#super-bowl-ad-controversy

#super-bowl-ad-controversy

Before LGBTQ+-themed commercials became common during the Super Bowl - from lesbian weddings for Volkswagen and drag queens for Sabra hummus, to gay dads for Coca-Cola - there was Gay Vague. Back in 1997, when comedian Ellen DeGeneres changed TV history and came out as gay on her sitcom and in life, I wrote in Advertising Age how Volkswagen (VW) ran a commercial with two guys who pick up a used chair to take home together.

These ads avoid the explicit "weight loss" pitches of the past, like the days of Jenny Craig. Many ads never even say the word "weight," it is simply implied. Instead, these brands frame GLP-1s as a route to better healthcare and medical well-being, positioning them as an easy step to "take charge of your health." While the message is polished, the subtext is the same: losing weight leads to confidence, health, and self-worth.

OpenAI has officially begun testing ads in ChatGPT, and the executive behind them is working to convince users that not only is this new development in keeping with the company's lofty goals, it'll actually make ChatGPT better for most people.

With Super Bowl 60 done and dusted, YouTube has revealed the winners of its AdBlitz showcase, which highlighted all of the ad campaigns for the game, which was held on Feb. 8. Ads were ranked based on views and engagement before, during and after the game, highlighting both in-game and digital-first advertisers between Feb. 1 and Feb. 12. The insights can provide important lessons for brands in terms of what people are watching and engaging with, as well as what approaches grab the most attention.