2017 Super Bowl: the highlights and most WTF moments

From Lady Gaga's performance to Gisele's Instagram feed...

2017 Super Bowl

From Lady Gaga's performance to Gisele's Instagram feed...

Last weekend saw the 2017 Super Bowl take place in Houston, Texas, the annual National Football League championship game seeing the New England Patriots win in a stunning victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

We know the annual US event best, however, for its moving adverts, celebrity fans and of course the infamous half-time show - with past acts including Beyoncé, Diana Ross and Prince.

This year is said to have been one of the most memorable, and not just because of the epic comeback and last minute Patriots win.

Here are the highlights and most WTF moments of last night’s Super Bowl…

HIGHLIGHT Lady Gaga’s halftime performance Lady Gaga was this year’s Super Bowl halftime act, bucking the show’s tradition of collaborating with multiple artists. Beyoncé, Bruno Mars and Chris Martin performed together in 2016 and Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake paired up back in 2004, but this year Lady Gaga took to the stage alone, and absolutely nailed it. From her grand entrance, making a political statement by flying in singing 'God Bless America' and 'This Land is Your Land', to her mic drop at the end of the 13 minute set, Gaga pulled out all the stops. She even opened up the roof at the NRG stadium and brought in drones.

A photo posted by on

Gaga had everyone at home fooled that she jumped off the roof of the stadium for her grand entrance. We were all in awe/had that slightly fluttery, nauseated feeling in the pit of our stomachs as she jumped from the platform and descended to the stage.

But it turns out the jump was in fact pre-recorded. Lady Gaga is pretty fearless, so you can't blame us for thinking it is something she would do. Re-watch her 'Spiderman' style entrance below.

WTF Tom Brady on a lead A photo went viral of Tom Brady walking backstage, attached to a resistance band that was being held by his trainer, Guerriro. Despite the resistance band actually being used for his workout, it looked a lot like he was being taken for a walk on a dog lead, and the internet loved it.

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HIGHLIGHT Political adverts The Super Bowl is known for its half time adverts, usually opting for heartwarming content that goes viral online. This year, however, the adverts took on a political angle with major companies like Coca Cola and Budweiser using their screen-time during the game to promote unity. AirBnB delivered a particularly moving ad, making an obvious dig at Trump’s latest travel ban, using the hashtag #weaccept. 84 Lumber also followed suit, using their advert to make a statement, following the story of a mother and child crossing the border.

WTF Donald Trump Donald Trump gave a controversial pre-game interview at the Super Bowl where he talked about his ‘admiration’ for Vladimir Putin. He then threw a Super Bowl party at Trump International Golf Club but left early, supposedly because the Patriots were losing so badly, then missing his team’s stunning comeback and last minute win.

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HIGHLIGHT Gisele’s Instagram The Brazilian model showed her support for husband and quarterback for the New England Patriots, Tom Brady, posting this adorable snap to Instagram of the main women in Brady’s life. The group posed in matching t-shirts with ‘Brady’s Ladies’ printed on the back, with his daughter and friends wearing t-shirts sporting the phrase ‘Brady’s Little Ladies’. Too cute.

A photo posted by on

WTF Random celebrity spots There are plenty of die-hard celebrity Super Bowl fans from Mark Wahlberg and Matt Damon to Elizabeth Banks and Justin Bieber, but last night saw a few celebrity spots that we definitely weren’t expecting, most notably Elton John and John Travolta.

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HIGHLIGHT Hamilton cast performance The original cast of the Tony Award-winning musical, Hamilton, sang a breathtaking rendition of ‘America the beautiful.’ Phillipa Soo, Jasmine Cephas Jones and Renee Elise Goldsberry, who play the Schuyler sisters in the show, took to the Super Bowl stage, making a political statement by adding the phrase ‘and sisterhood’ to the original line ‘crown they good with brotherhood…from sea to shining sea.’ The Houston crowd and everyone at home loved it.

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Jenny Proudfoot
Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.