Budweiser Super Bowl ad STUNS viewers — and now an ‘ALTERNATE ENDING’ rumour has fans FURIOUSLY rewatching the ‘American Pegasus’ moment as the brand’s 150th anniversary spot goes viral

• Budweiser’s tear-jerking “American Icons” Super Bowl LX ad has sparked a fresh wave of online gossip — with fans claiming there’s a more “HARD-HITTING” ending that hasn’t been released.
• The official 60-second spot features the Clydesdales and a bald eagle — climaxing in a “Pegasus” illusion that viewers are calling ‘goosebump-worthy’.
• Multiple “extended” uploads have appeared online, supercharging speculation that Budweiser is sitting on extra footage — or even a different final beat.
• Budweiser has not confirmed any alternate ending — but the brand’s rollout and multiple edits across platforms have turned the advert into a full-blown internet mystery.

Budweiser’s latest Super Bowl commercial was supposed to be a heartwarming celebration of heritage, hard work and “Made in America” pride.

Instead, it’s become something else entirely: a viral sensation… and the centre of a new rumour storm.

Within days of the brand dropping its full “American Icons” ad — a glossy, emotional mini-film featuring its famous Clydesdales and a bald eagle — fans began insisting the version most people have seen might not be the “real” ending at all.

The gossip? That there’s an alternate, even more “nail-you-in-the-chest” final beat sitting in Budweiser’s vault — and the public has only been given the “safe” cut.

The moment that broke the internet: ‘Are you crying?’ — ‘Sun’s in my eyes’

The official spot, released ahead of Super Bowl LX (February 8, 2026), follows a foal that discovers an eaglet and forms an unlikely bond as the pair grow up through storms and seasons.

It builds to the now-famous shot: the fully grown eagle spreads its wings behind the horse as it leaps, creating a blink-and-you-miss-it illusion of a mythical “pegasus.”

Then comes the punchline that’s been quoted everywhere — two farmers watching on as one asks: “You crying?” and the other snaps back: “Sun’s in my eyes.”

Soundtracked by Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird, it’s designed to hit viewers right in the feelings — and it clearly worked.

So why are fans convinced there’s “more”?

Because almost as soon as the official video surged online — drawing millions of views on Budweiser’s own YouTube channel — other versions started popping up too.

Some were clearly reposts. Some were labelled “extended.” Others stitched together teaser footage with the full commercial, leaving people arguing over missing seconds, different transitions, and whether the final moment was trimmed to keep it “broadcast-friendly.”

That’s the fuel for the rumour: if multiple edits exist (as they often do for big Super Bowl campaigns), then maybe the emotional ending has been tightened, softened, or saved for later.

Budweiser hasn’t said there’s an alternate ending — but it has framed “American Icons” as part of a wider campaign celebrating Budweiser’s 150th anniversary and the brand’s long-running Super Bowl legacy, which typically involves teasers, cut-downs and follow-up content.

The teaser that started it all: the ‘bucket’ mystery

Before “American Icons” dropped, Budweiser teased the campaign with “Stable”, a short clip showing Clydesdales staring down a clanking metal bucket hiding a mystery creature underneath.

That mystery was later revealed to be the eaglet — but viewers now believe the teaser’s “gotcha” strategy is exactly the kind of rollout that could support a second reveal.

In other words: Budweiser has trained its audience to expect one more twist.

Sidebar: Who (and what) is actually in the ad?

Budweiser and Anheuser-Busch have been unusually specific about some details — a sign of how seriously the brand is taking the symbolism.

• The campaign is tied to Budweiser’s 150th anniversary and positioned as a tribute to “Made of America” heritage.

• The spot was directed by Henry-Alex Rubin and created with BBDO New York.

• Budweiser says the eagle was handled by the American Eagle Foundation, with permits and review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

• Axios reported the bald eagle featured is Lincoln, a well-known bird connected to Philadelphia sports lore.

The bigger picture: a ‘return to Americana’ after controversy

Commentary around the ad has also been coloured by Budweiser’s recent history — with coverage noting how warmly audiences have received this distinctly patriotic, nostalgia-heavy direction.

Which only adds heat to the speculation: if the public mood is finally on Budweiser’s side, why wouldn’t the brand squeeze out one more emotional “director’s cut” moment?

So… is there actually an alternate ending?

Right now, it’s rumour — not fact.

What’s real is this: Budweiser has released a 60-second “American Icons” spot as its Super Bowl LX centrepiece, and other uploads labelled “extended” have circulated online, helping the conspiracy spread.

What’s not confirmed is the juicy part — that there’s a hidden, more devastating final beat the public hasn’t seen.

But if Budweiser does drop a longer version or behind-the-scenes footage in the run-up to February 8… don’t be surprised if the internet claims it “knew it all along”.