Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell tragically passed away at the age of 54 after a brief battle with illness. Among the many who paid tribute to him on social media was his former teammate, Ray Parlour, who later faced backlash for his tribute and issued an apology for being perceived as insensitive.
Kevin Campbell, well-regarded in the football community, was most celebrated for his tenure at Arsenal, where he played a crucial role in the team’s 1993 double victory. He later became a fan favorite at Everton, thanks to his impressive goal-scoring prowess.
The news of his passing this week, following a short illness and hospitalization, has deeply saddened many. His former colleagues, including Ian Wright and Wayne Rooney, expressed their condolences on social media. Parlour, initially, posted on X (formerly known as Twitter): “Devastated hearing the news this morning RIP Kevin. Great player and even nicer fella. Thoughts with his family at this tough time.”
However, controversy arose when Parlour shared a video of himself pouring and drinking a mix of Jagermeister and beer as a tribute to Campbell. This act, which Parlour often does on social media, was met with criticism from fans who found it inappropriate.
Recognizing the backlash, Parlour deleted the video and issued a heartfelt apology: “I apologise if I have upset anyone in my last post. I wholeheartedly didn’t mean to come across as insensitive. I loved Kevin and I’m honestly devastated for his family and friends at this terrible time. I’m sending all my love to them and anyone who came across this amazing man.”
The official announcement from Arsenal came on Saturday morning, with the club expressing their profound grief: “We are devastated to learn that our former striker Kevin Campbell has died after a short illness. Kevin was adored by everyone at the club. All of us are thinking of his friends and family at this difficult time. Rest in peace, Kevin.”
Everton also paid their respects, posting: “Everyone at Everton is deeply saddened by the death of our former striker Kevin Campbell at the age of just 54. Not just a true Goodison Park hero and icon of the English game, but an incredible person as well – as anyone who ever met him will know. RIP, Super Kev.”
Ian Wright, another former teammate, shared an emotional tribute during his appearance on ITV while covering Spain’s 3-0 victory against Croatia at Euro 2024. Wright struggled to speak about the loss, stating: “I can’t really go too deep into it. It’s very fresh. I only heard this morning. Obviously my best wishes and condolences go to his family but it’s too soon for me to talk about it. Anytime I start to talk about it I well up. He meant the whole world to a lot of people, especially myself.”
