The Crown star Josh O’Connor has called on the public to keep challenging “greed” following the collapse of the European Super League.
On Tuesday (20 April) night, the short-lived football tournament fell apart as all six English clubs involved quit, after an intense backlash, protests from fans and the prospect of an intervention by the UK government.
Celebrating the news, O’Connor, who is best known for playing Prince Charles on Netflix’s historical drama series, said that the ESL was reflective of a larger culture of greed from a “group of billionaires” in the world.
“Watching the ESL crumble is breathtaking and I couldn’t be happier,” O’Connor wrote.
“But let’s remember why we came together. A group of billionaires who couldn’t care less about the you, me or our communities [sic]. This isn’t just football. This greed exists everywhere.”
The actor then cited both Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and former UK prime minister David Cameron, the latter of whom was recently found to have lobbied chancellor Rishi Sunak for financial support for his employer over text, as examples of corruption.
“When arts centres and community centres are shutdown as part of ‘Austerity measures’, promised to be replaced and then, miraculously, pop up as luxury apartments,” he wrote.
“It’s all from the same guide book. The same greed, the same disregard. BUT when I see what people can do when they unite and call it out it makes me so flippin proud. Full of hope.”
The actor then joked that he would now shut up for all “you patient non-football fans”.
Last year, O’Connor condemned comments by UK culture secretary Oliver Dowden that The Crown episodes should open with disclaimers that the show isn’t factually accurate.
“We were slightly let down by our culture secretary, whose job it is to encourage culture,” the actor said.
“In my opinion, it’s pretty outrageous that he came out and said what he said. Particularly in this time when he knows that the arts are struggling and they’re on their knees, I think it’s a bit of a low blow.”
