While the Grammy-winning artist HER strummed her heart on the guitar before the 2021 Super Bowl, viewers’ eyes were focused on some apparent product placement going on behind her.
The artist was there to sing “America the Beautiful” before Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan sang the National Anthem to start the coin toss and kick-start. Although her performance received much praise on social media, the immensely talented artist was somewhat overshadowed when fans noticed a man in the crowd behind her.
The rather cheeky man, wearing beige trousers and a blue striped polo shirt, was holding a can of Vodka Mule which, at one point, he moved to ensure that the tag was on the camera just above HER right shoulder.
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HER performs “America the Beautiful” before the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, February 7, 2021, in Tampa, Florida.
(AP Photo / Gregory Bull)
“A new way to get product placement in the Super Bowl. Buy the good seats behind the opening act. Did you get the guy with the Vodka Mule in the background?” a user wrote.
“Did that guy get paid for placing a can of vodka mule?” another user meditated.
“That guy behind her is definitely working for that mule vodka company,” a third user wrote.
“HER singing” America the Beautiful “while a guy in line behind a mule vodka drink logo is America in 2021,” a more sarcastic user added.
“Ayyy Vodka Mule receiving free advertising,” wrote another.
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“For the man behind # HERMusicx – put down your can of Mule Vodka. 1) Allow the woman to have her moment, this is not about you 2) This drink is not something to brag about,” added a user who was not amused.
For those unfamiliar, the drink is a product from Cutwater, which incorporates ginger, bitters, lemon and vodka to take a spin on the popular party drink known as Moscow Mule.
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The NFL announced that HER would open the Super Bowl with a performance of “America the Beautiful” on January 19. HER won two Grammys in 2019 and received critical acclaim for his live performances, including his work as a guitarist. She won awards at the MTV Video Music Awards, BET Awards and Soul Train Music Awards and released R&B hits such as “Focus”, “Best Part”, “Slide”, “Damage” and “BS” with Jhené Aiko.
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“HER joins award-winning and critically acclaimed ‘America the Beautiful’ artists such as: Yolanda Adams, Leslie Odom Jr, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Phillipa Soo, Jasmine Cephas Jones and Alicia Keys,” said the organization in its announcement at the time.