Jason Sudeikis shows support for England’s black soccer players at Ted Lasso season 2 premiere… after speaking out about split from Olivia Wilde
- The actor, 45, shared his support for Marcus Rashford, Jaden Sancho and Bukayo Saka, after they suffered online abuse following the team’s Euros 2020 defeat
- England lost the Euros 2020 title to Italy on penalties after drawing one all after extra time
- Rashford, Sancho and Saka all missed their penalties and after the match trolls posted vile abuse about them on social media in a shocking display of racism
- In Ted Lasso, Jason plays a small-time American football coach who’s hired to coach a professional soccer team in England despite having no experience
- Ted Lasso’s second season will premiere on July 23rd on Apple TV+
Jason Sudeikis showed his support for England’s Euros 2020 team’s black players at Ted Lasso’s season 2 premiere for the show held in Hollywood on Thursday night.
The actor, 45, shared his support for Marcus Rashford, Jaden Sancho and Bukayo Saka, after they suffered online abuse following the team’s defeat by Italy in the recent Euro Championships.
Making a statement at the event, Jason wore a black t-shirt emblazoned with the last names of the racially-abused stars.
Statement: Jason Sudeikis showed his support for the England soccer team’s black players who suffered online abuse after the Euros 2020 final at the Ted Lasso season 2 premiere in Hollywood on Thursday
In Ted Lasso, Sudeikis plays a small-time American football coach who’s hired to coach a professional soccer team in England despite having no experience of the game.
Last Sunday, England reached their first international championship final for the first time in 55 years. The national team’s last final match was the 1966 World Cup where they beat Germany.
Despite an early goal just two minutes into the match at London’s Wembley stadium, England lost the Euros 2020 title to Italy on penalties after drawing 1-1 following extra time.
Rashford, Sancho and Saka all missed their penalties and after the match were subjected to vile abuse on social media in a shocking display of racism.
Disgusting: Players Marcus Rashford, Jaden Sancho and Bukayo Saka (pictured with teammate Raheem Sterling, third from left) all missed penalties in the final’s climax and were subsequently targeted with vile racist abuse on social media
On their side: The American actor wore a black t-shirt emblazoned with the names of the racially-abused stars Sancho, Rashford and Saka to make his point
In the spotlight: The event also marked the star’s first public appearance since speaking about his breakup with longtime love Olivia Wilde with whom he shares two young children
On screen: Jason plays small-time football coach Ted Lasso in the Apple TV+ comedy series
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson summoned tech giants to Downing Street on Tuesday and ordered them to ‘up their game’ over the racist trolling of England football stars.
The Prime Minister gave the bosses of leading social media firms a dressing down, telling them they must take urgent action before the introduction of laws that could land them with huge fines.
The foul abuse is often sent by cyber bullies hiding behind anonymous accounts.
Mr Johnson was expected to tell the companies – which included Twitter, Facebook and TikTok – they must hand over the details of those found to have posted racist comments so the authorities can make an example of them.
Cruel: It comes after the three England players to miss penalties in Sunday’s Euro 2020 final were spammed with hideous racist abuse online (Marcus Rashford pictured)
Taking action: Boris Johnson recently summoned tech giants to Downing Street on Tuesday and ordered them to ‘up their game’ over the racist trolling of England football stars
It comes as police continue to seek the trolls responsible for vile insults aimed at the three players.
Rashford, Sancho and Saka’s social media accounts were flooded with racist messages following England’s defeat to Italy.
In response, Marcus penned a letter which he shared online saying he ‘had a difficult season’ but ‘will never apologise for who I am or where I came from’.
Underneath he attached letters sent to him by children as he was told by an 11-year-old boy to be ‘proud’.
Candid: After the final, Marcus penned a letter which he shared online saying he ‘had a difficult season’ but ‘will never apologise for who I am or where I came from’
Mural: Marcus reserved a special thank you for those who had stepped in to restore his mural on the wall of the Coffee House Cafe in his home town of Withington after it was defaced by vandals
The letter, from a boy named Alfie, added: ‘You may have missed your penalty but you had a brilliant tournament. I admire you and so should the rest of the world.’
Marcus said he was left ‘close to tears’ after well-wishers covered graffiti sprayed on his Manchester mural with loving notes.
He penned an emotional open letter to England fans apologising for his penalty shoot-out miss.
The striker also paid tribute to his supportive teammates and vowed to ‘come back stronger’ after yesterday’s heartbreaking finale to Euro 2020.
But the star reserved a special thank you for those who had stepped in to restore his mural on the wall of the Coffee House Cafe in his home town of Withington.
