Joe Lycett blasts his family for not accepting his romance with a ‘nice and kind’ plastic racoon statue

Joe Lycett has announced he is "in love" with a plastic Japanese racoon he met in New Zealand.Joe Lycett has announced he is "in love" with a plastic Japanese racoon he met in New Zealand.
Joe Lycett has announced he is "in love" with a plastic Japanese racoon he met in New Zealand. | Channel 4
Joe Lycett has taken to Instagram to reveal he is ‘in love’ with a plastic racoon statue in New Zealand.

Joe Lycett has fallen “in love” with a plastic raccoon statue whilst in New Zealand. The comedian, 34, posted a picture of he and his new life partner to Instagram on Sunday (7 May). 

He told his 1.3 million Instagram followers that he met the Tanuki outside a restaurant and gave some insight into how his family took the news of his holiday romance.

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The Late Night Lycett presenter wrote: “So I’m on the other side of the world in New Zealand and happy and in love and yet I’m still having to deal with my family’s disgusting small mindedness and bigotry!!! 

“One of my family members who will remain nameless but is also my cousin Gary said, ‘we all love you Joe but we just don’t think you can marry a plastic statue of the Japanese raccoon Tanuki you saw outside a restaurant.’ IT’S. TWENTY. TWENTY. THREE. GARY. ANd still I have to put up with this s**t???? They say, ‘we support you and love you regardless’ and then refuse to let me be with my darling Tanuki, who is so sweet and charismatic and very funny and nice and kind. The owners of the restaurant said they will sell him to me if they absolutely have to but ideally not because it’s not convenient!!!”

The Brummie comedian also revealed that the two have consummated their marriage,  but assured fans to not be worried as he later went to hospital “for extensive checks/friction burns”.

Fans reacted to the news with overwhelming happiness for Joe and Tanuki the Japanese racoon-dog. One user said: “Power couple of 2023”. Another added: “Dont listen 2 the haters babe xx me nd the kids support u no matter what hunni x”.

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A third user showed their solidarity for Joe in relation to his cousin's comments, writing: “So sorry you're having to go through this, in this day and age…”

It appears the Travel Man presenter has had quite the bank holiday weekend. On Friday (5 May), his portrait of King Charles III went on sale prior to the coronation.

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