The Bumble Movie Misses Key Aspects of Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd’s Story

Let’s talk about the new Bumble movie, “Swiped,” currently on Hulu. One important thing to note is that the majority of the film focuses on Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd’s early days at Tinder, with only the final 20 minutes dedicated to Bumble itself.

For those unfamiliar with Wolfe Herd’s backstory, she initially joined Tinder when it was just a startup concept at Match Group. After experiencing sexual harassment in her relationship with Tinder’s cofounder, Justin Mateen, Wolfe Herd took legal action. The film draws dialogue from texts presented as evidence in that lawsuit. There was also a debate over whether Wolfe Herd was officially considered a cofounder of Tinder, a title she claimed she lost due to her gender. Even after a tumultuous exit from Tinder, Wolfe Herd has proudly asserted her status as a cofounder. The lawsuit was settled in 2014 without admission of guilt.

This challenging period in Wolfe Herd’s life and career, as depicted in the movie, played a pivotal role in inspiring her to create Bumble. Her negative experiences motivated her to establish a platform that offered a more welcoming environment for women online, ultimately leading to the creation of the dating app Bumble. However, in reality, her journey involved additional challenges, including encountering toxic workplace dynamics at Badoo, the parent company associated with the inception of Bumble.

While promotional material for the film showcased Wolfe Herd against the backdrop of Bumble’s contemporary success, the movie primarily portrays an earlier version of the founder. It captures a narrative of her evolution from uncertainty as a young woman navigating the tech world to a confident solo founder, depicted through moments like speaking engagements and legislative advocacy.

If you’re more interested in Bumble’s narrative rather than the Tinder drama, “Swiped” may still be worth a watch (I’d give it a solid three stars). Notably, Wolfe Herd has distanced herself from the film, which carries a disclaimer indicating her lack of involvement.

In line with other biopics centered on the origins rather than triumphs of prominent companies (e.g., “The Social Network”), “Swiped” offers a glimpse into the foundation of Bumble. As someone who has covered female-led businesses and Bumble for nearly a decade, I’d have preferred a deeper exploration of Bumble’s own journey, highs, and lows on screen.

Just as “The Social Network” is now getting a sequel after 15 years, perhaps we’ll have to wait a bit longer for a comprehensive portrayal of Bumble’s story in the future.