The cast of the hit comedy series Ted Lasso has met US President Joe Biden to promote mental health awareness - but the actors' message was briefly eclipsed by a disgruntled journalist's live-television outburst in the White House briefing room.
On Monday, Jason Sudeikis, who stars as Ted Lasso, a baffled American football coach at a dysfunctional English football club, led fellow actors onto the daily briefing room podium alongside Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
Had a wide-ranging discussion about the importance of mental health with some folks from an English soccer team.
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 20, 2023
You'll see video of it soon. pic.twitter.com/8ehCmsW4WJ
"No matter who you are, no matter where you live, no matter who you voted for, we all probably - I assume we all know someone... that's struggled, that's felt isolated, that's felt anxious, that's felt alone," Sudeikis told reporters.
That caring message - building off the mental health challenges that the Lasso character faces in the series - was, however, derailed briefly when a journalist began heckling.
The reporter for online outlet Today News Africa broke the storied briefing room's unwritten rules by loudly repeating that he was not picked by Jean-Pierre to ask questions as often as he wanted, sparking uproar from other journalists as he refused to stop shouting.
A grim-faced Jean-Pierre, still standing next to the Ted Lasso actors, eventually threatened to call off the briefing and the heckler fell quiet.
Noting that verbal jousting was a norm for the briefing room, and had been for decades, Jean-Pierre said: "What I will not appreciate is disrespecting your colleagues and disrespecting guests who are here to talk - were here to talk - about an incredibly important issue, which is mental health."
The Apple TV+ series, the third season of which premiered on 15 March, delves into various characters' mental health, with storylines tackling issues with bullying, anger, relationships, and self-esteem, as well as panic attacks.
"Ted Lasso has inspired the world through its universal themes around optimism, kindness and determination, and the Lasso philosophy to 'believe'," Apple TV+ said in a statement, as reported by entertainment news outlet Deadline.
On Sunday, President Biden tweeted a photo of the Oval Office with a sign reading "BELIEVE" taped above the door - a reference to Lasso's mantra.
The Biden administration said it has expanded mental health resources for young people and provided nearly $500 million to help states transition to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/XPNAfqnzEj
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 19, 2023
Anyone experiencing a mental health or suicide crisis can access confidential counselling by calling or texting 988 in the United States to reach the hotline.
Ted Lasso won Emmys in 2022 and 2021 for Best Comedy, Best Lead Actor in a Comedy for Sudeikis, Best Supporting Actress for Hannah Waddingham, and Best Supporting Actor for Brett Goldstein, among other wins.
After winning in 2021, Sudeikis said the show was about family, mentors and teachers, and teammates.
"And I wouldn't be here without those three things in my life," he said.
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Source: AFP
