Joe Lycett presents £10,000 ultimatum to David Beckham over World Cup
Lycett has given Beckham a week to respond.
Comedian Joe Lycett has threatened to shred £10,000 in one week if David Beckham doesn’t end his multimillion-pound deal with Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
The 47-year-old former professional footballer has faced a strong backlash for his Qatar deal, reportedly worth £10 million, and being the face of the host country’s tourism promotion.
In Qatar, homosexuality is illegal and can be punishable with prison sentences and even death under Sharia law.
The advocacy group Human Rights Watch recently reported that six LGBTQ Qataris had been beaten and sexually harassed while in police custody. These reports were denied by Qatar.
Lycett has said if Beckham doesn’t rescind his ambassador status the money will be shredded, if he does, the 34-year-old comedian will donate the £10,000 to charities that support gay people in football.
In a video posted to his social media on Sunday (13 November), national treasure Lycett says: “This is a message to David Beckham. I consider you, along with Kim Woodburn and Monty Don, to be a gay icon.”
“You were the first premiership footballer to do shoots with gay magazines like Attitude, to speak openly about your gay fans, and you married a Spice Girl which is the gayest thing a human being can do,” he continues.
“But now it’s 2022. And you signed a reported £10 million deal with Qatar to be their ambassador during the FIFA World Cup.”
Lycett goes on to outline that “Qatar was voted as one of the worst places in the world to be gay,” and Beckham’s collaboration with the host nation is vehemently disappointing for LGBTQ+ football fans and allies.
“If you end your relationship with Qatar I’ll donate this £10,000 of my own money – that’s a grand for every million you’re reportedly getting – to charities that support queer people in football,” Lycett proposes.
He adds: “However, if you do not, by midday next Sunday (20 November) I will throw this money into a shredder just before the opening ceremony of the World Cup and stream it live on a website I’ve registered called benderslikebeckham.com.
“Not just the money, but also your status as a gay icon will be shredded. You’ll be forcing me to commit a crime. Although even then I reckon I’ll get off more lightly than I would if I got caught wacking off a lad in Doha,” Lycett declares.
“The choice is yours. I look forward to hearing from you.”
Many fans in the replies are praising Lycett for his “brilliant” and “fantastic” scheme to get Beckham to address his role surrounding the World Cup.
While Beckham may have remained silent on the issue of LGBTQ and human rights in Qatar so far, many in the footballing world have been speaking against Qatar’s World Cup hosting including England footballer Beth Mead and Australia’s Josh Cavallo. Beckham is yet to respond to Lycett.
The FIFA World Cup will be held from 20 November to 18 December 2022.