Rob McElhenney, widely known for his roles in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and the docuseries Welcome to Wrexham, left fans in disbelief with a jaw-dropping Instagram photo recapping his eventful 2023.
The star shared a series of photos taken in 2023, featuring moments with his It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-star and snapshots from his time at Wrexham AFC alongside Ryan Reynolds.
However, it was a particular image that caught everyone’s attention—a shocking photo of his dramatically swollen face.
McElhenney captioned the post, “Aside from that slight allergic reaction to the nuts, 2023 was one of the best years of my life. Thank you to the people and places that made it possible. My life is full of love and joy because of you. So excited for 2024. I’ll stay away from the nuts.”
The unexpected photo prompted a flood of reactions from his followers, with many questioning the authenticity of the image.
Comedian Mindy Kaling, a friend of McElhenney’s, humorously exclaimed, “Rob this made me almost drop my phone. My son screamed.”
Another bewildered follower commented, “Can somebody confirm that the first picture is real and not from some scene he was doing. That is insane.”
As it turns out, McElhenney had expertly pranked his followers, as the unsettling photo was a behind-the-scenes shot from the set of his hit sitcom. The drastic transformation was achieved through impressive prosthetics for an episode in the 16th series of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The storyline involved his character, Mac, experiencing a severe peanut allergy reaction.
Check out Mac’s peanut allergy reaction in the episode:
The actor also shared genuine memories from the year, including pictures from a bar outing with Prince Harry and moments from his regular visits to Wrexham.
In a recent announcement, it was revealed that McElhenney’s successful show, Welcome to Wrexham, had been officially renewed for a third series on Disney+. The docuseries follows the endeavors of McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds to restore Wrexham AFC’s former glory.
Since taking over as co-chairmen, the club has ascended from the National League to League Two in the Football League.
Nick Grad, President of FX Entertainment, expressed his appreciation for the series’ global success, commending McElhenney, Reynolds, the Red Dragons, and the people of Wrexham for their dedication. He noted that the story had only just begun and invited everyone to continue following it in the third season.
Ryan Reynolds and McElhenney embarked on their Wrexham journey in 2021 when they purchased the football team after it had gone into administration.
Ryan Reynolds and McElhenney embarked on their Wrexham journey in 2021 when they purchased the football team after it had gone into administration. Credit: Lewis Storey / GettyWrexham, the third oldest professional football club globally, had been absent from the Football League for over 15 years. Their investment, coupled with strategic marketing, has played a pivotal role in the club’s resurgence.
In an interview with Variety, the two emphasized their commitment to shining a spotlight on Wrexham and its resilient community, turning the series into an uplifting underdog story.
