When you think of the BP Oil Spill of 2010, what comes to mind? Recently, an ad has been aired from BP Oil Company, showing a married couple who owned a restaurant and their account of the oil spill. In this television commercial, Bob and Brooke Kar, owners of the La Famille restaurant, discussed the affects and aftermath of the spill to their business. They were forcefully put out of business because their fishermen and shrimpers were unable to supply them with fresh seafood. This restaurant prides themselves on serving local seafood and the “best gumbo in town.” Unfortunately, that ceased the restaurant’s operations when the devastation occurred.
Prior to this ad, the BP oil Spill made major headlines, both locally and nationally. People all around were frustrated that something as simple as plugging up the leak took several months to accomplish. The people of the Gulf Coast who owned hotels, restaurants, fishermen, shrimpers, and other tourist attractions had to shut down their businesses and struggle to find other work to support themselves, being that their livelihood was taken away from them.
Many people at the time were frustrated and disturbed because they were not getting the results promised to them. It had become so out of control that people began pointing fingers not only to BP, but to even the President of the United States, who was being blamed for not doing enough. The oil tycoon became so desperate and under a lot pressure, the media stepped in and even regular people, offered their ideas and suggestions as to how they can stop the leak. News stations, talk show hosts and several websites had people demonstrate various techniques and methods on how to stop the leak. After many weeks of trial and error, the leak was stopped and people were relieved, or somewhat. The leak stopped, but what happens to the people, animals and the ecosystems destroyed by the incident? At the time, BP continued to run ads reassuring the public that they will make things better and everything will be all right.
Fast forward to a year later, and BP Oil Company has another advertisement. This time it is not them announcing how they will make it better, but that they have made it better. After the clean up and testing of the wildlife and water, to be sure that there were not any oil remaining, people gradually returned to their ordinary lives. Now, the owners of “Restaurant des Familles” are back in business. In the beginning of the ad, both Mr. and Mrs. Kar spoke about the incident, which shut them down, for the first few seconds of the commercial. They did not say anything directly as to why things have been rough for them for the past year. Mr. Kar complimented how BP “stepped up” and did a good job of handling the situation, and that the incident in the Gulf has brought their community closer. This form of rhetoric allowed the company to show that even though a major mistake had occurred, they were still able to bounce back and make it work. This appeal showed a need to feel safe, according to the Kars, BP stayed around and made things better, and no the Gulf Coast is back to how it once was. Throughout the ad, both husband and wife appear to be very hands-on in the restaurant. Interacting with both employees and guests, while setting up tables and welcoming the guests into the restaurant.