Have you seen the new Popeyes commercial featuring actress Tadasay Young saying “We don’t make sense, we make chicken” and advertising the Louisiana franchise’s ghost pepper wings?
If you answered yes, then you’ve also seen Butch, a three-year-old English Bulldog who lives in Gulfport with his human family.
“My baby is famous,” said Butch’s owner Kelly Webb. “You can see the new nationwide Popeyes commercial featuring our Butchie and we are so proud.”
The commercial is Butch’s first acting gig, and it began airing in May. The costume Butch wore was adorned with bright colors, flowing ribbons, and a side-tilled party hat. The ensemble was completed with Mardi Gras beads wrapped around his thick neck as he struts on a leash in the French Quarter of New Orleans surrounded by a few colorfully dressed actors and actresses. Some are on horseback or sitting on motorcycles while others are speeding down Bourbon Street in electric recliners with table trays.
There’s even a New Orleans Jazz Band made of plastic skeletons and Young, who has guest starred on shows such as The Winchesters, Filthy Rich, Scream Queens, and The Vampire Diaries, states several times throughout the commercial you can feel the magic of New Orleans.
So just how did a young pup from Gulfport end up strutting his stuff down Bourbon Street in a fast-food commercial?
Webb said social media posts led to a family friend telling them that Popeyes was interested in having an English Bulldog for their latest commercial.
She added that after they were connected with officials from the restaurant chain, Butch nailed the interview process and quickly moved on to costume design and fitting.
And now he’s the star of the French Quarter.
“They did about 50 takes,” Webb said. “And he was absolutely perfect. He could not have enjoyed the costume more, and people from the French Quarter stopped and took pictures with him. He was just a true celebrity. He was better than the actors.”
Webb added that she did not get to keep Butch’s costume because it was displayed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
“I’m actually trying to get it back because he has been asked to do interviews and I want him to wear it and he loved that costume,” she said.
Webb said shortly after filming, they celebrated with a special meal from Popeyes.
If you would like to keep up with Butch’s next adventure or watch the commercial, you can follow him on his Instagram page by clicking here.
