The comedian Joe Lycett has said that he will shred £10,000 of his own money if David Beckham does not drop his £10 million deal with Qatar to promote the World Cup.
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Lycett is against Beckham’s partnership with Qatar over the country’s human rights record and its stance on homosexuality. Reporting on his website benderslikebeckham.com, Lycett stated if Beckham did not comply his ‘status as a gay icon would be shredded’ along with the cash, as per The Guardian.
Qatar
Commenting on Qatar, Lycett went on to say:
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.
Qatar has been widely criticised for its human rights record, treatment of foreign workers and lack of gay rights with Qatari FIFA World Cup ambassador and former footballer Khalid Salman recently describing homosexuality as ‘damage to the mind’, as per CNN.
The charity Human Rights Watch stated that as recently as September this year, ‘queer people were being detained without charge’ – and violently and sexually assaulted, under ‘morality’ laws, as per The Guardian.
Shredded cash
In a message directly to Beckham, Lycett stated:
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.
Pointing out the risk he himself is taking, Lycett went on to say:
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.
Destroying cash is actually not illegal in the UK, although deliberately defacing notes is, with the Currency and Banknotes Act of 1928 stating it is illegal to print, stamp, or otherwise tamper with a banknote, as per The Progression Playbook.
Fans of Lycett and Beckham as well as the public at large are now eagerly waiting to see what happens as the situation develops with the ball now in Beckham’s court.
Sources used:
- The Guardian 'Joe Lycett to shred £10,000 if David Beckham promotes World Cup in Qatar'
- CNN 'Qatar FIFA World Cup ambassador says homosexuality is ‘damage in the mind’'
-benderslikebeckham.com ''A message to David Beckham'
-The Progression Play 'Is it Illegal to Destroy Money in the UK?'
