Chelsea fans slam ‘disgusting, incredibly disrespectful’ Ted Lasso producers and owner Todd Boehly for Ray Wilkins stunt
CHELSEA supporters have slammed the makers of hit TV show Ted Lasso and Todd Boehly after a tribute to club legend Ray Wilkins was doctored to celebrate character Roy Kent in its latest episode.
The hit comedy programme’s main character Lasso is an American coach that has been appointed as fictional Premier League club AFC Richmond.
It is now in its third series and another much-loved character Kent – who is modelled on nonsense pundit and Manchester United legend Roy Keane – goes back to his former side Chelsea, where he enjoys legendary status in the story.
He is now assistant manager at AFC Richmond and in the latest episode the Blues fans show their appreciation for him with a banner in the stands.
It read: “They don’t make them like Roy anymore.”
While supporters are also heard singing: “He’s here, he’s there, he’s every f***ing where, Roy Kent, Roy Kent.”
The commentator then adds: “That’s a lovely moment. Chelsea fans letting their former captain Roy Kent know how they still feel about him.”
But upon further inspection it seems that the producers of the show have in fact doctored a banner dedicated to the late Chelsea club legend Wilkins.
The former England, Manchester United, PSG and AC Milan ace died aged 61 in 2018 after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Wilkins made over 200 appearances for Chelsea during his six years at the club from 1973 and he also enjoyed spells there as assistant manager to Luiz Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti.
Following his death the West London club unveiled a banner in his honour which is still on display at home games today that reads: “They don’t make them like Ray anymore.”
And since the episode aired on Apple TV fans have been quick to slam both the club’s owner and the rest of the hierarchy as well as the TV show itself.
A statement from the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust said: “RE: Ray Wilkins Banner This is a banner paid for by supporters to commemorate a Chelsea legend: Ray Wilkins.
“Many supporters have seen this edit to be disrespectful, and we have expressed our disappointment to club officials. We expect that CFC will address this in due course.”
Other fans expressed their anger on Twitter, with one writing: “NOW THIS is disgusting. Incredibly disrespectful to edit a banner of the late Ray Wilkins. Hugely concerning and embarrassing to think that Chelsea would have sanctioned this.”
Another tweeted: “Yeah this ain’t it, all for Chelsea and it’s likeness being used in Ted Lasso but Ray Wilkins is a Chelsea legend who can’t even consent to his banner being changed. How they thought this would go down well I’ll never know….”
While another raged: “This is absolutely disgusting, editing over the Ray Wilkins banner to “Roy” for a TV publicity stunt with Ted Lasso, extremely disrespectful.”