Explicitly LGBTQ moments have become a regular part of the Super Bowl broadcast in recent years, from Lady Gaga‘s inclusion of they lyric “No matter gay, straight, or bi / Lesbian, transgendered life” in her 2017 halftime show, to the ads. Lots of ads. Lots of gay-inclusive ads.
We anticipated another post this year collecting all the gay over-and-undertones, but in the end it was all fairly… straight.
There was one ad, though, that stood out from the pack as we sifted through material, panning for gay gold.
Related: Super Bowl fans thought they’d found the perfect bar, but was a VERY different sort of ‘Eagle’
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
The spot was produced by the NFL and features two football legends–NY Giants quarterback Eli Manning and wide receiver Odell Backham Jr.–in a Dirty Dancing-style dance routine.
Homophobia in sports remains a huge cultural hurdle, from little leagues to the major leagues. So a little on-screen romance between two of football’s biggest stars, aimed at the broadest national audience there is, can go a long way.
Watch the ad below, and find out if they nail the lift at the end (they do):
AtlGuy67
The bad dancing was a HUGE turn-off.
jhon_siders
Hey its most likely str8 guys in the commercial and you know str8 guys cant dance !!
Bryguyf69
Speaking for the heterosexual minority on Queerty, I LOVED it. Loved loved loved it. It was goofy, unexpected and whimsical. The interracial aspect was an added bonus.
tnguy222
Aye boy, does your daddy let you date? I bet we’d have fun together.
Sam6969
and gay-friendly?
He BGB
As a child I thought dancing was just moving around to the beat but as I got older realized it’s very sexual, foreplay in a way. It takes two to tango so when I saw this, I thought, we’ve come a long way and I’m glad there are straight guys confident in their sexual identity to do this now.
Jaxton
How is this a GLBTQ moment? There is nothing GLBTQ about it. Liberals love their labels, don’t they?
DCguy
Awww, leave it to a Republican to get offended at two men dancing together.
ShowMeGuy
There is nothing *gay* about this commercial.
JaredMacBride
103 million people didn’t tune in to watch this “gayest moment” which wasn’t even gay. We were watching a football game.
Xzamilloh
When I see “gay” and “ODell Beckham” I expect to see something gay. I don’t care if this was clickbait, it was homophobic and I am suing the Internet for hate speech, and I’m voting for Trump in 2020!!!
Josh447
Hmm they were dancing to the love song with the lyrics:
I’ve had the time of my life
No I never felt this way before
Yes I swear it’s the truth
And I owe it all to you…
Yep
Sooooo not gay!
johnnymcmxxx
Why is he so clumsy? I thought all football players took ballet to be more graceful. This ox is an oaf.
draven
I loved this. Awesome. I don’t watch super bowl because I’m not a fan of football. Boring. But I did see this commercial the next day. Odell Beckham is so gorgeous. I simply adore him. If he plays on our team (team gay) even more awesome! He’s great. I like Eli Manning too. Greatest commercial ever!!!! Thanks tv.
draven
Odell Beckham one of the most beautiful man on earth. Along with my boyfriend and me. Lol. #notvain
draven
Odell Beckham one of the most beautiful men on earth along with my boyfriend and myself. lol #notvain. lol
o.codone
Odell is a cutie pie. Manning, not so much. I’d dance with either, or even both at the same time.
randeman
I thought it was kind of funny. Yeah, the guys have all the grace of a charging rhino, but so what? That’s a huge chunk of the funny!