Kanye West – Yeezy 2024
‘s 30 second Super Bowl LVIII for his Yeezy fashion line in 2024 raised a few eyebrows The advert cost almost $7 million but the rapper claimed all the money went on the slot and he appeared to have filmed the commercial on his phone camera from the backseat of a car.
“Hey y’all, this is Ye, and this is my commercial,” he said. “And since we spent all the money on the commercial spot, we actually – we didn’t spend any money on the actual commercial. But the idea is I want you to go to Yeezy.com,” he said.
(Image: Getty)
The adverts have become as much of a talking point as the game itself and securing one of the coveted slots is guaranteed to raise any brands profile.
The cost of a 30-second slot for this year’s championship is estimated to average $8 million so advertisters obviously want to make a mark and get plenty of bang for their buck. However sometimes that desire causes them to lose sight of good taste and the brand can often be overshadowed by a whacky or just lewd idea.
Numerous ads have been banned over the years for everything from flashing the flesh to accusations of racism. Even ads that do make it to air are often not without their controversies.
Cardi B’s 2024 Nyx cosmetics advert was cut in half at the NFL’s request due to it’s suggestive tone while Robert Kenney Jr.’s ad the same year drew criticism from his own family as it featured images of assainated US president John F. Kennedy.
Here are just a few of the most controversial clips either aired or banned by Super Bowl.
Mickey Rooney for Airborne – 2005
Classic movie star Mickey Rooney caused furore when he briefly flashed his buttocks in an advert for the cold remedy Airborne. Fox banned the clip which saw him sitting in a steam-filled sauna when a woman coughs. Shocked, he dashes out, dropping his towel and momentarily exposing his rear before fleeing.
(Image: Airborne)
Jesus hates Barack Obama for Richard Belfry – 2011
An advert titled Jesus Hates Obama was deemed not suitable for the Super Bowl airwaves by Fox in 2011. It showed bobble-head figurines of the then American president and an exasperated-looking Jesus set to the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Barack’s figure ends up falling into a fishbowl, prompting a pleased grin from Jesus. Comedian Richard Belfry claimed it was intended to be humorous, poking fun at the Obama administration while promoting his website’s merchandise.
“Do I really believe that Jesus hates Obama? Absolutely not,” he said. But his pleas fell on deaf ears and the advert didn’t air.
(Image: JesusHatesObama.com)
Robert Kennedy Jr American Values Presidential bid – 2024
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. came under fire ffrom his own family for his Super Bowl advert which was created by the political action committee American Values2024. Bobby Shriver, late President John F. Kennedy’s nephew wrote in a post on X: “My cousin’s Super Bowl ad used our uncle’s faces – and my Mother’s. She would be appalled by his deadly health care view.”
Robert subsequently apologised saying: “I’m so sorry if the Super Bowl advertisement caused anyone in my family pain.”
(Image: Getty)
Cardi B for NYX cosmetics – 2024
Cardi B’s very suggestive ad for a lip plumping gloss by NYX was cut to 15 seconds at the last minute in order to make it to air. Yasmin Dastmalchi, general manager USA at NYX Professional Makeup said of the furore: ” As a female-led brand with female creators behind the work, we’re proud of our creative idea, which flips the script on male stereotypes with lighthearted humor.”
The new version of the ad featured a QR code viewers could use to access the full unedited ad.
(Image: NYX)