• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Super Bowl 2017

This Will Probably Be the Super Bowl’s Most Controversial Commercial

By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 3, 2017, 11:34 AM ET

Anyone hoping for a respite from America’s increasingly volatile political climate on Super Bowl Sunday is likely to be sorely disappointed.

Beyond the ongoing politicization of the two teams competing in Sunday’s big game, this year’s Super Bowl commercial breaks also appear to hold more political messages than usual. Leading the charge in terms of politically relevant marketing is construction company 84 Lumber, which on Friday released the ad it plans to run during the Super Bowl on Sunday. The commercial is the first ever Super Bowl ad from the Pennsylvania-based company.

The 90-second ad is an immigrant tale that shows a long, difficult journey of a Mexican mother and her daughter as they appear to be attempting to make their way to the U.S.-Mexico border. In January, Fox (FOX) reportedly rejected an earlier version of the commercial, called “The Journey Begins,” for being “too controversial.” As such, the commercial was tweaked and the version that will air on Sunday ends with a cliffhanger, as we don’t see their final destination.

On Friday, 84 Lumber directed viewers to visit the marketing campaign’s website on Sunday, Feb. 5, to see how the ad ends.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

The commercial seems to be a nod to the current debate over immigration in the U.S. and President Donald Trump’s promises to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump was often criticized during his successful presidential campaign for denigrating Mexican immigrants and for repeatedly claiming that he would force Mexico to pay for the border wall. (For what it’s worth, AdWeek raised the possibility that the commercial, and the initial rejection, may have been an attempt at stirring up controversy all along.)

The version of the commercial that will air on Fox on Sunday can be seen here:

The commercial for 84 Lumber is not the only Super Bowl ad this year to appear to take a political stance. Anheuser-Busch (BUD) has an ad that tells the story of the Budweiser brand’s immigrant co-founder, Adolphus Busch, though the company claims the commercial is not a political comment. Meanwhile, Volkswagen’s Audi (VLKAY) released its own Super Bowl ad this week, which features a fairly political message advocating for equal pay for women.

(For a look at Fortune‘s complete list of this year’s Super Bowl ads, click here.)

84 Lumber has not revealed exactly how much it paid for the space to air the 90-second ad, but host network Fox was reportedly charging more than $5 million for each 30-second slot of commercial time, which could put the construction company’s tab at north of $15 million. (And, that’s not even factoring in the additional amounts companies typically spend producing and promoting their high-profile Super Bowl ads.)

About the Author
By Tom Huddleston Jr.
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

A person holding a blue piggy bank
Personal FinanceSavings
Best savings account bonuses for February 2026
By Joseph HostetlerFebruary 5, 2026
7 hours ago
lee
InvestingMarkets
Top analyst Tom Lee on gold’s black swan risk: Elon Musk becoming ‘the new central bank’
By Nick LichtenbergFebruary 5, 2026
8 hours ago
Sam Altman speaking into a mic.
AIOpenAI
OpenAI’s new model leaps ahead in coding capabilities—but raises unprecedented cybersecurity risks
By Sharon GoldmanFebruary 5, 2026
8 hours ago
Real EstateHousing
Rocket CEO says U.S. mortgage industry is a ‘tale of two cities.’ His booming business shows a broader reality for American homebuyers
By Sydney LakeFebruary 5, 2026
8 hours ago
tiktok
CybersecuritySocial Media
Gen Z is rebelling against TikTok USA by installing another app—founded by an Oracle alum
By Nick LichtenbergFebruary 5, 2026
9 hours ago
Healthmattresses
Helix Mattress Review 2026: Tested by Sleep Experts
By Christina SnyderFebruary 5, 2026
10 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Success
After decades in the music industry, Pharrell Williams admits he never stops working: ‘If you do what you love everyday, you’ll get paid for free'
By Emma BurleighFebruary 3, 2026
3 days ago
placeholder alt text
Politics
Peter Thiel warns the Antichrist and apocalypse are linked to the ‘end of modernity’ currently happening—and cites Greta Thunberg as a driving example
By Nick LichtenbergFebruary 4, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Investing
Ray Dalio warns the world is ‘on the brink’ of a capital war of weaponizing money—and gold is the best way for people to protect themselves
By Sasha RogelbergFebruary 4, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Crypto
Bitcoin demand in Nancy Guthrie disappearance shows how crypto is becoming a more frequent feature of physical crimes
By Carlos GarciaFebruary 4, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Investing
Tech stocks go into free fall as it dawns on traders that AI has the ability to cut revenues across the board
By Jim EdwardsFebruary 4, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Commentary
I've studied nonviolent resistance in war zones for 20 years and Minnesota reminds me of Colombia, the Philippines and Syria
By Oliver Kaplan and The ConversationFebruary 3, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.