American comedy Ted Lasso pokes fun at Welsh independence and Wrexham takeover
An episode of an American comedy show has poked fun both at Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s takeover of Wrexham AFC and the Welsh independence movement.
Ted Lasso on Apple TV+ follows the titular coach who is unexpectedly recruited to coach an English Premier League team, AFC Richmond, despite having no experience in association football.
In the newest episode ‘Rainbow,’ published on Friday, the character Higgins, played by Jeremy Swifts, quipped he “can’t tell if them buying the club is a joke or not,” referring to Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s Wrexham takeover.
In another scene, one of the players for AFC Richmond, Welshman Colin Hughes, is urged to use social media. When he agrees to post to Instagram, he is told: “Do you think you can make this one post not about Welsh independence?”
Ha, looks like Colin from #TedLasso is a member of @YesCymru 😂 pic.twitter.com/V9OlC17l50
— Richard Martin (@mimosacymru) August 21, 2021
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney later responded to the joke about them on the series, both sharing tweets on Saturday with a letter jokingly threatening legal action against Apple TV+.
The actors demanded “2 large boxes of Ted Lasso’s biscuits” to be sent to the club ahead of the season kickoff this weekend “to avoid legal action”.
“It has come to our attention that in a recent episode of Ted Lasso our very real ownership of Wrexham AFC was called into question by an otherwise beloved character named ‘Higgins,’” they wrote.
“While we hold the incomparable Jeremy Swift in no ill regard and are honored to be mentioned on the platform that’s brought us high-quality programming ranging from Mythic Quest season one to Mythic Quest season two, we must insist that you cease and desist from the casting of any doubt regarding our commitment to the club, the fans, and the entire Wrexham community.”
McElhenney co-created and stars in Mythic Quest, which also streams on Apple TV+.
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“First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. Then they attack you and want to burn you. And then they build monuments to you.” – Nicholas Klein
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I think this pokes fun at athletes posting about politics on social media. It casts no aspersions on the position, doesn’t paint the character as either twp or an extremist. All in all, it legitimises Welsh indy as something people believe. Da iawn.
Poking fun at some Welsh Separatists constantly making even the most unrelated thing about independence? Seems like they hit a little too close to home…
It could take an American coach to win England the European cup because he doesnt know anything about football? Jonstone loves the Americans and how they live off the poor, so lasso belongs to any equivalent parties in America as they are all conservatives there. Lasso just another Tory.