Sometimes the universe has an oddly perfect sense of timing — and a wicked sense of humor. Just as Apple rolls out its glossiest new celebrity showcase platform, one of its forgotten founders pops up in a beer commercial, serving up a masterclass in irony with a side of apple-flavored hops.
The tech giant’s latest venture, “Snapshot on Apple,” landed quietly this week. No fanfare, no massive PR push — just a sleek digital corridor that opened its virtual doors with the kind of understated confidence that only Apple can pull off. Think of it as an exclusive backstage pass to their star-studded ecosystem, albeit one that feels somewhat unfinished, like a soft launch that’s still finding its footing in early 2025.
The platform currently hosts 36 celebrity profiles (though who’s counting?). We’re talking serious star power here — Bad Bunny, Dua Lipa, Matt Damon — each getting the signature Apple treatment. The interface? Pure Apple minimalism, almost frustratingly so. Two carousels of celebrity faces spin hypnotically, though good luck trying to control them manually. Classic Apple move: beautiful, slightly impractical, yet somehow impossible to stop watching.
But here’s where things get interesting.
While Apple’s busy curating its constellation of current stars, Ronald Wayne — yes, that Ronald Wayne, Apple’s virtually unknown third co-founder — is making waves in the most unexpected place imaginable. He’s become the face of Busch Light’s apple-flavored beer campaign, and the timing couldn’t be more deliciously ironic.
For those who need a refresher: Wayne sold his 10% stake in Apple for $800 back in ’76. Today, that same stake would be worth… well, better sit down for this one… roughly $270 billion. Let that sink in for a moment. The man who could’ve been one of the wealthiest people on Earth is now pitching apple-flavored beer with a kind of self-aware wit that only comes from living with such a monumentally costly decision.
“But hey, you live. You learn,” Wayne quips in the ad, delivering the line with the kind of dry humor that makes you wonder if he’s really okay with it all. (Spoiler alert: He seems surprisingly at peace.)
Krystyn Stowe, heading up marketing for Busch Family & Natural Family at Anheuser-Busch, frames their strategy with calculated precision: “We wanted the campaign to playfully tap into that feeling of regret.” Talk about hitting the nail on the head — though Wayne’s particular brand of regret might be in a league of its own.
Meanwhile, back in Apple’s meticulously manicured digital garden, their celebrity hub feels like a beta version of something bigger. Each profile functions as a walled-garden version of Linktree or Feature.fm, corralling all their Apple-exclusive content into one pristine space. It’s quintessential Apple: controlled, curated, and clean enough to eat off of.
The juxtaposition of these two stories — Apple’s carefully orchestrated celebrity showcase and Wayne’s good-humored beer commercial — reads like something out of a Silicon Valley satire. Yet here we are, watching it unfold in real time, a reminder that fame and fortune in tech can be as unpredictable as a cryptocurrency crash.
Who knows? Maybe by this time next year, we’ll see Steve Wozniak pitching artisanal kombucha. Stranger things have happened in the tech world — especially lately.
Leave a Reply