CNN
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A British comic appeared to shred £10,000 ($11,000) in a video after failing to obtain a response from David Beckham over his controversial position as a Qatar World Cup ambassador.
On Sunday, Joe Lycett started tweeting an hourly countdown till his UK noon deadline (7am ET). At 12 pm GMT, he posted a video of himself shredding the cash on www.benderslikebeckham.com, a web site Lycett had been tweeting hyperlinks to.
He later posted it on his social media accounts with the caption “a platform for progress,” doubtless a reference to an announcement made by the soccer star in a pre-recorded message at Qatar’s Supreme Committee’s Era Wonderful youth pageant in Doha, the place he used these phrases to explain this yr’s World Cup.
On November 13, Lycett, who describes himself as queer on his web site, posted a video on Twitter, saying he would donate £10,000 to charities supporting “queer individuals in soccer” or put the cash by way of the shredder, together with “Beckham’s repute as a homosexual icon,” if the previous England captain didn’t lower ties with Qatar throughout the week. Homosexuality in Qatar is illegitimate and punishable by as much as three years in jail.
Beckham didn’t reply and, within the video posted on his Twitter feed on Sunday, Lycett appeared to place piles of cash into an industrial shredder whereas sporting a rainbow-colored high.
He then curtsied for the digital camera and walked away. The comic didn’t instantly reply to CNN when requested to substantiate whether or not he had shredded actual cash.
Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Supply & Legacy just lately informed CNN that the 2022 World Cup will “be an inclusive, secure event” and mentioned “everyone seems to be welcome, no matter race, background, faith, gender, orientation or nationality.”
Earlier this week, world soccer governing physique FIFA referred CNN to the Supreme Committee for Supply & Legacy for all remark referring to Lycett’s criticism of Beckham and Qatar.
Beckham, contacted by CNN on November 14 by way of his representatives, declined to touch upon the criticism round his ambassadorship. CNN reached out to his representatives after Lycett appeared to shred cash, however didn’t obtain a response at time of publication.
“Qatar dreamed of bringing the World Cup to a spot that it had by no means been earlier than, however that it wouldn’t be sufficient simply to attain issues on the pitch,” Beckham mentioned on the youth pageant. “The pitch can be a platform for progress.
“Desires can come true. That’s the reason you might be right here. You share Era Wonderful’s twin passions for the sport of soccer and for making the world a extra tolerant and inclusive place.”
A report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) printed in October documented alleged circumstances of beatings and sexual harassment whereas in detention. In keeping with victims interviewed by Human Rights Watch, safety forces allegedly pressured transgender ladies to attend conversion remedy periods at a “behavioral healthcare” heart sponsored by the federal government.
“Qatari authorities want to finish impunity for violence towards LGBT individuals. The world is watching,” mentioned Rasha Younes of Human Rights Watch.
A Qatari official informed CNN that the HRW allegations “comprise data that’s categorically and unequivocally false.”
Lycett, nonetheless, took intention at Beckham.
“You’re the primary Premiership footballer to do shoots with homosexual magazines like Perspective, to talk overtly about your homosexual followers,” Lycett mentioned in final week’s video message.
“Now, it’s 2022. And also you signed a reported £10 million take care of Qatar to be their ambassador in the course of the FIFA World Cup.”
“If you don’t, by noon subsequent Sunday, I’ll throw this cash right into a shredder simply earlier than the opening ceremony of the World Cup and stream it stay on a web site I’ve registered known as benderslikebeckham.com.”
Lycett is just not the primary particular person or group to criticize Beckham for his ambassadorship.
Adelaide United participant Josh Cavallo, who got here out as homosexual final yr, informed CNN Sport he wish to see Beckham utilizing his platform to help the LGBTQ neighborhood as an alternative of selling the Qatari authorities.
“If somebody like David Beckham along with his platform does get round us and turns into an ally that we’re wanting him to be, it’s actually useful.
“If he may take that subsequent step and present what he means to the LGBTQ neighborhood, that will be unbelievable.”
