Celebrity Hammers fanatic Danny Dyer has hit out at certain West Ham fans over their treatment of captain – and his son-in-law- Jarrod Bowen.
Until the turn of the year, the Hammers had been in a state of rapid regression for two years.
It started under David Moyes, continued with Julen Lopetegui and somehow got worse under Graham Potter.
During that time Jarrod Bowen has carried West Ham on his back, cementing his place as a living club legend.
Dyer say West Ham fans ‘wind him up’ with Bowen criticism
Nuno Espirito Santo took a while to sort out the mess he inherited but West Ham have been on the up since January, giving themselves more than a fighting chance of Premier League survival.
But it is has coincided with what has been undeniably Bowen’s worst form of his six years in the claret and blue.
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Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between West Ham United and Brentford at the London Stadium in Stratford, England, on March 9, 2026.
There had already been criticism from some Hammers fans of Bowen’s captaincy.
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Now others have been disappointed that the England winger’s form has dipped when the club needs him most.
Bowen still works his socks off for the team every game.
Jarrod Bowen lifts the Conference League trophy after West Ham United beat Fiorentina.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
But with speculation over his future if the Hammers are relegated, some supporters have also, rather harshly, accused Bowen of mentally checking out.
Now Bowen’s father-in-law Danny Dyer has come to his defence.
Bowen is married to Dani Dyer, the reality TV star daughter of tough man actor and lifelong Hammers fan Danny Dyer.
Speaking in a new interview, Dyer says he has seen the criticism of Bowen online and given some of his fellow Hammers fans a reality check.
Dyer: Bowen ‘shattered’ from carrying West Ham
Dyer says Bowen has been carrying the team and it has taken its toll.
He also told West Ham fans the team would be ‘s—‘ without the skipper and that he deserves more respect as he could go on to be the club’s greatest ever player.
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West Ham star Jarrod Bowen registered an assist in England's 5-0 win over Latvia
Photo by Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Images
“The pressure: being captain and the fact that we’re having a bad season, I see comments online of fans digging him out, but we’d be s— without him,” Dyer told The Peter Crouch Podcast.
“He could potentially go on to be our greatest-ever player. It winds me up (the criticism he gets).
“It’s been hard for him because he has been carrying us for a f—— long time, so you can tell he’s shattered.”
Jarrod Bowen celebrates during West Ham United v Brentford - Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Dyer makes some salient points – Bowen should not be taken for granted and needs to be supported through his dip in form.
While Crysencio Summerville has been the star man of late, if anyone is going to save West Ham if it comes down to a last day of the season crunch match against Leeds, most bets would be on Bowen.
Of course it is hugely worrying and disappointing that Bowen’s form has dropped off at such a critical moment for the Hammers.
What Dyer needs to remember, though, is that human beings tend to take things out on the ones they love most – and football fans are no different.
Mark Noble and Declan Rice both received criticism as the conduits for fan frustrations during their spells as captain of the club.
Bowen – and Dyer – just need to take it as a back-handed compliment because Bowen is universally adored at West Ham, even if some supporters choose to vent their frustrations online at times.
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