The Weeknd's masked dancers provoked social media conversation; Gisele Bundchen cheered on husband Tom Brady; and Amanda Gorman's Super Bowl poetry was much-discussed online.
The Weeknd's masked dancers provoked social media conversation; Gisele Bundchen cheered on husband Tom Brady; and Amanda Gorman's Super Bowl poetry was much-discussed online.
The Weeknd's masked dancers provoked social media conversation; Gisele Bundchen cheered on husband Tom Brady; and Amanda Gorman's Super Bowl poetry was much-discussed online.
The Weeknd's masked dancers provoked social media conversation; Gisele Bundchen cheered on husband Tom Brady; and Amanda Gorman's Super Bowl poetry was much-discussed online.

Super Bowl LV: Celebrity reactions to the American football game, from President Joe Biden to Amanda Gorman


Farah Andrews
  • English
  • Arabic

The Super Bowl, the biggest sporting and entertainment event on the US calendar, has wrapped up for another year, with Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the American football showdown.

Every year, the annual championship game of the National Football League sparks a lot of conversation – be it about the commercials, the half-time show or on-pitch action – and celebrities are certainly not exempt.

Here we round up what the stars had to say about Super Bowl LV, from the personal to the political:

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen was, of course, cheering for her husband, Tom Brady, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who went on to win the game.

Pre-game, she posed in Tampa Bay Buccaneers gear, captioning her Instagram shot: "Let’s go Bucs!!!!!!! Let’s go papai!!"

She also tweeted her support throughout the game.

President Joe Biden tweeted his congratulations after the game, describing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as "a team whose season was a story of resilience, reinvention, and grit".

Much of the conversation centred on Amanda Gorman's delivery of her original poem, Chorus of the Captains.

Actress Leslie Grossman wrote: "I think it's very cool they are playing a football game to celebrate the Amanda Gorman poetry reading."

Tennis star Billie Jean King said Gorman "shines again".

US TV anchor Amaka Ubaka reflected on the fact that, for many, poetry at the Super Bowl was something that would never happen.

Gorman herself said: "Poetry at the Super Bowl is a feat for art and our country."

Many others reacted to The Weeknd's halftime show, including soul diva – and prolific tweeter – Dionne Warwick, who wrote: "Well done @theweeknd. Loved the set and pyros. You looked and sounded great! A Big Hug and Loud Applause!!"

Toronto Mayor John Tory took the opportunity to congratulate the Canadian rapper, describing him as "making Toronto proud".

Jersey Shore's Pauly D had a more light-hearted take:

Author Elan Gale took the opportunity to remind people to wear masks, pointing out that The Weeknd's dancers were doing exactly that.

The Weeknd's dancers looked like this, in case you need a visual reminder:

The Weeknd performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl 55. AP Photo
The Weeknd performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl 55. AP Photo

Of course, there were more political takes on the night. Mariah Carey described Super Bowl Sunday as "Colin Kaepernick Appreciation Day" in a tweet.

Writer and professor Robert Reich echoed Carey's sentiments, writing: "On Super Bowl Sunday, it's a good time to salute @Kaepernick7 for his leadership, courage, and sacrifice."

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Read more: 

Prince, Gaga and more: 7 of the most memorable moments from Super Bowl halftime shows

How old is Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Google releases top Super Bowl LV searches

From ‘The Replacements’ to ‘The Blind Side’: 5 American football films to get you ready for Super Bowl weekend

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UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

One in nine do not have enough to eat

Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.

One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.

The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.

Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.

It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.

On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.

Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.

 

Brief scores:

Manchester City 2

Gundogan 27', De Bruyne 85'

Crystal Palace 3

Schlupp 33', Townsend 35', Milivojevic 51' (pen)

Man of the Match: Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace)