Passing the torch from GOAT to GOATs
Jarryn Shin
Promoting her new album on stage and being discourteous to her peers, Taylor Swift faced another bout of criticism after this year’s Grammy Awards. I’m not here to pick sides, but as I scrolled through TikTok the week following her dub, I noticed that I was witnessing the genesis of Taylor Swift’s fall.
Of course, she will remain iconic. But just as she walked by Celine Dion without much thought, someone else (dare I say Olivia Rodrigo) will soon overlook T. Swift in similar fashion. And I’m seeing this passing of the torch everywhere (Ciao, Messi 😞Hello, Jude 😍).
However, as media outlets and social media continue to fragment social opinions, the way we identify our icons are changing. Nowadays, every opinion has its own corner in social media. It’s how niche talents find their one-of-a-kind audience; it’s where expected talents are constantly getting criticized; it’s the reason why nobodies can become celebrities in 24 hours.
A unanimous GOAT is no longer driven by controlled media like MTV or ESPN, but instead everyone gets a say on who their idol is. And because everyone in this world is different, with different metrics of success, different values, and different interests, this new way of GOAT could be for the better.
Sports Betting Has Taken the Sports World By Storm
Tyrone Pooser
Straight bets, parlays, round robins, and the whole nine. As a big sports fan, I can’t help but notice the gambling takeover of the sports world. I am from South Carolina—where gambling is seen as debaucherous, and therefore is illegal—so after living in NYC for a bit I can’t help but notice that everywhere I look, I see sports betting. It’s almost force-fed to me. I see Drake betting $1.15 million on the superbowl and Young TikTokers trying to pay off student loans with sports betting (relatable). I constantly get parlays from random people on my Twitter feed. And I can't even watch my Chicago Bulls embarrassingly lose to the Detroit Pistons in peace–that Kevin Hart DraftKings ad gets run at least 50 times throughout the game. It also doesn’t help that my friends and I have a "Degenerate Gambling Homie” group chat that is alive and well, and I follow people like @SlopRules on social media.
Shane Gillis recently hosted SNL, and one of my favorites from the night was the Rock Bottom Kings skit that highlights what it would be like to be able to cash in on a friend who is a compulsive gambler. It was absolutely hilarious, and relatable in more ways than one.
This skit made me think though: maybe the sports betting push isn’t cool. As a person who works in advertising, is a big sports fan, and participates in sports betting – I can't help but feel uneasy about the aggressive promotion of sportsbooks and their relentless pursuit of new members. But, they make sure to throw in the gambling helpline number at the end of all the commercials–as if they don’t want you to become a gambling addict who throws them every dime you own. It’s a very predatory business when you think about it, they’re taking full advantage of the get rich quick mentality that a lot of us have in society today.
It’s a real shame, but I’d take the “Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets” promo every time.
We’re Still Not Over the Super Bowl
Dasha Ovsyannikova
We’re still not over all the great ads we saw during the Super Bowl! Scroll through to check out our faves: see how Lay’s Canada aspiring actors auditioned for its Super Bowl commercials; watch Duolingo’s :05 commercial featuring how none other than Duo, the brand’s phenomenal mascot, grows a second head out of his butt (??), and if you’re seeking a little controversy, don’t forget the Cardi B x NYX spot.
In a 60-second experiment, unsuspecting actors become test subjects in a hidden camera commercial. The spot is set out to prove, once and for all, that Lay’s flavor varieties are so good, that people cannot resist even in the most nerve-wracking situations. The catch: any of the actors who try just one flavor can win $1 million prize. The twist: they are, in fact, in the middle of a commercial being recorded. Spoiler alert: nobody won, but the spot was memorable!
Duolingo made waves with a daring ad featuring their mascot growing a second head out of its butt in a five-second spot. Simultaneously, they sent push notifications urging people to “do a lesson now!”. The bold move reflects Duolingo’s unique approach to community-building, culminating in the ad’s success as a testament to its brand identity.
Cardi B’s surprise at men misusing a NYX product may seem feigned, considering the suggestive nature of the ad she stars in for the Duck Plump lip gloss. The commercial humorously depicts men mistaking the gloss for a penis enlarger. This marks Cardi B’s first beauty collab and NYX’s venture into the Super Bowl arena, aligning with other beauty brands targeting the event’s expanding female audience.
Fast Facts: Usher Raymond IV
Usher's Super Bowl 58 Halftime Show was the most viewed ever. But it didn't just get people dancing in their living rooms, it sent them to their Google search bar too.
“Adult piano lessons near me” spiked +250%
“Roller skates” jumped +1,850%
“Were Usher and Alicia Keys together”? trended
“How tall is Usher”? trended