The most important thing about American football’s biggest night of the year? It’s the celebrity appearances, of course.
Forget the score, the winners, the trophy – even without the Taylor Swiftfactor of this year’s event, the Super Bowl always makes headlines for the halftime show (Usher and friends), the A-lister adverts (Posh and Becks, Ben Affleck), and the stars in the crowd (see below).
Here are the celebs who showed up to the NFL game in Las Vegas this year – including those hanging out in Suite Swift.
First up…
Image: Pic: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
Starting with the star of the show (sorry, Kansas City Chiefs), it’s Swift herself. The 34-year-old made the epic journey from Japan after performing four shows there as part of her Eras Tour (a week on from making history at the Grammys) to watch her boyfriend and Chiefs star Travis Kelce in action against the San Francisco 49ers. It must be love.
The star was filmed hugging and kissing Kelce on the pitch after the Chiefs became the first back-to-back Super Bowl winners for 19 years with a 25-22 victory in overtime.
Blake Lively
Image: Pic: Reuters
Hollywood actress Blake Lively was pictured arriving with Swift and the singer’s mother, Andrea Swift. Before the game kicked off, Swift and Lively were seen hugging as US rapper and singer Post Malone performed America The Beautiful.
Lively was also there to see her husband Ryan Reynolds in action as the first-look trailer of Deadpool & Wolverine, also featuring Hugh Jackman, aired on the big screen.
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Paul McCartney
Image: Pic: Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty
Room for a Beatles legend? Sir Paul McCartney was also pictured with Swift during the event, meeting Kelce’s father, Ed.
The meeting between Swift and Sir Paul marked a reunion for the pair after they teamed up for a wide-ranging conversation for Rolling Stone’s Musicians on Musicians series in 2020 – and he credited her as the inspiration for one of his songs, Who Cares, on album Egypt Station.
Ice Spice
Image: Pic: Reuters
Ice Spice joined Swift on the Grammy nominations list for their collab Karma, which was shortlisted for best pop duo/group performance, and the rapper was also nominated for other prizes including best new artist.
She has attended a handful of award shows alongside Swift in the past few months, including the MTV VMAs as well as the Grammys, and joined the star in her suite to cheer on Kelce.
Lana Del Rey
Image: Pic: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports/ Reuters
When Lana Del Rey was pictured greeting her friend Swift from outside the superstar’s suite, the internet reacted: why wasn’t she invited? Because she’s a 49ers fan?
Well, the internet needn’t have been so concerned as she made it in the end – but was filmed getting knocked over during celebrations for the Chiefs.
Jay-Z and Beyonce
Image: Pic: AP/George Walker IV
US rapper Jay-Z snapped pictures of his daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi on the pitch before the game kicked off and he took his seat beside wife Beyonce – who took the opportunity to make a big announcement.
The star teased a new album, the second act of her Renaissance project, during a Super Bowl advert, telling co-star Tony Hale: “Okay, they ready. Drop the new music.”
A video was posted on her Instagram account teasing “Act ii” just moments after the advert aired, and two songs – Texas Hold ‘Em and 16 Carriages – were released, with the album appearing to be a move into country.
Paul Rudd
Image: Pic: PA
Hollywood star Paul Rudd was arguably the Kansas City Chiefs’ most famous diehard famous fan, until Swift showed up.
He appeared on the field sporting a moustache, alongside his teenage son Jack.
Justin Bieber
Image: Pic: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports/ Reuters
Pop star Justin Bieber had been rumoured to appear as a guest singer during Usher’s half-time show.
Instead, he made an appearance as a fan with his wife, model Hailey Bieber, and both were filmed dancing during Usher’s performance.
Jeff Goldblum (and Leonardo Di Caprio, somewhere)
Image: Pic: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio was in attendance at the game, dressed in a black baseball cap, but dipped his face out of view when he was shown on the big screen.
In contrast, Jurassic Park star Jeff Goldblum stood up and made a heart shape with his hands – he’s clearly a Swiftie.
Lady Gaga
Image: Pic: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
Former half-time show star Lady Gaga was also there, showing her allegiance in a glittering 49ers jacket. Better luck next time.
Despite The Who’s Quadrophenia being set over 60 years ago, Pete Townshend’s themes of identity, mental health, and modern masculinity are just as relevant today.
The album is having a renaissance as Pete Townshend’s Quadrophenia A Mod ballet is being brought to life via dance at Sadler’s Wells East, and Sky News has an exclusive first look.
As Townshend puts it, the album he wrote is “perfect” for the stage.
Image: Pete Townshend
“My wife Rachel did the orchestration for me, and as soon as I heard it I said to her it would make a fabulous ballet and we never really let that go,” he tells Sky News.
“Heavy percussion, concussive sequences. They’re explosive moments. They’re also romantic movement moments.”
If you identify with the demographics of Millennial, Gen Y or Gen Z, you might not be familiar with The Who and Mod culture.
But in post-war Britain the Mods were a cultural phenomenon characterised by fashion, music, and of course, scooters. The young rebels were seen as a counter-culture to the establishment and The Who, with Roger Daltry’s lead vocals and Pete Townshend’s writing, were the soundtrack.
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Quadrophenia the album is widely regarded as an essay on the British adolescent experience at the time, focusing on the life of fictional protagonist Jimmy – a young Mod struggling with his sanity, self-doubt, and alienation.
