Ryan Reynolds mourns the loss of “one of the bravest people” he has ever met.
Reynolds, 46, paid tribute to Jay Fear, the Wrexham superfan whose dying wish was to meet him, in a series of Instagram stories on Thursday following Fear’s death.
“Rip Jay Fear. One of the bravest, kindest and most generous people I’ve ever met,” the Wrexham co-owner wrote in his first post.
In a second slide, Reynolds shared a thoughtful message to Fear’s children, Sam and Jess. “Thank you for sharing your dad with me,” he wrote in a post.
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“I know how inadequate words must be for your tremendous loss. Sending you all our love from my family, Wrexham and beyond. I have loved every second spent with Jay.”
Fear had terminal appendix cancer and met Reynolds at Wrexham’s Racecourse Stadium in April as his last wish, the BBC reported.
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After the 20-minute meeting, Reynolds told the BBC, “It was great meeting Jay. He’s an exceptional person and his family is amazing.”
Related: Rob McElhenney Celebrates Wrexham Co-Owner Ryan Reynolds’ Birthday With ‘Hideous’ Blimp Of His Face
Reynolds said the encounter left him “a little confused” after spending time with the family and seeing “how much his kids and wife will miss him,” Reynolds added emotionally.
Fear spoke to BBC 5 Live’s Sunday Breakfast after meeting his idol. He said: “They always say you should never meet your idol and this guy is definitely an exception. He made me feel welcome and spent time with [my] wife and children too.”
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“People might think this was all for me,” Fear continued. “Actually this is before [my family] because they are the ones who will remember what happened for the rest of their lives.
“I just hope this is a core memory they will never forget,” he added.
Related: Ryan Reynolds says Wrexham FC’s big win was almost as good as the ‘birth of my children’
Reynolds and McElhenney bought the Welsh football team in 2021. Although Wrexham is in Wales, the team plays in the English football league.
Following its recent promotion, the club will compete in League Two, the fourth and lowest division of England’s professional football system.
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