A stark public service advertisement (PSA) featuring former boxer Mike Tyson aired during the 2026 Super Bowl, sparking significant controversy over its messaging on obesity and its production by a politically charged federal initiative.
The 60-second spot, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services’ “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative, opens with Tyson stating his sister died of a heart attack at 25. He then shares his past struggles with weight, saying he was 345 pounds and experienced “self-hate” to the point of suicidal ideation. The PSA cuts to Tyson eating carrots and apples before a text screen reads, “Processed food kills.” The ad was directed by Brett Ratner, a filmmaker who has faced past allegations and whose work has been linked to the Trump administration.
The MAHA initiative is led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has a history of promoting debunked medical claims, including linking Tylenol to autism and suggesting COVID-19 was a bioweapon. The PSA directs viewers to RealFood.gov, a website that features an AI chatbot and imagery aligned with the ad’s stark aesthetic.
Health professionals and fat acceptance advocates have widely criticized the ad. Dr. Zachary Rubin, an allergist and medical myth debunker, called it “a failure of public-health ethics” for using “unframed suicide ideation” and “weight-shaming language.” Tigress Osborn, executive director of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA), stated the ad utilizes “anti-fatness to fan the flames of emotion” and represents a broader governmental attack on fat people.
Critics note the ad offers no actionable solutions, such as addressing systemic food access issues or federal nutrition programs. Instead, it promotes a moralized, individualistic message equating thinness with virtue. The choice of Tyson, a convicted sex offender, as the messenger has also been highlighted as contradictory to a genuine public health goal.
Online, supporters of the MAHA initiative praised the ad as a bold stand against obesity. However, experts argue that shaming tactics are ineffective and harmful. Clinical dietitian Jessica Wilson pointed to the administration’s focus on hyper-masculine, fitness-based solutions and noted that trauma, including sexual violence, negatively impacts health.
The PSA reflects the MAHA initiative’s broader strategy, which includes questioning vaccine infrastructure and conventional nutrition science. Its leaders have sought funding from undisclosed billionaires in the wellness sector.
The ad’s broadcast to a massive Super Bowl audience, coupled with its governmental backing, has intensified a national debate over the role of stigma in public health policy. Critics contend the message exacerbates harm while ignoring the complex socioeconomic factors contributing to diet-related diseases.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder or suicidal thoughts, help is available. In the U.S., contact the National Eating Disorders Association at 800-931-2237 or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
