FanDuel is 'adjusting' its Carl Weathers Super Bowl ad after actor's death

The company is making some changes "out of respect for the family during their time of grief."

Online sports gambling platform FanDuel has announced that it will be adjusting its 2024 Super Bowl ad featuring Carl Weathers in the wake of the actor’s death on Thursday.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Carl Weathers,” the company told EW in a statement. “Throughout his life, Carl was an iconic talent who had a profound impact on the people he worked with on and off the screen.”

It continued, “FanDuel was fortunate to have had an opportunity to work with him during our Super Bowl campaign. We are adjusting our campaign accordingly out of respect for the family during their time of grief."

Carl Weathers attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel
Carl Weathers.

Jeff Spicer/Getty for Disney

FanDuel shared a sneak peek in January of the Super Bowl commercial, which featured Rob Gronkowski despondently walking toward Vegas to make things right after he infamously missed the “FanDuel kick of destiny” last year.

Weathers then intercepts the former NFL star, pulling up on a motorcycle with a sidecar and declaring, “This time, you won’t miss.” The pair can then be seen speeding through the desert together.

Weathers, an actor and former pro football player best known for his role as Apollo Creed in the Rocky films, died peacefully in his sleep at 76 on Thursday.

In a statement, his family recalled Weathers as being “an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life.”

They continued, “Through his contributions to film, television, the arts, and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner, and friend."

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Related content:

Related Articles