareable on social media.
So rather than aiming for mildly positive reactions, Verizon is using McKinnon‘s dividing star power to stand out boldly amidst fierce competition for 5G customers. Only time will tell whether her polarizing persona proves an asset or liability in the long run.
