Beyoncé Teams Up with Tony Hale in Surprise Super Bowl Ad for Verizon
Beyoncé, the iconic pop star, surprised her fans on Super Bowl Sunday with a Verizon ad that not only announced her upcoming project, “Renaissance Act II,” but also dropped two brand-new country songs. However, it wasn’t just the music that had fans buzzing. In a delightful twist, Beyoncé appeared in the commercial alongside Tony Hale, known for his roles in “Veep” and “Arrested Development.”
Hale, who has made a name for himself playing awkward and offbeat characters overshadowed by powerful women, found himself right at home by Beyoncé’s side. Reflecting on his collaboration with the pop star, he humorously remarked, “It’s a forte of mine.” Although he wasn’t sure how much Beyoncé knew about his work, he felt a sense of camaraderie with her. “We really didn’t have much time to chat,” he laughed. “I didn’t ask her, ‘Have you seen my work?'”
Leading up to the Super Bowl, Verizon had been dropping hints about a Beyoncé ad. Teasers featuring Hale showcased his efforts at a lemonade stand, referencing Beyoncé’s 2016 album “Lemonade” and the song “Hold Up.” Another teaser featured Hale conversing with ReNeigh, the giant crystal horse from the 2023 Renaissance World Tour.
During the Super Bowl commercial, viewers witnessed Hale trying to keep up with Beyoncé’s relentless attempts to “break” Verizon’s 5G network. The ad showcased a Beyoncé robot, a concert in space, and even Beyoncé’s Twitch account. Finally, at the end of the commercial, Beyoncé declared, “Okay, they’re ready. Drop the new music,” and released her songs “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” on streaming services.
In an exclusive interview with Variety, Hale discussed his experience being a part of Beyoncé’s big moment. He admitted that the pairing of himself and Beyoncé was unexpected but expressed his obsession with it. “We’re the obvious pair!” he exclaimed. Hale found the contrast between Beyoncé’s powerful icon status and his own portrayal of emasculated sidekicks intriguing.
When asked about how the collaboration came about, Hale revealed that it happened quickly. His agent informed him of the possibility to do a Super Bowl ad, and he was thrilled. However, when he learned it was Beyoncé, he was taken aback. Hale’s daughter had recently attended one of Beyoncé’s concerts, and they had watched the “Renaissance” film together. He confessed to being a fan and found the entire experience incredibly cool and exciting.
The most challenging part for Hale was keeping the secret from his daughter. His wife, who worked as a makeup artist on the commercial, also had to remain tight-lipped. For three weeks, they couldn’t mention their involvement to their daughter. When she asked what they were doing, Hale simply replied that they were shooting an industrial for a tech company, and she didn’t think much of it.
Eventually, teasers were released throughout the week leading up to the Super Bowl. Hale’s daughter, who is also a Taylor Swift fan, picked up on the hints and coded messages in the teasers. She texted her father, breaking down the clues she had deciphered. Hale was impressed by her astuteness but had hoped to capture her reaction while watching the Super Bowl. However, teenagers are too smart these days, and she figured it out beforehand.
Hale shared a funny anecdote about a friend who saw one of the teasers featuring lemons and guessed that Martha Stewart was involved. Hale couldn’t help but laugh at the wild guess.
Reflecting on his meeting with Beyoncé on set, Hale described her as the kindest person. Despite her incredible talent and fame, she remained down to earth and approachable. He marveled at the fact that even with the hectic schedule and numerous costume changes, she exuded kindness during their limited time together.
In conclusion, Beyoncé’s surprise Super Bowl ad not only thrilled fans with new music but also showcased her unexpected collaboration with Tony Hale. The commercial, filled with humor and creativity, left viewers eagerly anticipating “Renaissance Act II” and further cemented Beyoncé’s status as a powerful icon in the music industry.