The Super Bowl stands out as a remarkable sporting event, featuring captivating stories and high-profile commercials like Hellmann’s with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. This year, the Kansas City Chiefs faced the Philadelphia Eagles, drawing over 100 million viewers. Notable attendees included Donald Trump and Taylor Swift, who received mixed reactions. Kendrick Lamar headlined the halftime show, delivering hits and hinting at rivalries. The night was a blend of sports, celebrity interactions, and unforgettable performances.
The Spectacle of the Super Bowl: An Event Like No Other
The Super Bowl is often hailed as one of the most magnificent sporting events globally, filled with countless narratives that unfold throughout the night. Even if the game itself lacks excitement, as was the case with the Philadelphia Eagles’ clear win over the Kansas City Chiefs this past Sunday, the commercial breaks add an extraordinary flair to the occasion. This year, the advertisement by American mayonnaise brand “Hellmann’s” featured actors Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in a restaurant setting. When Ryan takes her first bite of a sandwich, her ecstatic reaction showcases just how delicious the sauce is, much to Crystal’s embarrassment, reminiscent of their iconic scene in “Harry and Sally” from 1989.
In a playful twist, actress Sydney Sweeney then enters the commercial, pointing to Ryan’s burger and exclaiming, “I want the same as her.” This ad encapsulates the essence of the Super Bowl, where familiar themes are constantly reimagined with new faces.
A Night of Sports and Celebrity Encounters
This year, the showdown featured the Kansas City Chiefs facing off against the Philadelphia Eagles. Advertising slots during the game commanded a staggering price of eight million dollars for just thirty seconds, while an estimated 17 billion dollars was spent on snacks and beverages nationwide. The event attracted over 100 million viewers on television and drew a crowd of more than 70,000 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, among them former President Donald Trump—an interesting twist for someone who has previously made waves in the football world by establishing his own league back in the 1980s.
Trump made history as the first sitting president ever to attend the Super Bowl, participating in a “Pregame Interview” aired by Fox News. Seated in a wood-paneled room, he complimented Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, referring to him simply as “quarterback,” and expressed admiration for Mahomes’ wife, who he noted is a “big Trump fan.”
In contrast, pop sensation Taylor Swift, a friend of Chiefs player Travis Kelce, has been openly critical of Trump, having supported democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the last presidential election. Swift received a mixed reception during the game, as Eagles fans booed her when she appeared on the big screen. With her signature smile, she quipped, “What’s going on?” However, the much-anticipated marriage proposal from bookmakers did not come to fruition.
The musical performances of the evening featured a diverse lineup, including five-time Grammy winner Jon Batiste, who jazzed up the national anthem on the piano, lending it a hotel lobby vibe. Among the crowd were many celebrities from various fields, such as pop icon Lady Gaga, actress Anne Hathaway (cheering for the Eagles), and soccer superstar Lionel Messi. Even FIFA president Gianni Infantino made an appearance, while former tennis champion Roger Federer was spotted on television, teaming up with the character Elmo to promote the Swiss sportswear brand On.
The halftime show was headlined by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, who previously performed with Eminem and Dr. Dre in 2022. During his thirteen-minute set, he delivered several hits, including “Not Like Us,” which recently won five Grammys. The song’s lyrics are noted for taking aim at Canadian rapper Drake, who has been accused of indulging in a lifestyle of excess. Drake’s recent legal action against the music label Universal only adds more fuel to the fire. As Kendrick closed his performance with the opening notes of “Not Like Us,” he remarked, “You know they love to sue.”
As the halftime spectacle concluded, the phrase “Game Over” loomed large in the stands, leaving the audience to ponder its meaning. Was it a jab at Drake following the lyrical diss, or a harbinger of the Chiefs’ struggles, who were already facing a daunting deficit by halftime?