The painted image was defaced, in what is being investigated by police as a possible ‘hate crime’, with derogatory comments about Marcus and included the words ‘sh**e’ and ‘b*****d’. Further graffiti said ‘f**k Sancho’ – a reference to his Three Lions teammate.
Emotional: Marcus said he was ‘close to tears’ after well-wishers covered graffiti sprayed on his Manchester mural with notes of support in the wake of his Euro 2020 penalty heartache
Moving: A local resident puts love hearts and slogans on the plastic that covers offensive graffiti on the vandalised mural of Marcus
However, Marcus’ fans quickly rushed to the site to hide the abusive messages, before placing hearts over the covering.
Speaking about their support in an open letter posted on his Twitter account, the star said: ‘The messages I have received have been positively overwhelming and seeing the response in Withington had me on the verge of tears.
‘The communities that always wrapped their arms around me continue to hold me up. I’m a 23-year-old black man from Withington and Wythenshawe, South Manchester. If I have nothing else, I have that.’
Earlier in the open letter he apologised for his penalty miss against Italy, saying ‘I felt as though I’d let everyone down’.
‘It’s been playing over in my head over and over since and there’s probably not a word to quite describe how it feels,’ he said. ‘Final. 55-years. 1 penalty. History. All I can say is sorry. I wish it had gone differently.’
Big night: Joining Sudeikis at the screening were his co-stars Hannah Waddingham (left) and Juno Temple (right)
Beauties: Juno rocked bright magenta hair, while Hannah wore her blonde hair parted at the middle, pulled back in a low bun
Animated: Hannah, Jason, and Juno appeared to be in good spirits at the event
Happy actors: The three stars have a reason to celebrate, as they are in each nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards this year
Statuesque: Hannah was beautiful in a black low-cut sleeveless maxi dress, accented with a geometric tan leather belt
The striker also praised his teammates, saying it was the ‘best camp I’ve experienced’ and adding that an ‘unbreakable brotherhood’ had been formed.
He also tackled the abuse he had faced, saying he would ‘never apologise’ for being himself, before ending on a positive note by vowing to bounce back from the heartache, saying: ‘For all the kind messages, thank you. I’ll be back stronger. We’ll be back stronger.’
Greater Manchester Police called the defacing of the Rashford mural a ‘racially aggravated’ act of vandalism.
In a statement, GMP slammed the ‘racially aggravated’ and ‘disgraceful’ damage, adding: ‘Hate crime in any form is completely unacceptable and not welcome here in our city.’ The force was alerted at around 2.50am this morning. No arrests have been made and inquiries are ongoing.
Chief Superintendent Paul Savill said: ‘This is disgraceful behaviour and will absolutely not be tolerated. Greater Manchester prides itself on being made up from a number of diverse communities, and hate crime in any form is completely unacceptable and not welcome here in our city.
‘GMP takes crimes of this nature very seriously and an investigation has been launched. If anyone has any information that could help us to identify this offender please do not hesitate to speak to police.’
Waving to admirers: She wore droplet earrings and black sandals with heels
Stars: Jason, Hannah and Juno posed for snaps together at the premiere
Cute pair: The Emmy nominees complemented each other wonderfully in black ensembles
Strutting: Juno wore huge and chunky black platform heels
Fashionable: She donned a black blazer minidress with curved bustline
The artwork was created by Akse, a French-born graffiti artist, in November 2020. A painting of Marcus appears alongside the phrase: ‘Take pride in knowing that your struggle will play the biggest role in your purpose’.
Meanwhile, the Ted Lasso premiere also marked Jason’s first public appearance since speaking about his breakup with longtime love Olivia Wilde with whom he shares two young children.
The couple, who are parents to son Otis, seven, and daughter Daisy Josephine, four, split last fall following a seven-year engagement.
Wilde, an actress and director, has gone on to engage in a high-profile romance with Harry Styles.
Posing: The Maleficent actress also posed for pictures with Ted Lasso costar Brett Goldstein, who was chic and understated in black as well
Wink and tongue: Juno also sported a lovely necklace and gold earrings
Altogether: Jason, Hannah and Juno were joined by Jeremy Swift, Moe Jeudy-Lamour, Cristo Fernendez, Brendan Hunt and Brett Goldstein on the red carpet
Other cast and crew members present at the premiere: Ted Lasso writer and supervising producer Jamie Lee, who wowed in an off-the-shoulder floral minidress
Emmy nominated as well: Marcus Mumford, who did the show’s music, was also there, in a sand-colored linen suit over a black tee
In an interview for the August issue of GQ magazine, the SNL alum suggested that it is going to take some time before he can get his head around the end of his relationship with Wilde.
‘I’ll have a better understanding of why in a year,’ he shared, ‘and an even better one in two, and an even greater one in five, and it’ll go from being, you know, a book of my life to becoming a chapter to a paragraph to a line to a word to a doodle.’
