Melissa McCarthy stars as "Melisa" in e.l.f. Cosmetics' new Super Bowl commercial, a telenovela-inspired spot she describes as a "love letter" to the Latinx community. The ad, part of the brand's Descubre e.l.f.ecto series, features McCarthy alongside actor Nicholas Gonzalez and telenovela star Itatí Cantoral.
In the humorous ad, McCarthy's character wakes in a hospital with one day to learn Spanish before Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show, aided by e.l.f.'s Glow Reviver Lip Oil. The concept nods to Bad Bunny's call for non-Spanish speakers to learn the language. McCarthy says the brand, which has a large Latinx following, "leads with their heart." The campaign includes a partnership with Duolingo, offering subscription access to help fans learn Spanish.
McCarthy shared that filming was filled with laughter and dramatic, telenovela-style fun with her costars. She also earned "street cred" with her teenage daughters, who are big fans of both e.l.f. Cosmetics and Bad Bunny. The commercial, directed in classic soap opera style, will air during the February 8th game on Peacock.