Joe Lycett piles pressure on David Beckham over controversial Qatar World Cup deal
An image of Joe Lycett and the shredder he intends to use to destroy the £10,000. (Twitter)
Joe Lycett really isn’t messing around as he pressures David Beckham to rescind his World Cup deal one last time.
The comedian-turned-gay-mastermind posted a photo of the shredder he intends to use to destroy £10,000 if Beckham doesn’t respond to his ultimatum.
The football player has received mass backlash after it was revealed he signed a multi-million-pound ambassador deal for the Qatar World Cup.
Lycett told him on 13 November that he would donate the £10,000 – £1,000 for every million that Beckham is reportedly earning from his Qatar deal – to charities that “support queer people in football.”
“However, if you do not I will throw the money into a shredder at midday next Sunday (20 November),” he continued.
A website dedicated to the ultimatum was also created with a timer and Lycett’s recorded message embedded above an open letter to Beckham.
“You have always talked about the power of football as a force for good. Which suggests to me you have never seen West Brom,” it read. “But generally I agree – so with that in mind I’m giving you a choice.”
Since then, Lycett has posted various updates on the status of Beckham’s reply, or lack thereof.
Most recently was a tweet of the money stacked up on a table with the caption: “24 hours to go…”
24 hours to go…#benderslikeBeckham pic.twitter.com/Wq9CZsyHxJ
— Joe Lycett (@joelycett) November 19, 2022
Several people have urged Lycett not to go through with it, saying that the money could go to good causes rather than to waste.
“Shredding it does nobody any good. Maybe giving it to a queer charity or a food bank would be more useful,” one user said.
Others saw the method to Lycett’s madness, saying: “Interspersed behind the humour is the most important message behind the Qatar World Cup.”
One user, however, had an idea that would appeal to those who didn’t want to see the money wasted but would hold up Lycett’s end of the bargain.
“Shred it, put it all into a clear plastic box and display it at an art show with a plaque, ‘Beckham’s Reputation,'” they suggested. “Donate ticket sales to good charities, easily clear more than [£10,000] with people wanting to see.”
Still no response from Beckham to Joe Lycett
Despite David Beckham still not responding to Joe Lycett, it certainly isn’t from a lack of trying.
The comedian revealed he had sent an email to Beckham’s PR team after the announcement urging them to “do the right thing.”
“Could you do me a solid and let me know if there’s any chance he might budge on his position, or am I to expect radio silence on this?” he said. “I really don’t want to shred ten grand!!!
“I also really don’t want a national treasure that has historically supported the LGBTQ+ community to publicly endorse and advertise a nation-state that has an appalling rights record and has the death penalty for gays – call me old fashioned!!!”