Joining Sudeikis on the arrivals line were several of his Lasso costars, including Juno Temple and Hannah Waddingham.
Serving a look: Notable guests at the premiere not connected to the show included none other than Kesha
Statement dress: Kesha wowed in a lovely long-sleeved LBD with a sparkly finish
Chic: The Praying songbird’s dress featured a ruched bust and plunging neckline
Funnyman: Also in was comedian and actor Patton Oswalt
Spouses: the Young Adult actor posed with his wife Meredith Salenger, also an actor
Juno rocked bright magenta hair and a black blazer minidress with curved bustline.
Hannah complemented her beautifully in a black low-cut sleeveless maxi dress, accented with a geometric tan leather belt.
The beauty wore her blonde hair parted at the middle, pulled back in a low bun.
She wore droplet earrings and black sandals with heels and a gold ankle strap.
Juno, on the other hand, wore huge and chunky black platform heels.
The Maleficent actress also posed for pictures with Ted Lasso costar Brett Goldstein, who was chic and understated in black as well.
Other Lasso cast and crew members present at the premiere included writer and supervising producer Jamie Lee, who wowed in an off-the-shoulder floral minidress.
Happy and energetic: Fortune Feimster was on the arrivals line, in an olive green shirt worn over a black ensemble
Other guests: Lasso, a sports-themed show, attracted famous athlete guests at the premiere such as figure skater Alex Shibutani
Sweet: Into The Woods actress Lucy Punch was also there, brightening up the evening in a charming black maxi dress adorned with multicolored hearts
Sexy: Sophia Bush was radiant in a beige prairie dress
Sublime: Her dress featured a sexy ruffled neckline that plunged down between her breasts
Amazing figure: Bush’s gown was held together at the bust by a black cord
Marcus Mumford, who in part did the show’s music, was also there, in a sand-colored linen suit over a black tee.
And notable guests at the premiere not connected to the show included none other than Kesha, along with Patton Oswalt and Sophia Bush to name just a few.
Kesha wowed in a lovely long-sleeved LBD with a sparkly finish.
The Praying songbird’s dress featured a ruched bust and plunging neckline.
She rocked black stockings, matching pumps with heel accents, and a silver chain around her neck.
Into The Woods actress Lucy Punch was also there, brightening up the evening in a charming black maxi dress adorned with multicolored hearts.
Other guests at the premiere: Actress Carly Chaikin
Ice dancer: Alex’s sister Maia Shibutani came out, in a fetching pinstripe blazer and wide-legged linen pants
Lovely: Comedian Nikki Glaser was stunning in a black LBD worn underneath a leopard print jacket, along with snakeskin leather boots
Smiling for the cameras: Glaser had her hand on her hip and looked to be enjoying the attention
Lady in red: Dani Fernandez looked amazing in a bright red jumpsuit
A pair of dashing beauties: Charlbi Dean (left) and Charlotte Lawrence (right) both upped the fashion ante at the West Hollywood event
Fun outfit: Critic Anita Sarkeesian had fun in a pink suit that showed a peek at her bra
With the big boss: Sudeikis also posed for a snap with Apple CEO Tim Cook
Rubbing shoulders: The pair were in high spirits as they caught up at the screening
Sophia, for her part, was radiant in a beige prairie dress, which featured a sexy ruffled neckline that plunged down between her breasts.
Her gown was held together at the bust by a black cord.
Fortune Feimster was happy and energetic on the arrivals line, in an olive green shirt worn over a black ensemble.
Other guests included comedian Nikki Glaser, actress Carly Chaikin, figure skater siblings Alex and Maia Shibutani and critic Anita Sarkeesian.
The first season of Ted Lasso, about an American coach of a discouraged British soccer team, has earned rave reviews for its optimistic tone.
Smile: Jason was seen posing alongside actress Sophia at the premiere after party
Catching up: The two stars were seen deep in conversation as they spoke
VIP guets: Bill Lawrence was seen with his arm around leading man Jason
Three’s a crowd: They were later joined by Chairwoman and CEO of Warner Bros Ann Sarnoff
The show even scored a whopping 16 nominations for this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards.
Among those recognized, of course, is Jason himself for Outstanding Lead Actor, along with Goldstein in the supporting category.
Both Hannah and Juno have reason to celebrate, as they each earned nods for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
And Mumford, along with Tom Howe, is nominated for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music.
Scrubs actor Zach Braff is also up for a trophy, for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for the episode titled Biscuits.
Ted Lasso’s second season will premiere on July 23rd on Apple TV+.
High spirits: The trio posed for photos together at the Ted Lasso after party
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