I’ll admit that I didn’t really discover Busy Philipps until Cougar Town but since I’ve started paying attention, I enjoy her so much. Not only does she look fun, but she is both honest and unapologetic. She’s never tried to romanticize her kids’ names (Cricket and Birdie) and just came to terms with people thinking their names are weird. As further evidence, a fan recently complimented Busy on her Instagram because she doesn’t post #sponcon (sponsored content) like “others” do. Busy’s IG is really cute, not just the photos but her captions are laced with her signature humor, so it genuinely looks like just an actress/mom/wife documenting her day-to-day. However, in response to the fan’s compliment about not posting #sponcon, Busy ‘fessed up that yes, she does because it pays the bills better than her acting is these days.
Busy Philipps admitted via an Instagram Story video that she makes more money now from sponsored Instagram posts than she does acting.
“I’m not above it, guys,” the Vice Principals actress said in a video posted to her account on Thursday, April 27. “I just only choose things that I genuinely like and, like, would want to partner with, like, for instance, my Michaels [craft store] partnership, which, you know, is my favorite thing of all time. And I’m doing one next week, I think, that feels like me.”
Philipps understands that celebs lose followers after posting “#sponcon,” but even she admits that “we all gotta make [money.]”
“But, like, yeah, I mean, unless it was like, a billion dollars, I probably wouldn’t do something random and weird that people would be like, ‘Lame,’ ‘Busy Philipps sells out,’” she explained in her video. “But, you know, I gotta be honest with you, I didn’t make a ton of money as an actor last year. I made more of my money doing that kind of stuff, like the partnerships with brands.”
In her defense, she explained that as TV actors, they’re “making a product so that networks can sell ad space,” which is essentially, in turn, what sponsored Instagram posts have become.
Have you guys seen Busy’s The Make Off videos that she’s doing for Michaels? She invites celebrity guests, many of whom are friends, to “compete” in a timed craft project and then some random judges who wins. They’re all under 5 minutes and surprisingly entertaining. But, much like her IG, you forget you are watching a commercial. I may not be the best judge on this subject because I don’t really “follow” Instagram accounts. If I go on to someone’s IG, unless I need info for a story, I just look at the pics. Without reading the captions, I generally can’t tell the difference between regular posts and sponsored ones. But I don’t have a problem with this, like Busy says, we all have to eat and if this is bringing in more money for a celeb than their “day job,” I say go for it.
Fortunately, Busy is still booking acting jobs, though. I just found out Busy and Happy Endings Casey Wilson filmed the new Tina Fey produced pilot, The Sackett Sisters. The description for the show is that two estranged sisters “perform a Sully Sullenberger-esque act of public heroism, then are forced to navigate their newfound notoriety together.” It’s being written by Luke Del Tredici, who writes Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which is a g-d gift to anyone who watches it (thanks for the rec, F!). Bradley Whitford plays Busy and Casey’s dad. I love every word in those last couple of sentences I just wrote. Put me down for an ‘Oh hell yes!’ for this show.
Photo credit: Instagram and WENN Photos
Love Busy! She was great in Freaks and Geeks, and she seems like a genuinely cool person to boot.
@ Hecate. Casey’s last name is Wilson.
I have liked Busy since Freaks and Geeks and I just learned that she was on of the writers for Blades of Glory. Also, she owned up to #sponcon and is just keep on, keeping on.
Darn it, I thought I caught that when I was editing. I kept mixing “Wilson ” and “Williams” up with all the Busy/Michelle Williams pix.
Thank you!
I always think of Kim Kelly when I see Busy.
I’m pretty pumped for this, I really liked Casey on Happy Endings, I miss Trophy Wife, and I like Cougar Town and Brooklyn Nine Nine is excellent. I love Captain Holt so much.
Soo pretty much this sounds like dream casting to me.
Captain Holt is everything.
I am on board for the new show!
I do like her but how many times can she say like in that article?
I know, what was up with that??
Just love her and hate that she even has to think about sponsored instagram posts. She should be rolling in it.
I just read that in 25 years 47% of jobs will be gone due to technology and AI, maybe we should all start selling products on Instagram.
It’s funny, I spent my whole childhood and early 20s defending my choice to become a writer. It’s the only career I’ve ever wanted (the dream was always author, not ballerina or astronaut or doctor). But everyone told me it was impractical, and pressured me to pursue teaching, because “that’s how writers actually make money”.