Townshend sets the rock opera in 1965 but thinks its themes of identity, mental health, and modern masculinity are just as relevant today.
He says: “The phobias and the restrictions and the unwritten laws about how young men should behave. The ground that they broke, that we broke because I was a part of it.
“Men were letting go of [the] wartime-related, uniform-related stance that if I wear this kind of outfit it makes me look like a man.”
Image: Paris Fitzpatrick and Pete Townshend. Pic: Johan Persson
This struggle of modern masculinity and identity appears to be echoing today as manosphere influencers like Andrew Tate, incel culture, and Netflix’s Adolescence make headlines.
For dancer Paris Fitzpatrick, who takes on the lead role of Jimmy, the story resonates.
Image: Paris Fitzpatrick, who takes on the lead role of Jimmy in the ballet
“I think there’s a connection massively and I think there may even be a little more revival in some way,” he tells Sky News.
“I love that myself. I love non-conforming to gender norms and typical masculinity; I think it’s great to challenge things.”
Despite the album being written before he was born, the dancer says he was familiar with the genre already.
“I actually did an art GCSE project about Mods and rockers and Quadrophenia,” he says.
“I think we’ll be able to bring it to new audiences and hopefully, maybe people will be inspired to to learn more about their music and the whole cultural movement of the early 60s.”
In 1979, the album was adapted into a film directed by Franc Roddam starring Ray Winstone and Sting but Townshend admits because the film missed key points he is “not a big fan”.
“What it turned out to be in the movie was a story about culture, about social scenario and less about really the specifics of mental illness and how that affects young people,” he adds, also complimenting Roddam’s writing for the film.
Perhaps a testament to Pete Townshend’s creativity, Quadrophenia started as an album, was successfully adapted to film and now it will hit the stage as a contemporary ballet.
It appears that over six decades later Mod culture is still cool and their issues still relatable.
Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet will tour to Plymouth Theatre Royal from 28 May to 1 June 2025, Edinburgh Festival Theatre from 10 to 14 June 2025 and the Mayflower, Southampton from 18 to 21 June 2025 before having its official opening at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London on 24 June running to 13 July 2025 and then visiting The Lowry, Salford from 15 to 19 July 2025.
Russell Brand has been charged with rape and two counts of sexual assault between 1999 and 2005.
The Metropolitan Police say the 50-year-old comedian, actor and author has also been charged with one count of oral rape and one count of indecent assault.
The charges relate to four women.
He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday 2 May.
Police have said Brand is accused of raping a woman in the Bournemouth area in 1999 and indecently assaulting a woman in the Westminster area of London in 2001.
He is also accused of orally raping and sexually assaulting a woman in Westminster in 2004.
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Ashna Hurynag discusses Russell Brand’s charges
The fourth charge alleges that a woman was sexually assaulted in Westminster between 2004 and 2005.
Police began investigating Brand, from Oxfordshire, in September 2023 after receiving a number of allegations.
The comedian has denied the accusations and said he has “never engaged in non-consensual activity”.
He added in a video on X: “Of course, I am now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”
Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who is leading the investigation, said: “The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers.
“The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police.”
Tom Cruise has paid tribute to Val Kilmer, wishing his Top Gun co-star “well on the next journey”.
Cruise, speaking at the CinemaCon film event in Las Vegas on Thursday, asked for a moment’s silence to reflect on the “wonderful” times shared with the star, whom he called a “dear friend”.
Kilmer, who died of pneumonia on Tuesday aged 65, rocketed to fame starring alongside Cruise in the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun, playing Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky, a rival fighter pilot to Cruise’s character Maverick.
Image: Tom Cruise said ‘I wish you well on the next journey’. Pic: AP
Image: Val Kilmer in 2017. Pic: AP
His last part was a cameo role in the 2022 blockbuster sequel Top Gun: Maverick.
Cruise, on stage at Caesars Palace on Thursday, said: “I’d like to honour a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer. I can’t tell you how much I admire his work, how grateful and honoured I was when he joined Top Gun and came back later for Top Gun: Maverick.
“I think it would be really nice if we could have a moment together because he loved movies and he gave a lot to all of us. Just kind of think about all the wonderful times that we had with him.
“I wish you well on the next journey.”
The moment of silence followed a string of tributes from Hollywood figures including Cher, Francis Ford Coppola, Antonio Banderas and Michelle Monaghan.
Kilmer’s daughter Mercedes told the New York Times on Wednesday that the actor had died from pneumonia.
Image: Tom Cruise at Caesars Palace on Thursday. Pic: AP
Diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, Kilmer discussed his illness and recovery in his 2020 memoir Your Huckleberry and Amazon Prime documentary Val.
He underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments for the disease and also had a tracheostomy which damaged his vocal cords and permanently gave him a raspy speaking voice.
Kilmer played Batman in the 1995 film Batman Forever and received critical acclaim for his portrayal of rock singer Jim Morrison in the 1991 movie The Doors.
He also starred in True Romance and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, as well as playing criminal Chris Shiherlis in Michael Mann’s 1995 movie Heat and Doc Holliday in the 1993 film Tombstone.
In 1988 he married British actress Joanne Whalley, whom he met while working on fantasy adventure Willow.
The couple had two children before divorcing in 1996.