'It's a part of history now': New Bedford actor is in controversial Super Bowl commercial
NEW BEDFORD — Since landing his first big role with an appearance on “NCIS: New Orleans,” Whaling City’s postal worker-turned-actor Earl White is now featured in one of the Super Bowl’s most controversial ads.
“It’s a major thing. It's a part of history, in a sense, whether it's negative or positive, it's a part of history now,” White, 33, said about his appearance in the “Love Your Enemies” commercial.
He is the first face seen, yelling at a policeman in riot gear, in a commercial for the “He Gets Us” coalition, which created a message that "Jesus loved the people we hate."
White said his agent Brenda P. Netzberger of Open Range Management was able to book him an audition, in December, for the commercial. “As I stepped into the building, you can hear people yelling and screaming and arguing. I'm like, What the hell's going on?” he said.
White said the casting director told him to yell and scream at another actor, bringing up anything such as politics, COVID-19, racism or anything else.
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Soon after, he was cast in the role and filmed the riot scene in an alleyway, next to the French Quarter neighborhood in New Orleans.
“The gray thermal that is in the ad is actually all mine,” he said. “They wanted to put a hat on my head, but I was like, if you guys want my hair to be specific ... just take the hat off.”
White said after the filming, the director told him to cross his fingers on the Super Bowl.
“I was like, wait, what!” he added.
What people said about the ad
The commercial aired during the fourth quarter’s third break. His face was the first image to be seen. “My friends freaked out,” he said, adding that he received several text messages and comments on social media.
He said he also received some negative comments.
“A lot of people look at these ads and they're instantly like, you're adding to the agenda — when realistically ... no, not really. I'm just trying to support my only job that I have. I can't just say no to everything,” he said.
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White said his closest friend is actor and coach James DuMont ("Jurassic World"), who has been cast as the “racist guy," dropping “f-bombs” and racial slurs multiple times.
“He's like a brother to me. He's employed me,” White said. “He is the sweetest guy in the world. He’s an actor.”
The commercial has sparked backlash with conservative news channels calling the organization “a cult” and a “Christo-fascist” advertisement.
“I'm not a real religious person at all. I'm just a paid actor. It's not my place,” White said. “Not my place as an actor to deal with politics. It really isn't. I mean, I'm in the game of pretending to be other people.”
What’s next for White
White will next be appearing in a television series for the Peacock streaming service, although he couldn’t go into specific details. “It’s based on a classic game that we've all played back in our day," he hinted.
White recently appeared in the Hulu series “Mike,” about the heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. He played the real-life role of Sam Garrett, a victim murdered in the street by Don King.
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“It was the real first TV show that I got to be in where I didn't get, like, thug #1,” he said. “It was another historic thing. When Sam Garrett died, he was pretty much part of the reason why Don King finally went to jail.”
White almost appeared in a second Super Bowl commercial for Google Pixel with Amy Schumer. He auditioned to play the role of the “Speedo guy” but instead appears in a scene with Schumer’s boyfriend dressed up as a giant grilled cheese sandwich. The commercial is set to air later in the year.
“I’m just living the dream one nap at a time,” he said. “I miss No Problemo with a passion, going to the Pour Farm for the beers, getting my espresso shot at The Green Bean.
“I miss and I love everyone in New Bedford.”
Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford actor appears in 'Love Your Enemies' Super Bowl commercial
