Updated (November 20): Click to the bottom of this story to see how it ended.
Watch: Comedian Joe Lycett issues scorching (and funny) £10,000 ultimatum to David Beckham over his deal with Qatar
Beloved British comedian Joe Lycett has offered to donate £10,000 of his own money to charities that ‘support queer people in football’ – if David Beckham withdraws his World Cup sponsorship.
Beckham will reportedly receive $277 million (£150 million) when the World Cup starts next week as part of his deal to be ‘the face’ of the 2022 tournament.
He’s faced backlash – which he has yet to publicly address – over the partnership, given homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and, in some cases, punishable by death.
Beckham really started to get heat over the deal after appearing in a promotional video, where he called the country – where gay people can be killed – “perfect”.
And if the England star fails to pull out, Lycett says he will shred all of the money during the World Cup ceremony and stream it online under the site benderslikebeckham.com (a play on the movie title ‘Bend It Like Beckham).
“You will be forcing me to commit a crime,” Lycett says in the clip.
“This is a message to David Beckham.
“I consider you along with Kim Woodburn and Monty Don to be a gay icon. You’re 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 signed a reported 10-million-pound deal with Qatar to be their ambassador during the FIFA World Cup.
“Qatar was voted as 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’ve always talked about the power of football as a force for good, which suggests to me that you’ve 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’ll donate this 10 grand of my own money as a grand for every million you’re reportedly getting, to charities that support queer people in football.
“However, if you do not, but midday next Sunday, 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 get off more likely than I would if I got caught whacking off a lad in Doha.
“The choice is yours. I look forward to hearing from you”, he ends threateningly (but still, somehow, funnily).
Watch the video below:
https://t.co/FqoC3hSFM8 🌈 pic.twitter.com/EPLVNwmnvV
— Joe Lycett (@joelycett) November 13, 2022