David Beckham responds to Joe Lycett after Qatar World Cup money shredding stunt

Joe Lycett has revealed that David Beckham’s team have now issued him with a statement in response to his infamous money shredding stunt.

Beckham signed a controversial deal to be the ambassador for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Before the tournament got underway, Birmingham-born comedian Lycett had publicly declared he would shred £10,000 of his own money if David Beckham keeps promoting the tournament.

Although Lycett said he would donate the £10k to charities that support gay people in football if the former England captain withdrew from the World Cup deal - for which the footballer reportedly received £10 million. However, if hidn’t doesn’t, Lycett warned, he will shred the money.

Beckham had come under fire for his role as ambassador for Qatar, as the country has been ranked as one of the worst countries in the world for LGBTQ+ rights, and Beckham has on previous occasions been viewed as an ally of the movement.

As the deadline for Lycett’s ultimatum passed, the Birmingham comedian posted a video on social media of him, dressed in a rainbow tulle jacket, throwing two piles of money into a shredder, before walking off set. The video has caused controversy, as fans said it was disrespectful to shred that amount of money while many people around the country are struggling to pay their bills.

However, Lycett posted yet another video, admitting that the money coming out of the shredder was indeed fake, Joe continues the video saying that the money had already been donated to LBGTQ+ charities before he had even posted the initial tweet telling Beckham of the ultimatum.

Beckham’s team provide response

Beckham didn’t respond to the video at the time, but Lycett has now revealed that he has received an ‘exclusive statement’ from the former England captain’s management team ahead of Lycett’s Channel 4 show about the stunt, which is set to air tonight (15 December) at 9pm.

Lycett wrote on Twitter: “UPDATE: David Beckham’s team have issued my programme with an exclusive statement, which will be broadcast tonight as part of my Got Your Back special at 9pm on Channel 4.

“As far as we are aware this is the only statement he or his team have given to any outlet regarding his involvement in Qatar. I have been advised that legally I cannot give my opinion on it, so you’ll have to make up your own minds. We also speak to some LGBTQ+ football teams and Dr Nasser Mohamed, the first openly gay Qatari, who Beckham blocked on Instagram. We also reunite some of the cast of Footballers’ Wives lol.”