Ian Wright sends a message to Jude Bellingham and the media attention the English footballer has faced, particularly in recent weeks.
Wrighty spoke about race, the treatment of black players and the media’s responsibility in covering young talent on the latest episode of “The Overlap,” an important conversation that was supported by the entire table.
He expressed concern for Jude, arguing that the intense media scrutiny and criticism of the young England star was due to racial discomfort with a confident, uncontrollable black superstar who proudly asserted himself, contrasting him with “humbler” black players who were better accepted.
He also suggested that England were not ready for such a figure, something Gary Neville agreed with, and also reflected on his failure to acknowledge similar racist treatment of Raheem Sterling in the past.
“I don’t think they’re ready for a black superstar!”
A powerful answer from @IanWright0 following Jude Bellingham’s recent criticism in the media.
Watch the full conversation now on The Overlap’s YouTube channel. pic.twitter.com/MbdEzxL8D3
– The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) November 20, 2025
Ian Wright: “I’m worried about Jude just because he’s someone they can’t control. You can’t control him. Obviously he’s showing people who else he was and what he did at the World Cup, that I’m here, I’m black, I’m proud, I’m ready to go. That whole vibe isn’t something a certain man can handle.”
Gary Neville: “I agree with you. A personal experience, and I spoke about it in 2016, Raheem Sterling came to see me at the tournament and said that he felt like he was being followed, that it was unfair and that it basically had nothing to do with football.
“And I remember giving him a completely inadequate answer at the time, and I’ve spoken about it publicly since then, when I said: Look, Raheem, it’s because of your quality and who you are and what you are that they criticize you.”
“I remember they did that with Wayne Rooney, actually name-checking him. They did that with David Beckham, they did that with Paul Gascoigne, the best players, the biggest names.”
“But what I didn’t actually read at the time, and to be fair, what he actually cried out and asked me to help with, was the fact that this had nothing to do with his football achievements, which might have been with yourself or with Gazza or with Becks. It was more to do with the color of his skin and that pursuit, that if he had a car that was this and another player had a car that was white, there would be a difference in the coverage of it. Do you think that’s the case again now happened?” of our eyes here?”
Ian: “You know something, I remember not long ago I said I had to do something for GQ and I said I don’t think as an Englishman, there are certain Englishmen, I’m an Englishman, I can’t hide from that.
“When I was younger, people said: ‘You’re not really English, are you? Yes, I’m English. I don’t think they’re ready for a black superstar who can move like Jude.’
“You know, they can’t touch him, like I just said. He goes out there, he performs, he does what he does. He says, who else? That’s too arrogant for these people.
“Something that used to be said for a black man or a black man who said, you know what, in a football term. Everybody loves Kante. He’s a humble black man, keeps doing what he’s doing. I’m not saying he’s an Uncle Tom or anything, I’m just saying that’s what his personality is.”
“But when you get a Pogba or a Bellingham and you get that kind of energy, it doesn’t go down well with people, that kind of person.”
“Someone like Jude scares these people for some reason, because of his abilities and the inspiration he can give. That’s what you’re taught when you go out as a black man and just try to do your best, keep your head down and – for what? – be one of the better, humble slaves.”
“That’s where that kind of energy drags on. Because when you’re an outspoken black man and you play that kind of game at that level and you don’t care, that scares some people.”
“And that’s what’s going to happen with Jude. This guy I’m telling you about, in some ways, he’s obsessed with him, he’s leaving that energy. He can’t look and see a black guy doing what Jude is doing and then think that’s not arrogant. He’s not arrogant. That’s what I’m getting at. That’s what matters.”
Fresh from a qualifying campaign that saw 8 wins from 8 games, 22 goals scored, 0 conceded, Harry Kane overtaking Pelé in international goals, and a place at the World Cup booked ahead of any other European nation, does the discourse continue here?!
The media in this country will never change. https://t.co/2dZcA2Dm9q
– HLTCO (@HLTCO) November 18, 2025
My counter-argument to this is that you wouldn’t talk in detail about any of the above topics because controversy generates far more clicks than celebratory posts. We all know that and, especially in England, it has been like this journalistically for years.
– HLTCO (@HLTCO) November 18, 2025
Craig Hope works for the Daily Mail, a newspaper that regularly makes racist attacks on English footballers. This is nothing new for Craig, who has been doing this to Jude Bellingham for a long time – for years.
Is it any wonder Bellingham chose to play overseas and stay away from… https://t.co/kRycu2RBhZ? pic.twitter.com/an6cNFvLzz
– Adam (@AdamJoseph) November 18, 2025
Here’s how fans reacted to Ian Wright delivering a message to Jude Bellingham and the media attention the footballer is facing…
@KayLFC05_: Ian is spot on. We shouldn’t ignore his name either. @CraigHope_DM is an absolute disgrace. He must be called. The Daily Mail is at the top of the list of the worst newspapers in this country. You have to deal with people like Craig. Revoke his Matchday access.
@joejb45: I hope Ian Wright knows how important he is to the black community in football. He always hits exactly the right tone in every shot, he has empathy and makes clear but powerful statements that aptly describe the racing situation in football. Protect him at all costs
@CiaranBloo: I’m glad Wrighty outlined how racism manifests itself in modern football. It is not only an open hatred of every black person, but a projection about the “wrong type” of black person that often has no basis in reality. The most racist person you know loves Kante and hates Bellingham.
@themagic_tophat: I criticize @GNev2 a lot here for his narratives, but I deserve credit – it’s brave to admit that you were once ignorant. And it’s brave of @IanWright0 to be so open about it. It will not be appreciated by many. But these conversations need to happen because the problem is real. Black stars are treated with far greater contempt in the media than white stars. Sterling, Rashford, Bellingham, Lewis Skelly – even Saka. They are relentlessly and shamefully targeted in the media at the slightest opportunity. If you don’t denounce it, not only does it not change, but it also influences the way others think.
@AdamJoseph: Ian Wright is a footballing and cultural treasure. His courage to articulate himself perfectly and spark uncomfortable conversations is so powerful. The lack of empathy from people shows unconscious privilege and not lived suffering/experience. Bellingham, Sterling, Rashford, Saka, Lewis-Skelly, Pogba, Lingard, the names change but the treatment doesn’t change. Confidence, bravery and open-minded black footballers trigger insecurity and hatred. The analogy between Kante and Pogba couldn’t be more apt. Jack Grealish’s behavior is bulletproof, Phil Foden can cheat on his partner on England duty – the treatment and coverage is not the same. White players were brutalized, but that conflates two different issues. The intention is different and it is also not a justification. Craig Hope, Richard Keys, Matt Law, see you.
@timscoreboard: Unfortunately there is a lot of truth in what @IanWright0 says. For me, there is undoubtedly a different narrative for black players from a section of the media and this needs to be highlighted consistently. The focus and tone used towards Jude Bellingham last week was alarming.
