Jason Sudeikis shows support for England’s black soccer players at Ted Lasso season 2 premiere

His Apple TV+ soccer comedy Ted Lasso proved to be a breakout hit.

And at the season 2 premiere for the show held in Hollywood on Thursday night, star Jason Sudeikis showed his support for the England team’s black players who suffered online abuse following the team’s defeat by Italy in the recent Euro Championships. 

The American actor wore a black t-shirt emblazoned with the names of the racially-abused stars Marcus Rashford, Jaden Sancho and Bukayo Saka.

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 since the 1966 World Cup final against Germany, which they won.

However, despite an early goal just two minutes into the match at London’s Wembley stadium, England lost the Euro 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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+.