‘Derry Girls’ Fans Slam Chelsea Clinton’s Bizarre Finale Cameo: “F*ck Offfff”

Well, that was unexpected. The final season of Derry Girls, the story of four teenage girls (and James), who live in Londonderry, Ireland during the Troubles of the ’90s had everything viewers have loved about the series: Sister Michael! Dance numbers! Misadventures! Parents! For its final season, series creator Lisa McGee stopped at nothing to make it the best conclusion it could be, adding in a few surprise guests along the way. Unfortunately, one of those guests was Chelsea Clinton.

The surprising cameo takes place towards the end of the finale, as Erin (Saorise-Monica Jackson) and the rest of the gang vote in a referendum to approve the Good Friday agreement. The final shot shows the cast, including Erin, James (Dylan Llewellyn), Clare (Nicola Coughlan), Michelle (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), Orla (Louisa Harland), and Grandpa Joe (Ian McElhinney), along with Erin’ younger sister, walking out of the voting booth and into a new Ireland, as a news report is read aloud regarding the results of the vote.

With a little over a minute left, this could have been the perfect shot for voters to end the show on. But McGee had another surprise up her sleeve, as the scene immediately cut to “Present day – New York” as a mailman delivers a “lost” letter to Ms. Clinton, which the characters had sent in the finale of Season 2. In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, McGee explained the cameo was initially written in the script as a joke, who never actually thought it would happen.

“Eventually it was a manager in America, like an actor’s manager, who used to work for the Clintons. And she acted as this middle woman for us. And then she rang me one night and said, ‘Chelsea’s in,’ and I was like, ‘Oh my God.’”

On the cameo, Clinton first told NME, “Like many, I am a big fan of the series, and I was honoured to be able to appear in the very special final episode. I hope people enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed being a part of it.”

However, despite McGee and Clinton’s enthusiasm, fans were less than impressed:

Unlike this season’s other surprise cameo, Liam Neeson, who reappears in the finale as he votes in the referendum, Clinton’s appearance felt disconnected and took viewers away from the initial message of the show, as the teenagers became adults entering a new Ireland. Her appearance might have made more sense to conclude season 2, after the teenagers had sent out the letter, but during the series finale, it interrupted a serene moment that left viewers teary-eyed. The ending felt perfect — but the cameo and cut to present day felt a bit unnecessary, as it left viewers questioning whether we would get to glimpse the girls in the present, as well.

You can watch the official clip of Clinton on Derry Girls above.