It used to be, before social media, that summer was quiet in celebrity news. That’s changed over the last decade, there is no break, because celebrities are celebrity-ing every day of the year and we’re seeing them in Italy and Greece on their yachts and whatever. 

 

This summer, an Olympic summer, the celebrity destination is France. The first few days of the Games have dominated headlines and attracted so many stars to the various events. After all, even when it’s not about the sports, who wouldn’t want to be in Paris? Like I’m not saying the whole Marvel spectacle at Comic-Con this weekend wasn’t big, I’m just saying it would have been louder if it wasn’t for the Olympic noise. And also K-Con in LA. At least in my feed, those were the two big stories. 

 

Here's Tom Cruise yesterday in Paris for the weekend where he was seen at the pool and then it was over to yesterday’s main event: the team qualifier for women’s artistic gymnastics where the biggest star was undoubtedly the GOAT, Simone Biles. They kept cutting away to Tom during the broadcast, and also Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, Jessica Chastain, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, Nick Jonas, and also Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande who were also there on cross promotion. NBC used “Defying Gravity” from Wicked in the edit that played before Simone performed on vault. 

So basically the celebrity endorsements during these Games, at least in North America, has featured pop girlies only. Another NBC promo was cut to Taylor Swift’s “…Ready For It”. 

 

And, of course, on Friday night the biggest promo of them all, featuring none other than Beyoncé, giving them an exclusive Olympic version of “Ya Ya” for the Opening Ceremony broadcast and actually honouring them with new footage of herself. “T-E-A-M U-S-A” fits right in with the beat too. 

Pretty sure all of these athletes were like, “um, yes please, immediately” when the request came in. And I’m also pretty sure Beyoncé insisted on approving the final cut, because she’s only saying yes if she can control the final product and ensure it’s up to her standard of excellence.  

 

So that’s Celine, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Cynthia, Ariana…and also Gaga. 

Lady Gaga, as we saw, performed at the Opening Ceremony and is sticking around for the events. She too was at gymnastics yesterday cheering on Team USA and Simone Biles. And also introduced Michael Polansky to French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal as her fiancé, as heard in a clip shared online: 

@gabriel_attal

Thank you Lady Gaga for your stunning performance at the opening ceremony. It was breathtaking. 🤩🫶

♬ son original - Gabriel Attal
 

She also, however, had a gift for her fans. Mother Monster pulled up outside of her hotel the other night and played snippets from a new song for her Little Monsters waiting outside. 

 

Cross promotion is everywhere. Curious to see if Gaga sticks around to the end for the Closing Ceremony. Maybe that’s where she’ll do “La Vie En Rose” per all the rumours.