David Beckham responds to Joe Lycett’s criticism of Qatar’s World Cup appearance

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December 16, 2022, 12:14 | Updated: December 16, 2022, 12:41 PM

David Beckham’s official statement on Qatar was broadcast on television last night. Photo: 1. Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty 2. Twitter/JoeLycett

Beckham released a statement via a spokesperson on a special edition of Joe Lycetts Got Your Back, which aired Thursday.

David Beckham has responded to Joe Lycett’s stunt in which the comedian threatened to shred 10,000 if he didn’t end his appearance at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The former footballer has faced widespread criticism for agreeing to serve as Qatar’s ambassador during the FIFA World Cup due to the country’s human rights record.

Now he has finally addressed the backlash of a special edition of Joe Lycetts Got Your Back, which aired this Thursday, December 15.

The statement, delivered through a spokesperson, began: “David has been involved in a number of World Cups and other major international tournaments both as a player and as an ambassador and has always believed that sport had the power to be a force for good in the world.”

READ MORE: Joe Lycett admits faking 10,000 shredding in Beckham’s row in Qatar as he donates money to LGBTQ+ charities instead

He continued: “Football, the most popular sport in the world, has a real ability to bring people together and make a real contribution to communities.

“We understand that there are different and entrenched views on engagement in the Middle East, but we consider it positive that the debate on key issues has been directly stimulated by the holding of the first Cup. people in the region.

“We hope these conversations will lead to greater understanding and empathy for all people and that progress will be made.”

READ MORE: Joe Lycett changes name by Deed Poll to Hugo Boss

The show aired after Lycett appeared to shred 10,000 people live on social media, alongside a cover copy of Beckham’s Attitude magazine.

However, a day later he shared another clip, proving it to be a stunt and revealing he had donated the money to an LGBTQ+ charity instead.

Taking to Twitter on Monday, November 21, he said: “This is my last message to David Beckham.

“It’s me! The pr** who shredded big bucks in a cost of living crisis. 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 answered in any way I broadcast myself 10,000 in a shredder.”

READ MORE: Joe Lycett’s fake report Sue Gray ‘triggers panic’ as being mistaken for ‘serious leak’

The comic continued, “Or did I? I didn’t quite tell you the whole truth…

“Because the truth is that 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 this irresponsible. In fact, the ten grand had already been donated to LGBTQ+ charities even before I hit send the initial tweet last week.

READ MORE: Joe Lycett directs comedians in ‘b******’ Imagine parody cover after Gal Gadot’s post

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