Is Jessica Williams in a Verizon commercial?
Unpacking the claim and the evidence
(By Carmichael Phillip)
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The claim at hand
The question — “Is Jessica Williams in a Verizon commercial?” — appears simple but deserves a closer look. A number of articles and ad-tracker sites assert that Williams appears in the 2023 Verizon commercial titled “Cut the Cable” (“Cut the Cable – Dump the Dish”) alongside Cecily Strong. For example, one piece states:
“The actress talking with Cecily Strong in the 2023 Verizon wireless commercial “Cut the Cable” is the American comedian Jessica Williams.”
Similarly, ad-cataloguing database listings for the Verizon Home Internet campaign list “Cecily Strong, Jessica Williams” among the actors.
So: yes, there is credible support for the claim that Jessica Williams appears in a Verizon ad.
However — as with many advertising credits — the listing may not always include full attribution (actors might appear without name credit, or roles may be small) and “appears in a commercial” may mean anything from a lead role to a cameo. In short: the evidence supports the claim, but there are nuances.
The advertisement in question
What exactly is this “Verizon commercial”? According to several sources, the ad is titled “Cut the Cable” and is part of the Verizon Home Internet campaign (or possibly the wireless offering) in 2023.
• The spot features Cecily Strong and Jessica Williams speaking to each other about dumping traditional cable in favour of Verizon’s internet offering.
• It appears the ad was launched, or at least catalogued, in April 2023.
• The listing from iSpot for Verizon Home Internet shows that the ad creative includes both Strong and Williams.
In short, the ad exists and credibly features Jessica Williams (or is attributed to her) in the listing.
Who is Jessica Williams?
To better understand the significance of this ad credit, a little background on Jessica Williams helps.
• Jessica Williams is an American actress and comedian. She first gained broad recognition as a correspondent for The Daily Show from 2012–2016.
• After The Daily Show, Williams starred in films and TV shows (for example, The Incredible Jessica James) and has also worked as a producer, writer and supporter of social-justice causes.
• Given her comedic background, Williams’ presence in a national commercial campaign is a strong promotional move — lending her face and voice (and comedic timing) to a brand message.
Thus, her appearance in a Verizon commercial is in keeping with her profile as a recognizable actor/comedian available for commercial work.
How clear is the attribution?
While multiple listings credit Jessica Williams in the Verizon ad, some caveats deserve mention:
• Some of the ad-listing sites (e.g., iSpot) list the cast name “Cecily Strong, Jessica Williams” but do not always include a screenshot or confirm visibly that the person is Williams.
• The article from Auralcrave asserts her involvement but does so based on secondary reporting, and may not offer direct primary confirmation (e.g., from Jessica Williams’ own site or from Verizon).
Auralcrave
• In commercials, actors sometimes appear uncredited or in passing, making public verification more difficult.
Given all that, it is fair to say that the evidence is strong, but if one were writing purely factual—without error—one might caveat: “appears to” rather than “definitively is credited as.” Nonetheless, for practical purposes the claim is well supported.
Why this matters (and what to watch for)
Why ask “Is Jessica Williams in a Verizon commercial?” At first glance it seems a niche question, but these kinds of brand-talent matches matter for a number of reasons:
• Brand strategy: Recruiting a known comedic actor like Williams signals Verizon is likely targeting a certain demographic (younger, entertainment-savvy, likely familiar with her work) and trying for a tone of familiarity or wit rather than pure utility.
• Actor profile: For Jessica Williams, appearing in a national brand commercial expands her presence beyond film/TV roles into advertising, which may affect her visibility, income diversification and public reach.
• Media verification: Fans, advertisers or brand-trackers often want to confirm credits in commercials (which historically are less comprehensively documented than films/TV). That’s why visuals, ad-databases, and actor portfolios are important.
If you are interested in verifying further, good flags to watch for: the actor’s own site or social media posting the ad campaign; official brand press releases; and clear visual matching of the actor in the spot.
The bottom line
So, in plain terms: Yes — evidence strongly supports the statement that Jessica Williams appears in a Verizon commercial (specifically, the “Cut the Cable” campaign alongside Cecily Strong). The listing of her name in ad databases, the supporting journalistic article, and the connection to a known campaign all point in that direction.
However, for utmost accuracy one should note that while cited, the appearance is not documented in widely published actor-filmography sources (i.e., mainstream film/TV databases may list commercials less comprehensively), and the public citation may rely on industry-tracking platforms rather than a high-profile brand announcement.
In sum: If you are citing this for an article or research, you can say:
“Actress and comedian Jessica Williams appears in the 2023 Verizon Home Internet/Wireless commercial ‘Cut the Cable’, alongside Cecily Strong.”
And you may optionally add:
“According to ad-tracking listings and industry publications, Williams is credited in the campaign.”
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