Derby Telegraph
Former England football team captain David Beckham has finally responded to comedian Joe Lycett after criticising him for taking part in this year’s World Cup. The 2022 tournament is being held in Qatar, which has left many being upset due to the country’s poor human rights record.
Among those upset is Joe Lycett, who very publicly called out David Beckham over his multi-million Qatar World Cup ambassador role. He also demanded the pro footballer cut ties with the tournament, as reported by the Mirror.
Last month, the comedian made headlines as he issued Beckham an ultimatum: to sever ties as asked or he will ‘destroy £10,000’ in a video calling him out. In the clip, he said: “I’m giving you a choice, if you end your relationship with Qatar, I’ll donate this 10 grand of my own money – that’s a grand for every million you’re reportedly getting – to charities that support queer people in football.
“However, if you do not, at midday next Sunday, I’ll 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. The choice is yours. I look forward to hearing from you.”
Following Beckham’s apparent silence, Lycett opted for the latter. He was then filmed shredding what looked to be £10,000 while wearing a rainbow coat in a stunt to highlight the host country’s record with the LGBTQ+ community.
