Exploring the Friendship Between Omar Apollo and Pedro Pascal: From Corona Commercials to Their God Said No Collaboration

Pop culture enthusiasts are always thrilled by notable friendships between celebrities, and the camaraderie between Omar Apollo and Pedro Pascal is certainly captivating the online community. Pedro Pascal, affectionately known as the internet’s “daddy”, has seen his fame skyrocket since his captivating role as Oberyn Martell in HBO’s acclaimed series, Game of Thrones. His portrayal of Joel Miller in The Last of Us further solidified his status as a leading man, and fans are now eagerly awaiting his role as Reed Richards in the highly anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe installment, Fantastic Four.

Meanwhile, Omar Apollo made headlines in 2022 when he released his debut album, Ivory. This impressive body of work showcased his signature blend of pop, R&B, and soul, leveraging both English and Spanish lyrics along with lo-fi beats. Additionally, Apollo is set to grace the silver screen opposite Daniel Craig in Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming film, Queer. Although their careers seem to occupy different spheres, the underlying similarities between Apollo and Pascal have sparked a creative partnership, with Apollo inviting Pascal to collaborate on a fresh project.

The Origins of Pedro Pascal and Omar Apollo’s Friendship

Meeting During a New York Times Article

The bond between Pedro Pascal and Omar Apollo sparked when Apollo was invited to participate in a New York Times feature in 2022, with the suggestion to include an actor. In a light-hearted moment during an interview with Apple Music, Apollo humorously admitted that he initially fancied Woody Harrelson but eventually chose to collaborate with Pascal. Though the article never saw the light of day, the two struck up an easy friendship, revealing common ground that kept their connection alive.

Pascal has openly expressed his admiration for Apollo in an interview with GQ, saying, “Omar is a very good friend of mine. I love his music. He’s also like me, someone who grew up bilingual.” He shared his enthusiasm for supporting Apollo’s creative endeavors, reinforcing the importance of their friendship as artists and as Latino men sharing similar cultural backgrounds.

Pedro Pascal’s Contribution to Omar Apollo’s God Said No

Featuring on the Track “Pedro”

Omar Apollo in an open coat on God Said No album cover

In 2024, Apollo released his highly anticipated sophomore album, God Said No, which garnered widespread acclaim. A standout track from the album, titled “Pedro, ”indeed features Pascal himself. The song opens with Apollo’s haunting vocals, seamlessly transitioning into a voice memo recorded by Pascal.

Within this intimate audio, Pascal recounts feelings of being “shattered” during a pivotal moment in his life amidst the pandemic in Lucerne, Switzerland. He reflects on an emotional instance when he felt overwhelmed:

“I remember thinking, like, the saying, ‘it brought me to my knees. And I remember just literally being kind of brought to my knees by a park bench […] And I remember asking the park bench to come alive and save me.‘Cause I didn’t feel like there was any kind of moment past that moment. But there was. There was.”

This collaboration came to fruition after Apollo played a track from God Said No called “Glow, ”which explores themes of grief and loss. Pascal resonated with the song, prompting Apollo to suggest sharing a poignant personal story related to grief. The result was Pascal’s vulnerable spoken word intro that adds significant emotional weight to Apollo’s work.

Shared Affinity for Corona

Pascal as a Brand Ambassador for Corona

Pedro Pascal enjoying Corona beer on a beach

Pedro Pascal’s fondness for Corona, the popular Mexican beer, is no secret, thanks to his involvement in numerous commercials. Interestingly, both Pascal and Apollo share a mantra of “embracing the fine life, ” or “la vida mas fina, ” which rings true in their shared enjoyment of Corona. Pascal revealed that they’ve effortlessly bonded over this preference, stating, “He loves Corona, I’ve had Corona with him, ” in his conversation with GQ.

This appreciation for the crisp lager is yet another testament to the friendship they share, further enhanced by their Latino heritage. When Pascal accepted a SAG Award, he humorously confessed, “I’m a little bit drunk, ” afterward explaining that he had celebrated with tequila shots, using Corona as a chaser during the festivities.“I sobered up in the instant of winning, ” he humorously recounted, showcasing his genuine and relatable personality.

Omar Apollo & Pedro Pascal: Just Friends

Pedro Pascal in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Omar Apollo in the Evergreen music video

In the realm of celebrity friendships, speculation and rumors are par for the course, and the connection between Omar Apollo and Pedro Pascal is no exception. Despite their open and supportive friendship drawing public intrigue, it has led to questions about potential romantic involvement. A notable social media post from 2023 fueled this curiosity as users speculated upon spotting them together in New York City.

To clarify, Omar Apollo is openly gay, while Pedro Pascal maintains a degree of privacy surrounding his personal life and has never explicitly disclosed his sexual orientation. Nevertheless, Pascal stands as a proud ally of the LGBTQ+ community, frequently highlighting his support for his transgender sister, Lux. This indicates that Omar Apollo and Pedro Pascal’s relationship is strictly platonic. Apollo himself reinforced this sentiment in an interview with Highsnobiety, describing Pascal as “like family.” While their relationship is not romantic, it remains beautifully significant, with hopes for future collaborations on the horizon.

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