It was 2004. You couldn't turn on a television without seeing low-rise jeans, hearing "Toxic" on the radio, or catching a glimpse of the most expensive fever dream ever committed to film. I’m talking about the Britney Spears, Pink, and Beyoncé Pepsi commercial.
Even decades later, people still talk about it like it was a summer blockbuster. Honestly? It basically was. Most people remember it as a Super Bowl ad, but here’s a weird fact: it never actually aired during the Super Bowl in the United States. It was a global campaign that premiered at the National Gallery in London, yet its impact on American pop culture was so massive that it created a sort of collective "Mandela Effect." We all remember where we were when we saw three of the biggest women in music history dressed as gladiators, defying an emperor to the beat of Queen.
Why the Britney, Pink, and Beyoncé Pepsi Commercial Still Matters
This wasn't just a 180-second spot to sell soda. It was a collision of three distinct fanbases at the absolute peak of their powers. You had Britney, the undisputed princess of pop; Beyoncé, who had just dropped Dangerously in Love and was becoming a solo titan; and Pink, the rebellious rock-alt alternative who gave the whole thing some much-needed edge.
The concept was simple but wildly expensive. Set in a dusty, Roman-style Colosseum, the three stars are forced into the arena to fight for the amusement of Emperor Enrique Iglesias. Instead of hacking each other to pieces, they drop their weapons, start the iconic "stomp-stomp-clap" of Queen’s "We Will Rock You," and basically start a revolution.
The Production: "Pepsi Money" is Real
Pink has been pretty vocal about the experience lately. She once described the sheer scale of the production as "bizarre." Pepsi didn't just rent a local studio. They flew the entire crew and cast to Rome to shoot in a massive set located just down the street from the actual, literal Colosseum.
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"I didn't understand," Pink said in an interview years later. "We could have gone to Canada. That’s Pepsi money."
The director, Tarsem Singh, was known for his visually stunning films like The Cell and The Fall. You can see his fingerprints all over the ad—the golden light, the intricate costumes, and the sweeping cinematic shots. It felt like a movie because it was shot like one.
Breaking Down the Outfits
If you were a "fashion girlie" in the early 2000s, those gladiator outfits were everything. They were designed to reflect each artist's specific brand:
- Beyoncé wore a gilded, shipwreck-inspired bra and skirt with a massive trident. It was very "Goddess of the Sea."
- Britney had a silver and gold metal bra with sun motifs, paired with a leather waistband and metal paillettes that looked like scales.
- Pink went for a more rugged, chainmail-inspired look with shoulder pads, fitting her "rebel" persona perfectly.
They weren't just costumes; they were statements of power. In an era where female pop stars were often pitted against each other by the tabloids, seeing them stand shoulder-to-shoulder was a huge deal.
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The Music: "We Will Rock You" 2.0
Let’s be real—covering Queen is risky. Brian May and Roger Taylor were actually involved in the production, which gave the remix some serious legitimacy. The vocals were recorded separately, but they blended surprisingly well.
Britney’s breathy pop style, Beyoncé’s powerhouse R&B runs, and Pink’s raspy rock grit shouldn't have worked on a single track, but they did. It was high-energy, defiant, and perfectly matched the "Dare for More" slogan Pepsi was pushing at the time.
The commercial ends with the trio tossing their weapons aside, the crowd joining the chant, and the Emperor losing his cool (and his Pepsi). It was the ultimate "girl power" moment before that term became a corporate cliché.
The 2024 "Gladiator II" Sequel
Fast forward twenty years. In 2024, Pepsi decided to go back to the well. To coincide with the release of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, they launched a "sequel" commercial. This time, it featured Megan Thee Stallion as the Empress, with NFL stars like Travis Kelce and Josh Allen as the "Gridiron Gladiators."
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Megan did a rap-heavy remake of "We Will Rock You," and while the production value was through the roof, the internet's reaction was mixed. Some loved the nostalgia trip, while others felt it lacked the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of the original 2004 trio. It just goes to show how high the bar was set by the Britney, Pink, and Beyoncé Pepsi commercial. You can't just manufacture that kind of cultural chemistry.
Behind the Scenes Tensions?
One thing people always ask is: did they actually get along?
According to Pink, she felt like a "big sister" to Britney on set. She’s often talked about how sweet and gentle Britney was, contrasted with how "fierce" Beyoncé was the moment the cameras started rolling. While there were always rumors of pop rivalries, the reality seems to have been a lot more professional—and even supportive. They were three young women at the center of a global hurricane, and for a few days in Rome, they were the only ones who understood what that felt like.
What you should do next:
If you’re feeling nostalgic, don't just watch the 30-second version. Look for the "Director’s Cut" or the behind-the-scenes "Making Of" featurette on YouTube. It shows the incredible detail of the Roman set and includes interviews with the stars where they talk about the grueling shoot in the heat. It’s a fascinating look at a time when brands had the budget—and the guts—to make something truly legendary.
Alternatively, check out the Pepsi Music 2004: Britney Exclusive EP. It actually includes the full-length studio version of the "We Will Rock You" remix, which is much better than the truncated version you hear in the ad.