“Is it kind of douchey? Sure” - Rob McElhenney addresses Rob Mac name change following backlash

Rob McElhenney has officially shortened his name, despite mixed reactions from fans. The actor and comedian recently announced that he would now be known professionally as Rob Mac, citing years of people mispronouncing his surname. In a video posted to X, the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia creator addressed the shift.

“Yes, I’m shortening my name to Rob Mac. Mostly a stage name, but I digress,” he said.

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“Is it kind of douchey? Sure. But the amount of time that I have wasted trying to get people to either say or spell my name correctly is literally days of my life,” he explained.

Rob McElhenney reflected on the deeper ties to his family surname, which he revealed has changed over generations. He noted that his current surname wasn’t even the original version, but rather one assigned by a government official.

“My great-great-grandmother’s last name was spelled ‘McIlhenny,’” he shared.

Although some fans expressed skepticism online, McElhenney reiterated that most people already refer to him as “Rob Mac.” He said,

“Times have changed and most people already call me Rob Mac anyway. My family knows me and loves me regardless of how many syllables I have, and that’s the only thing that I really care about.”

Rob McElhenney concluded the video with humor:

“There are so many things going on in the world and this is a silly one to continue to waste your time with. Honestly, call me whatever you want. Marion, Jerome, Archibald, Eric, Maurice, Stephanie, Francis, Marvin, Gordon, or Sam. But maybe we just keep it simple and try Rob Mac. Let’s see how it goes.”

Rob McElhenney had first hinted at the change during a Variety interview, explaining the nickname already stuck with many. His wife, actress Kaitlin Olson, admitted she and their kids were still getting used to it.

Rob McElhenney stepped in when Wrexham needed him most, reveals manager

What started as a celebrity-backed passion project has become one of football’s most improbable success stories. Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds took the reins of a struggling Wrexham AFC and turned the club into a national sensation. With back-to-back-to-back promotions under their belt, the Welsh club completed a remarkable climb, earning a spot in the Championship.

The ripple effects went beyond sport. Wrexham’s community, long hit by economic decline, found something to rally around. Wrexham’s success has become one of the most captivating tales in modern football, not just for its on-field drama but for the unlikely bond formed between a small club and two Hollywood actors.

Manager Phil Parkinson recently spoke about that connection in an interview with Stuff, explaining how Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney went beyond the typical ownership role.

“They’re very involved and to give you an example, we are looking to sign a player and we’ve got a lot of competition to get the signature. I spoke to Rob and Ryan about it and they put a call into the player as well, explained the back story and why we wanted them,” he said.

Parkinson emphasized how the duo made themselves part of the team culture, whether it meant attending training sessions or sharing meals with players. He said,

“They both come over depending on work commitments and when they do they will come down to the training ground, have a bit of lunch with the lads and they get involved… They’re just a part of the team.”

As the season neared its climax and pressure mounted, Parkinson recalled leaning on Rob McElhenney to help steady the emotional side of the squad.

“Sometimes towards the end of the season, when Rob was here and the tension was building… me and Rob had a chat about what he could do and I just said you need to lighten the mood and let the lads know how well they’ve done to this point and let’s go and embrace this last period and he did that so well,” the team manager said.

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