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22nd Mar 2023

Ted Lasso producers and Todd Boehly slammed after ‘tasteless’ moment in new series

Callum Boyle

The scene was described as being ‘out of touch’

Chelsea fans have hit out at the producers of the popular Apple TV series Ted Lasso and club owner Todd Boehly after a tribute to Ray Wilkins was doctored to celebrate fictional character Roy Kent in the latest episode.

Ted Lasso is a fictional sports comedy where Lasso – an American football manager – is recruited to take charge of fictional side AFC Richmond.

Now in it’s third series, the latest episode featured the return of Kent, who is based upon former Manchester United captain-turned pundit Roy Keane, to former side Chelsea, where he is idolised as a club legend.

After Kent walks out of the tunnel at Stamford Bridge the camera then pans to a banner dedicated to him which reads: “They don’t make them like Roy anymore” while the fans can be heard chanting: “He’s here, he’s there, he’s every-f***ing where, Roy Kent, Roy Kent.”

However it appears that the producers have doctored a banner which is spotted at Stamford Bridge in memorium to Wilkins, who died aged 61 in 2018 after suffering a cardiac arrest.

The former England international made over 200 appearances for Chelsea between 1973-1979 before going to work as an assistant manager for the likes of Luiz Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti.

After he passed away in 2018, Chelsea unveiled a banner in honour of the club legend, it reads: “They don’t make them like Ray anymore.”

As a result of the recent banner shown in Ted Lasso, Chelsea fans have accused it of being disrespectful and hit out at the show and the club’s hierarchy.

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.”

Others voiced their displeasure on social media, with one fan saying: “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…”

Another added: “I understand the club wanting to promote the Chelsea brand through a medium like Ted Lasso. However, this feels disrespectful to the great Ray Wilkins. Could have done a Roy Kent banner without doing this. Just a little bit in poor taste imo.”

Neither Chelsea or Apple TV have commented so far.

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