Lil Wayne’s cetaphil Super Bowl ad: A playful nod to his halftime show snub and a sneaky album tease

Lil Wayne may not have taken the stage at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show, but he certainly made his presence felt. The five-time Grammy-winning rapper is the face of Cetaphil’s latest commercial, a humorous and self-aware ad that playfully references his disappointment over being passed up for the halftime performance in his hometown of New Orleans.

In the Cetaphil commercial, Wayne sits in a recording studio, only to be told by a businessman in a suit that they’re moving “in a different direction,” mirroring the way he felt about the halftime show selection. The ad’s tagline—“Can’t change the sensitive situation? At least you can soothe your sensitive skin”—cleverly ties his personal disappointment to Cetaphil’s skincare products.

Instead of wallowing, Wayne embraces his “Lil Sensitive” side by helping people navigate their own embarrassing or awkward moments with Cetaphil in hand. The commercial features a series of scenarios where individuals experience highly relatable social blunders, only for Wayne to swoop in with Cetaphil to ease their discomfort.

One of the ad’s standout moments takes place in a family home, where a young woman introduces her boyfriend to her father. The boyfriend, “Mike,” accidentally drops his wallet while reaching for a handshake, revealing an unmistakable condom imprint. The father’s disapproving expression sets the stage for Wayne’s timely entrance from the staircase. “Damn, that’s sensitive,” he quips, handing Cetaphil to the embarrassed daughter, who applies it to her face in an attempt to recover from the situation.

Other moments include a woman being rejected on a stadium kiss cam and a man being left high and dry by his friends when the check arrives at a restaurant. Each time, Wayne arrives with a witty remark and a Cetaphil product, reinforcing the commercial’s theme: “We’re all a Lil Sensitive.”

While the ad itself is a comedic masterpiece, eagle-eyed fans quickly picked up on a hidden Easter egg: as the commercial wraps, the camera returns to Wayne in the studio. The door closes behind him, revealing a sign that reads, “DO NOT DISTURB ‘TIL 06-06-25” with “CARTER VI” underneath. This cryptic message strongly suggests that Tha Carter VI, the long-awaited follow-up to Wayne’s legendary album series, is set to drop on June 6, 2025.

The Cetaphil commercial comes amid ongoing discussions about Kendrick Lamar headlining the 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show. Wayne previously expressed his disappointment over not being chosen, especially since the event is being held in his hometown of New Orleans.

“It hurt a whole lot,” Wayne admitted in an emotional Instagram video last September. “I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown and for automatically putting myself in that position like somebody told me that was my spot.”

The post initially sparked speculation of tension between Wayne and Lamar, but the two later cleared the air, with Wayne publicly wishing Lamar the best. Despite not attending the game, Wayne will still have a presence at the event—his Cetaphil commercial is set to air regionally in New Orleans during the broadcast.

While Wayne may have missed out on the Super Bowl halftime spotlight, he’s certainly making waves in his own way. By combining humor, self-awareness, and a subtle album teaser, his Cetaphil ad is more than just a commercial—it’s a statement. Whether through music or marketing, Lil Wayne continues to prove that he’s always got something up his sleeve, and this time, it’s as smooth as Cetaphil itself.