Joe Lycett launches LGBT campaign against David Beckham
Comedian Joe Lycett has launched a new campaign against sports personality David Beckham.
The retired football star has received a reported £10 million to act as an ambassador for the Arabian country of Qatar, host of the 2022 men's football world cup, which starts next weekend. An Islamic state, homosexual acts are punishable with fines, prison sentences, or even execution.
The international football governing body FIFA has come under intense criticism since its decision to award the tournament to the country for this and numerous other reasons, including rights for and treatment of women, and use of slave labour in constructing stadiums, with associated organisations and personalities such as Beckham also under pressure for their implicit tolerance of those laws.
In his 'Benders like Beckham' campaign, named after the hit 2002 film comedy Bend It Like Beckham, Lycett argues that the former England and Manchester United pin-up is a gay icon, and implies he has abandoned his fans for monetary gain. In a campaign video launched today, he states: "I'm giving you a choice. If you end your relationship with Qatar I will donate ten 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 I will throw the money into a shredder at midday next Sunday, just before the opening ceremony of the World Cup and stream it right here. Not just the money, but also your status as gay icon will be shredded."
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The text of Lycett's announcement is as follows:
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.
But now it's 2022 and you've signed a reported £10 million deal with Qatar to be their ambassador during the FIFA World Cup. Qatar was voted as the one of the worst places in the world to be gay - homosexuality is illegal, punishable by imprisonment, and if you're Muslim, possibly even death.
You have always talked about the power of football as a force for good. Which suggests to me you have never seen West Brom. But generally I agree - so with that in mind I'm giving you a choice. If you end your relationship with Qatar I will donate ten 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 I will throw the money into a shredder at midday next Sunday, just before the opening ceremony of the World Cup and stream it right here. Not just the money, but also your status as gay icon will be shredded.
Also you'll be forcing me to commit what might be a crime. Although even then, I reckon I'll get off more lightly than I would if I got caught whacking off a lad in Doha.
The choice is yours. I look forward to hearing from you.
Joe Lycett
Update: Sunday 20th November
It appears Lycett has made good on his promise. He streamed himself putting £10,000 into a shredder.
Update: Monday 21st November
Lycett has admitted it was a stunt. "I would never destroy real money. I would never be so irresponsible." The cash was donated to charity. Full story