Kanye West Stars in Low-Budget Yeezy Super Bowl Commercial After Blowing Airtime Budget
Kanye West made waves during the Super Bowl with an unconventional Yeezy commercial, filmed on his phone, after reportedly overspending on airtime.
A 30-second slot during the Super Bowl commands a staggering $7 million, yet West opted for a grassroots approach, airing the ad only in Chicago and Miami.
In the commercial, West addresses viewers directly, showcasing his new Yeezy Pod sneakers while candidly admitting, “We spent all the money on the commercial spot, so we didn’t spend any money on the actual commercial.”
The spot directs viewers to Yeezy.com, promoting the Yeezy Pod, a recently unveiled sock-like shoe originally priced at $200. Notably, all items on the Yeezy website, including merchandise for his latest album collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign, Vultures 1, are currently priced at $20.
In an excerpt from an upcoming interview with Justin Laboy, West elaborated on his decision to slash prices, citing a desire to democratize fashion: “I’m a bit of a Robin Hood… Did I bring the designs back down to earth? As much as I could.”
Earlier, West teased another Super Bowl commercial featuring a woman in a “WET” tank top on a treadmill, set to his track “Back to Me” from Vultures 1, though it appears this spot was not aired.
West’s eventful weekend included the release of Vultures 1 on streaming platforms, albeit with some hiccups, as the album faced delays on Spotify and temporary removal from Apple Music.
Controversy also arose surrounding the album, with the estate of Donna Summer alleging that West sampled her classic track “I Feel Love” without permission on his song “Good (Don’t Die).” The estate claimed that despite being denied permission, West proceeded to use the song, sparking allegations of copyright infringement.
