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Ryan Reynolds commissioned a professionally produced song to teach the world how to pronounce Rob McElhenney’s surname. The Wrexham AFC co-owner turned his business partner’s birthday into an educational moment that finally settled the debate.
The correct pronunciation is Mack-el-henney, not the dozen variations people attempt. Reynolds made sure nobody would forget it.
The video arrived as a 46th birthday gift in April 2023. Reynolds enlisted EGOT-winning composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul to make the lesson stick.
McElhenney responded with typical understatement. “This is…. I mean… I don’t…. Wow,” he wrote on social media.
The song breaks down McElhenney pronunciation step by step
The lyrics offer a simple guide that anyone can remember. First comes Mack-le, which rhymes with tackle, then Henney, which rhymes with penny.
Pasek and Paul composed the music with the same attention they bring to Broadway productions. The result sounds like an Irish pub anthem designed to educate rather than embarrass.
Sure, he’s got a pretty face that people know they know. They think they recognize him from his big-time TV show.
But despite the accolades, despite the load of fame, one thing they do not know is how to say his name.
Pronouncing all those N’s and E’s and H’s can perplex ’em, so here’s a little birthday gift from all your mates in Wrexham.
It’s McElhenney. You’ll probably fuck it up, but give it a try here we go.
If there was doubt now there won’t be any, it’s Michael. Here’s his nickel, no.
It’s always McElhenney. First, it’s Mack-le like a tackle when we take ’em to the ground. Then Henney, like the penny that he’s in for with the pound.
Get the name correct and show the man some damn respect.
The pronunciation guide works because it connects to football culture. Tackles and pounds mean something to supporters who watch Wrexham fight through the Championship.
Wrexham community features throughout the birthday tribute
Reynolds recruited Welsh singer Charlotte Church and McElhenney’s wife Kaitlin Olson for the production. Irish dancers and Wrexham locals appear throughout the video, each attempting different mispronunciations before the correct version arrives.
The video shows celebrities and ordinary supporters struggling with the surname. Everyone from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia castmates to people on Wrexham streets gets it wrong before Reynolds delivers the proper pronunciation.
Reynolds suggested the song could become a Racecourse Stadium chant. The production quality and cultural references suggest he meant it seriously.
Wrexham fans wanted the song as a stadium chant
Supporters immediately embraced the gesture as proof Reynolds understood his role. One fan wrote: “These two are absolute heroes here in Wrexham, and North Wales in general. Legends is a complete understatement.”
Multiple YouTube comments called for the song to become official matchday atmosphere. “Can’t wait to hear Wrexham fans chant this in the stadium when Rob’s there,” one supporter predicted.
Another fan captured the educational impact Reynolds intended. “He just got the entire world to learn how to say McElhenney correctly for his birthday! What a gift!”
The response from Wrexham revealed how the video set expectations for ownership style. “These 2 guys have totally transformed Wrexham not just the football club but also the Town itself,” one supporter explained.
One fan noted the genius in Reynolds’ approach. “It’s actually genius how he had taken something that probably annoyed Rob his entire life, and corrected it in such a catchy way. No one will ever be able to get it out of their head.”
The video remains the definitive guide to saying McElhenney correctly. Reynolds turned a birthday joke into genuine education while proving he understood what Wrexham supporters wanted from their owners.
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