Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson was loud and brash when he played in the NFL, someone who made a show of his post-score antics and was definitely hit with a few excessive celebration penalties. As an ex-player, he’s still plenty raucous, shouting his opinions over social media whether you like them or not.
Now, Johnson is being joined by Grammy Award-winning artist Tobe Nwigwe to speak out in a musical way about a penalty that just might be a little too strict for the city that’s hosting the Super Bowl for the first time.
Las Vegas, the official host city of Super Bowl 58, has launched a petition on Change.org urging football fans to encourage excessive celebrations. The petition is accompanied by a music video featuring Johnson and Nwigwe, who rap about the city and all its excesses, encouraging people to enjoy themselves to the fullest. While it doesn’t call out the excessive celebration penalty, it does say that everyone in Las Vegas must be allowed to celebrate freely on Feb. 11, 2024.
The petition is a nod to the fact that while professional sports often restrict excessive celebrations, they are always encouraged in Las Vegas. “Whether you are on the Strip, in the stadiums or just here for a good time, Las Vegas will forever be the home of excessive celebration,” reads part of the petition.
Las Vegas is coming to the Super Bowl
Garrett Jones, group creative director at R&R Partners, the agency that developed the campaign, was tasked with bringing the concept of Las Vegas happening to the Super Bowl rather than the Super Bowl happening to Las Vegas—in other words, the vibe of the city is going to make this Big Game unique.
“The stance is unlike any other city. The celebration is just as important as the win,” Jones told Adweek.
The 90-second hero music video includes recreations of some of Johnson’s most iconic on-field moments, including his impromptu marriage proposal, river dance and Hall of Fame jacket moment. The music video was shot in iconic locations across Las Vegas including Allegiant Stadium, Caesars Palace and the Fremont Street Experience, and it’s just as over-the-top as you’d expect a video about Vegas to be.
The accompanying soundtrack includes an original track by Nwigwe, who was once a college football star being considered for the NFL Draft before an injury.
