Rob McElhenney, co-owner of Wrexham FC and a famous face in Hollywood, has disclosed that at the age of 46 he was given a diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disabilities. He announced the personal news on Twitter, where he was flooded with support by fans.
"I was recently diagnosed with a host of neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disabilities", he wrote. "At 46! I go through the full diagnosis/prognosis on the @thesunnypodcast (which drops in 2 weeks). It’s not something I would normally talk about publicly but I figured there are others who struggle with similar things and I wanted to remind you that you’re not alone. You’re not stupid. You’re not 'bad'. It might feel that way sometimes. But it’s not true :)"
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Fans praised his attitude and actions in coming forward. One person said: “Great attitude. Thank you for spreading awareness on this.”
It also sparked a conversation, with other people from neuro-diverse communities offering their encouragement. Twitter user Anna Pilson said: “Thank you SO much! Growing up in Wrexham, I often felt a bit different, but I always felt myself at @Wrexham_AFC. I was diagnosed with ADHD at 41 and something that helped me process this was knowing that even when it was hard, I would be happy at Cae Ras. Solidarity & iechyd da!”
The news came as Rob and his fellow actor and Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds are about to lead Wrexham AFC back into the football league. The pair took over the club in February 2021. And since then, a thrilling promotion battle has helped the club gain promotion to League Two. Before that, they head to the USA for friendlies against Manchester United and Chelsea.
