In Satirical Spoof, Exxon Admits to Gaslighting Public on Climate Change

In February, ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods pointed the finger at the public for failing to solve the climate crisis — suggesting that consumers were to blame for the oil giant's toxic carbon emissions.

“The dirty little secret that no one is talking about is how much it will all cost and who is willing to pay for it.” he stated during an interview with Luck. “The people who produce these shows need to know and pay the price for making these shows. That's how you finally solve the problem.”

Woods, who has been at the helm of Exxon – one of the world's top emitters of global-warming greenhouse gases – since 2017, blamed customers unwilling to pay for the cost of cleaner fossil fuels. “When will people be willing to pay for carbon reduction?” asked Woods. “We have opportunities to produce lower-carbon fuels, but people are not willing to spend the money to do that.”

In response to the CEO's ultimate attack, Hollywood director Adam McKay's team at Yellow Dot Studios hit back at America's largest oil and gas company (and third largest by revenue). In a satirical video, idyllic images of unspoiled nature in harmony with humanity are contrasted with a stinging “confession” of Exxon's devastating effects on climate science and policy for more than half a century.

“There is a world we all want to live in again, a world where the air is clean and crisp and clear and fills your lungs with joy,” the mock begins, before declaring: “Here at Exxon, we believe in that world and we work hard to make sure our customers believe we believe in this world.”

The ad takes a sinister turn as the unseen voice (narrated by actor Ron Perlman) continues: “Sure, our own scientists accurately predicted catastrophic climate change 60 years ago, but we didn't want you to know. That's why we spent billions in advertising and media manipulation covering it up. Then we rigged the government so that the leaders of both parties would do our bidding.”

“Every once in a while, you scream about how bad we are, but then we drop gas prices to a nickel and you shut right down,” the voiceover adds, before concluding: “We're only one company, but you're seven billion people, get off your asses and do something you fucking farmers. Exxon. fuck me? Fuck you!”

Josh Olson, who wrote the spoof, says he wanted to take Woods' quote and “get over the kind of contempt for people first,” but also make the point that it's up to the public to stand up against Big Oil because “Unfortunately, just recycling plastic and paper is not the answer.”

She adds that those watching can “join the chorus of other people doing the same thing and be louder to help those voices be heard and encourage people to ask questions – to feel like they're not alone in this thing… it's going to get people to stand up and get in line to do something about this situation… The more people making noise together, the better.”

In a statement to Rolling rockMcKay, who directed 2021 Don't look up“, he said, “It's exciting to see a legendary actor like Ron Perlman and an Oscar-nominated writer, Josh Olson, team up to make a big splash. More and more we're seeing people in film, television and music start to wake up to the urgency of climate collapse.”

The release of this video comes alongside Yellow Dot Studios' ongoing work with the Make Polluters Pay campaign, which works to hold Big Oil accountable for the costs of climate change, and as climate liability lawsuits gain momentum in the whole country. In May, Vermont lawmakers passed a state law, the Climate Superfund Act;, which will require oil and gas companies to pay for the costs of climate change. And just a few days ago, a lawsuit filed by the City of Boulder and Boulder County went to trial that will weigh on whether ExxonMobil and Suncor should pay the costs of climate-related disasters in the state — joining the growing movement of similar suits by state and local governments.

In an interview with Rolling rock earlier this year, McKay discussed climate activism and initiating real change to combat the climate crisis.

“The only thing I've experienced that has really moved the needle for me is old-fashioned, subversive activism. I had a moment where I really got into it, because when you look at history, the main ingredients of all the huge changes—whether it's civil rights, independence, the labor movement—is always disruptive activism,” he later said. noting, “There will never be a moment of success, but we see it as bread and butter. If it's out there, there might be a time when these toasts become a kind of meal. There is much to be done and our motto is “Constantly Forward”.