Joe Lycett shares update on David Beckham Qatar protest: 'I haven't quite told you the whole truth'

Joe Lycett has responded to criticism he received for ‘shredding’ £10,000 after David Beckham did not respond to his ultimatum.

The comic set the former England footballer a deadline of midday on November 20 to take action and pull out of his role as an ambassador to Qatar after it was reported Beckham had signed a controversial £10 million deal with the FIFA World Cup hosts.

The contest kicked off on Sunday in Qatar – where homosexuality is still illegal and anyone found participating in same-sex sexual activity can be punished with up to seven years in prison.

Lycett offered to donate £10,000 of his own money to LGBTQ+ charities if Beckham ended the sponsorship before the tournament started, and if not he said he would livestream himself shredding the money along with Beckham’s “status as gay icon”.

Beckham is yet to publicly acknowledge or respond to the comic.
Mike Egerton

Appearing to stand by his decision, the Birmingham-born comedian videoed himself on a Twitch stream wearing a rainbow-layered tulle outfit and placed wads of what appeared to be cash into an industrial shredder, but it was not clear if the banknotes were genuine money.

Now, he has shared another video to his Twitter in which he addresses those who criticised his decision to ‘shred’ the money during a cost of living crisis.

Sitting down in front of the shredder, he said: “This is my final message to David Beckham. It's me, that p**** who shredded loads of money and across the living crisis.

Lycett shredded a copy of the first ever cover of a gay magazine with a Premier League footballer on it, David Beckham.
Twitter: Joe Lycett

“So, where were we? I told you I was going to destroy £10,000 if you didn't end your relationship with Qatar before the first day of the World Cup, and then when you didn't end your relationship or even respond in any way, I streamed myself dropping ten grand into a shredder. Or did I?

“I haven't quite told you the whole truth, because the truth is the money that went into the shredder was real, but the money that came out was fake.

“I would never destroy real money. I would never be so irresponsible. In fact, the ten grand had already been donated to LGBTQ+ charities before I even pressed send on the initial tweet last week.

“I never expected to hear from you.It was an empty threat designed to get people talking.

“In many ways, it was like your deal with Qatar, David total b******* from the start.

“I’m not even queer. Only joking. There is one thing I'll shred. This is your Attitude magazine cover from June 2002.

“The first ever cover of a gay magazine with a Premier League footballer on it.

“I asked Attitude if I could shred it and they were more than happy to oblige.”

He then proceeded to put the magazine into a shredder.

“It's been quite a lot this, hasn't it? Right, I'm off down the gay village to have a few pints.”

Beckham is yet to publicly acknowledge or respond to the comic.