Actor Jason Sudeikis showed his support for the three England soccer players who faced racist abuse in the aftermath of the Euro 2020 final during Thursday night’s “Ted Lasso” Season 2 premiere at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, California.
Sudeikis wore a shirt with the words “Jadon & Marcus & Bukayo” on the front.
Those are the first names of the three Black players — Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka — who were racially abused online after missing kicks for England in the decisive penalty shootout against Italy in the European Championship final at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday.
Saka, who is 19, had his penalty kick attempt saved by Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, a moment that ended England’s hopes of winning winning its first-ever European Championship and first major international tournament since the 1966 World Cup. Four people have been arrested for directing racial abuse online toward Rashford, Saka and Sancho.
Thursday’s “Ted Lasso” premiere isn’t the first instance of Sudeikis using his attire to make a point. During the SAG Awards in April, Sudeikis accepted his award for best male actor in a comedy series wearing a sweater saying “My Body My Choice.”
Sudeikis’ “Ted Lasso” character, first used in 2013 to promote NBC Sports’ coverage of the Premier League, is an American football coach who led Wichita State to a Division II national championship and then took a coaching job with fictional Premier League side AFC Richmond. Season 1 of “Ted Lasso” turned into a surprise hit, getting 20 Emmy nominations when those award nominations were announced Tuesday.
The 12-episode second season of “Ted Lasso” debuts July 23 on Apple+.
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