Taylor Swift, Blake Lively caught hugging during Post Malone’s folky ‘America the Beautiful’ — see their shocked on-camera reaction
This Super Bowl cameraman should get a raise.
Taylor Swift and Blake Lively were spotted embracing Sunday night during Post Malone’s rather folky rendition of “America the Beautiful” — and looked shocked when they were shown on the jumbotron.
The singer, 34, who jetted in from Los Angeles after performing in her Eras Tour in Tokyo, donned a sheer black crop top and matching black jeans while Lively, 36, wore an all-red tracksuit.
Malone, for his part, wore a simple outfit of blue jeans and a brown suede jacket, while treating viewers to a very scaled-down version of the iconic song.
“POST ATE,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“About time a really talented artist performed at the Super Bowl,” another person said.
“Post Malone performed a song tonight so no matter who wins it’s a W in my book,” a third added.
Other viewers were not as thrilled by the singer’s performance.
“Forgive my ignorance . . . when did Post Malone go country?” one user snarked.
“Post Malone singing America the Beautiful with a guitar and auto-tune was boo boo,” a second person remarked.
“Lol, going from TRAP music to full-on yeehaw is such an interesting pivot by Post Malone,” a third user snorted.
Malone, born Austin Richard Post, revealed that he was tapped to sing last month.
“America The Beautiful LIVE at the @SuperBowl LVIII Pregame!!!” the “Sunflower” crooner, 28, posted on X.
Malone joined country music icon Reba McEntire and R&B singer Andra Day, who performed the national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” prior to the game’s 6:30 p.m. kickoff, respectively.
The Grammy winner is no stranger to the mayhem that is Super Bowl Sunday, which saw the Kansas City Chiefs best the San Fransisco 49ers.
In addition to performing at the start of the evening, Malone appeared in a commercial with NFL legend Peyton Manning — and a T. rex for the beer company Bud Light.
The commercial, which came out on Tuesday, features the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback, 47, and a group of buddies who awaken the Bud Light genie and begin making ridiculous wishes.
“Wishes is my thing,” the tracksuit-clad man says.
After rattling a series of requests ranging from “80s hair” to “a sweet” ride, one Denver Bronco-clad fan says: “I wish Peyton Manning was my best friend,” prompting the Hall of Famer to appear.
Another friend manages to zap the rapper into existence after telling the genie, “I want Post Malone.”
The wishes begin to spiral out of control with Manning himself getting in on the action by demanding a house party where Malone takes center stage.
Everything seems to even out until a massive T. rex stumbles upon the party.
“Who asked for a T. rex?” one person asks.
“Guilty,” replied the “Go Flex” singer.
Malone released a statement about his involvement in a third advertisement for the beer company.
“I’m here for the three-peat, and stoked to be back with Bud Light for my third Super Bowl commercial,” Malone, who starred in the company’s 2021 and 2020 commercials, said.
The tone of the ad is noticeably different, as the company struggled to rebound after their failed marketing attempt with TikToker Dylan Mulvaney set sales plummeting.
