Former England international Ian Wright has voiced deep apprehension that English society is “not ready” for a confident Black football superstar like Jude Bellingham, attributing public discomfort with the midfielder’s assertive style to lingering colonial and slavery-era attitudes.
Wright expressed concern that Bellingham represents “someone they cannot control.” He highlighted Bellingham’s post-World Cup demeanor, which he described as an “I am Black, I am proud, and I am ready” spirit that many in England are not prepared to accept.
“I think the English are not ready for a black superstar who acts like Jude acts,” Wright said during an appearance on the British podcast ‘The Overlap’. “They can’t touch him, he plays, he does what he wants, he says what he has to say. He has too much arrogance for these people.”
“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
He drew a contrast between Bellingham’s personality and that of N’Golo Kanté, noting that Kanté is widely liked for his “friendliness.” Wright suggested that personalities like Bellingham or Paul Pogba “don’t fit and scare many people.”
The 62-year-old former Crystal Palace and Arsenal forward, who has Jamaican ancestry, elaborated that this mindset is a remnant of colonial and enslavement history. He stated that Black individuals are historically taught to “do our best and in the end always keep our heads down, as if we were a humble slave.”
Wright described Bellingham’s “uninhibited style” as a direct challenge to these unspoken societal codes. He believes this defiance of traditional expectations is what ultimately “frightens many people.”