No one saw the explosion of digital content coming. EVERYONE needs a writer now, not just news outlets and publishers. I make most of my money ghostwriting for small businesses, because you can’t get very far without a social media presence and a website/blog that shows you’re an established local authority. Every day I’m amazed at how valuable this skill turned out to be. The Internet is changing everything.
I make my money the same way.
However, I am worried that video will eventually replace most written content. I prefer to read my news and my Internet pet peeve is the insistence on every news site to start playing a video even when there is a full-length article written. And if they don’t have a video related to the story, well, I guess they figure what you’d like to do is read the article while being forced to watch a video about another news story.
What an interesting and fun career you have!! Can you explain what you do on a daily basis?
Appreciate her honesty!! She should be getting way more roles though. She’s a very good actress.
There are young girls who are making a million dollars a year from blogging and insta ads. Of course actual famous people who and in on that!
Yeah… if I were already a public figure and I could actually choose which brands to promote, I’d be cashing in for sure. If random people and animals can earn money this way, I imagine celebrities can earn even more, regardless of whether they’re household names. 5 or 10 years ago, Busy’s revenue options were probably a lot more limited.
I follow so many pet accounts that have random product plugs now, because these animals have gradually gotten popular enough to attract sponsors. Like a pair of rescued pigs now sponsored by Walgreens and Cheerios, among others. I have an Instagram for my 5 cats and 2 rabbits, but I don’t think I’ll ever find that magic formula for becoming a hit!
Ive always wondered how people made money from things like instagram. Are they just really attractive and they take pics of themselves at the gym and get sponsored by companies that sell wellness products or something? do they have cute animals that went viral ? It seems like some kinda magical fantasy to me!
TBH, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her in anything-but somehow I ended up following her on IG-and she’s hilarious and adorable. I won’t hear a word against her.
I don’t know why I started following her either, but I love her. She shares so much in her stories that you feel like you know her and she’s cool and fun and she should definitely be able to make money off of that.
Do yourself a favor and check out Freaks and Geeks. Not just for her — it’s an amazing show.
OK-I’ll check it out.
I second this! Freaks and Geeks was superb. It was appointment tv for my siblings and I at the time. We were so sad it couldn’t keep going.
I am also here for that pilot, no doubt, even if my bitterness regarding the untimely demise of Whitford’s fab Trophy Wife still lingers.
I also love when celebs are, gasp, honest about their shortcuts. I got this vacation for free for posting the pics, or hell yeah, I use botox, got a boob job or whatever it is. I mean, I have zero resentment for any of that.
The eye roll exhaustion comes when stars say their face “totally changed shape” from eating Japanese potatoes, or a 50-year-old’s lineless, ageless face comes from drinking plenty of Smart Water. Or a 26-year-old just suddenly “came into” her breasts, or those-walls-are-warped-in-real-life-it’s-not-Photoshop, I swear. I mean, own who you are, what you want to do to your own life/body/etc. and what you have to do to stay relevant in your industry. Heck, even say it’s none of anyone’s fecking business, just don’t lie to the public’s faces about your 100% “natural” lifestyle while ducking into a plastic surgeon’s office clad in a burka.
Here here!
I loved her in Cougartown. I didn’t watch the last couple seasons but can’t find the series anywhere unless I outright buy it. It’s not on any streaming platform, boo hiss.
Try couchturner. It’s a bit tricky to navigate, but they should have every episode.
Busy Phillips is a goddamn treasure, love love her. Lover her friendship with Michelle Williams after all these years, I feel like she really helps to humanize Michelle and make her seem less like a femme bot. and Busy is just so goddamn likeable. that sister’s show with Casey Wilson, just sounds like a bowl full of happiness.
I love Busy Phillips, and she’s been working for a solid couple of decades. If she wants to make some money, more power to her.
I love her, and good for her for being honest about it. I have no issue with it except when people are gross about it (remember one of the Jnoas guys having a sponsor for. His kid’s birth?) or lie about it.
I just heard that Bella Thorn girl say she bought a house solely with money from social media. She was pretty annoying in the interview but I have to give her credit for honesty.
That’s kind of mind-blowing to think you’re a well-known actress in your 30s and if you don’t get acting roles, what do you do with yourself?? You can’t get a ‘real’ job, you have to leverage your fame somehow. She’s probably the breadwinner. And not everyone can start the Honest Company, so that leaves shilling soup on IG.