Todd Boehly has apologised after Chelsea and Apple TV were branded “disrespectful” by supporters after the makers of Ted Lasso changed a tribute to late club legend Ray Wilkins.
In the latest episode of the programme, the character Roy Kent returns to his former side Chelsea and the camera pans to a banner inside Stamford Bridge that reads: “They don’t make them like Roy anymore.”
Show producers digitally altered a banner funded and created by Chelsea supporters for Wilkins after he died aged 61 in 2018 after suffering a cardiac arrest.
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) expressed their disappointment to Chelsea about the banner being edited and fans have been critical of the change.
Chelsea co-owner Boehly said: “We had nothing to do with these arrangements. The deal with Apple was struck in the first quarter of 2022 [before Boehly and Clearlake bought the club].
“We are sorry it affected so many and mostly we care about Ray and his family. We would also point out that none of the “Chelsea” players are actual Chelsea players. Hopefully, that was clear.”
Wilkins played more than 200 times for Chelsea between 1973-79 and was also assistant manager to Luiz Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti.
He won three FA Cups at Chelsea, the Premier League in 2009-10 and was also a season-ticket holder at Stamford Bridge.
A CST spokesperson said: “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."
Chelsea are promoting the new Ted Lasso episode “I Don’t Want to Go to Chelsea” through branded social media posts that has featured video content with manager Graham Potter and midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
