Ian Wright issues a message to Jude Bellingham and the media scrutiny the England footballer faces, notably in recent weeks.
Wrighty spoke on the latest episode of The Overlap about race, the treatment of Black players, and the responsibility the media has when covering young talent, an important conversation backed by the whole table.
He expressed concern for Jude, arguing that the intense media scrutiny and criticism aimed at the young England star comes from racial discomfort with a confident, uncontrollable Black superstar who proudly asserts himself, contrasting him with more “humble” Black players who are better accepted.
He also suggested that England isn’t ready for such a figure, with Gary Neville agreeing, while also reflect on his past failure to recognise similar racially biased treatment towards Raheem Sterling.
“I don’t think they are ready for a black superstar!” 🗣️
A powerful response from @IanWright0 following Jude Bellingham’s recent criticism in the media.
Watch the full conversation now on The Overlap YouTube channel. pic.twitter.com/MbdEzxL8D3
— The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) November 20, 2025
Ian Wright: “I’m worried for Jude simply because he’s somebody that they can’t control. You can’t control him. Obviously coming off of the who else and what he done in the World Cup, he’s showing people that, you know, I’m here, I’m black, I’m proud, I’m ready to go. All that vibe is something that a certain man can’t deal with.”
Gary Neville: “I agree with you. A personal experience, and I’ve spoken about this in 2016, that Raheem Sterling came to see me in the tournament and said that he felt as though he was being persecuted, that it was unfair and it was basically not relating to football.
“And I remember at the time, me giving him a completely and utterly inadequate answer, and I’ve spoken about this publicly since, where I said, look, Raheem, it’s because of your quality and who you are and what you are that they’re criticising you.
“I remember they did this with Wayne Rooney, actually name checked him. They did this with David Beckham, they did this with Paul Gascoigne, the best players, the biggest names.
“But actually what I didn’t read at the time, and to be fair, what he was actually crying out and asking me for help for was around the fact that this wasn’t relating to his football performances, which it was with maybe yourself or with Gazza or with Becks. It was more around the colour of his skin and this persecution around how if he had a car that was this and another player had a car that this that was white, there was a difference in reporting of it. Do you think that is happening again in front of our eyes here?”
Ian: “You know something, I remember saying I had to do something for GQ not long ago and I said I don’t think as Englishman, there’s certain Englishmen, I’m an Englishman, can’t hide from that.
“Even though when I was younger people would say, but you’re not really English, right? Yeah I’m English. I don’t think they’re ready for a black superstar like that who can move like Jude’s moving.
“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? It’s too uppity for these people.
“Something that they used to say back in the day, for a black guy or a black man who’s, you know what, put it in a football term. everybody, love Kante. He’s a humble black man, gets on with what he’s doing. I’m not saying that he’s an Uncle Tom or anything, just saying that’s how his personality is.
“But if you get a Pogba or a Bellingham and you get that kind of energ, that does not sit well with the people, that kind of person.
“So someone like Jude, for some reason, frightens these people because of his capability and the inspiration he can give. It’s something that you’re taught when you’re, as a black man, when you’re going out there, you just want to try and do the best you can and keep your head down and be, for what? For one of the better humble slave.
“This is where this is dragging up from that kind of energy. Because if you are outspoken black and doing that kind of playing to that kind of level and not caring, that frightens certain people.
“And that’s what’s gonna happen with Jude. This guy who I’m telling you about in respects of, he’s obsessed with him, he’s moving off of that energy. He can’t look and see a black man doing what Jude’s doing and think that that’s not uppity. He’s not uppity. That’s where I’m going with that. That’s where that comes down to.”
Fresh from a qualifying campaign with 8 wins from 8, 22 goals scored, 0 conceded, Harry Kane passing Pele for international goals and a place at the World Cup booked before any other European nation, this is where the discourse goes?!
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 be talking about any of the above in great depth because controversy creates clicks in far greater numbers than celebratory pieces. We all know this & with England in particular, it’s been the way of it journalistically for years.
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) November 18, 2025
Craig Hope works for the Daily Mail, an outlet which has routinely racially targeted English footballers. This is not new for Craig, who has been doing this to Jude Bellingham for a long time – dating back years.
Is it any wonder Bellingham chose to play abroad & steers clear of… https://t.co/kRycu2RBhZ pic.twitter.com/an6cNFvLzz
— Adam (@AdamJoseph) November 18, 2025
Here’s how fans reacted as Ian Wright issues message to Jude Bellingham and the media scrutiny the footballer faces…
@KayLFC05_: Ian is spot on. Let’s not tip toe around his name either. @CraigHope_DM is an absolute disgrace. He needs to be called out. The daily mail is up there with the s*n as the worst paper in this country. People like Craig need to be dealt with. Revoke his Matchday access.
@joejb45: I Hope Ian Wright knows how important he is for the black community in football. He always hits exactly the right note with every take, he empathises, and makes articulate but powerful points that accurately describe the situation with race in football. Protect him at all costs
@CiaranBloo: Glad Wrighty’s articulated how racism manifests in modern football, its not just an outright hatred of anyone black its 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 criticise @GNev2 a lot on here for his narratives but credit where it’s due – it’s brave to admit you were once ignorant. And it’s brave of @IanWright0 to speak out on this so openly. It won’t be appreciated by many. But these conversations need to happen because the issue is real. Black stars are treated with far greater disdain in the media than white stars. Sterling, Rashford, Bellingham, Lewis Skelly – even Saka. A relentless, nefarious targeting of them in the media as soon as the slightest opportunity to do arises. If you don’t call it out, not only does it not change but it also influences others in the way they think too.
@AdamJoseph: Ian Wright is a footballing & cultural treasure. His bravery to perfectly articulate & spark uncomfortable conversations is so powerful. The lack of empathy from people demonstrates an unconscious privilege & no lived suffering / experience. Bellingham, Sterling, Rashford, Saka, Lewis-Skelly, Pogba, Lingard, the names change but the treatment doesn’t. Confidence, bravado & outgoing black footballers spark insecurity & hate. The Kante & Pogba analogy couldn’t be more accurate. Jack Grealish’s behaviour is bulletproof, Phil Foden can cheat on his partner on England duty – the treatment & coverage is not the same. White players have been brutalised, but that’s merging two separate issues. The intent is different & it’s not a justification either. Craig Hope, Richard Keys, Matt Law, we see you.
@timscoreboard: Sadly there is a lot of truth in what @IanWright0 is saying. For me there is undoubtedly a different narrative for black players from a section of the media, and it needs to be consistently highlighted. The focus and tone used towards Jude Bellingham last week was alarming.
