In an open letter to Beckham’s PR team, Lycett implored him to act in the next few days after giving him a week to make a statement before he took the money to the shredder.

The comic said that if Beckham was to donate his fee to LGBTQ+ causes, then that would also be enough for him to not carry out his threat.

Lycett said four days after his initial contact, he is still waiting for a reply from Beckham.

The comedian shared the letter on Twitter, it read: “I’ve managed to get myself into a bit of a pickle—I’ve been a bit daft and publicly announced that I’m going to shred £10k on Sunday if David doesn’t end his relationship with Qatar, or donate the cash to LGBTQ+ charities if he does, yet we’re now four days out and I haven’t heard a peep from him.

“Could you do me a solid and let me know if there’s a chance he might budge on his position, or am I to expect radio silence on this? I really don’t want to shred ten grand!!!

“I also really don’t want a national treasure that has historically supported the LGBTQ+ community to publicly endorse and advertise a nation state that has an appalling human rights record and has the death penalty for gays—call me old fashioned!!!!!!

“There’s still time for David and his team to do the right thing. I’m happy to speak to you about this at any time that you find convenient.”

Lycett had originally shared a video in which he called out Beckham for his endorsement of the soccer tournament.

He is seen sat a desk with the money and appealed to the former England soccer captain to ‘do the right thing’ for the LGBTQ+ community.

The comedian said: “This is a message to David Beckham. I consider you, along with Kim Woodburn and Monty Don, to be a gay icon.

“You’re the first premiership footballer to do shoots with gay magazines such as Attitude, to speak openly about your gay fans, and you married a Spice Girl, which is the gayest thing a human being can do.

“But now it’s 2022. And you signed a reported £10 million deal with Qatar to be their ambassador during the FIFA World Cup.

“Qatar was voted as 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.”

Lycett continued: “If you end your relationship with Qatar, I’ll donate this 10 grand of my own money, as a grand for every million you’re reportedly getting, to charities that support queer people in football.

“However, if you do not, at midday next Sunday I will throw this money into a shredder just before the opening ceremony of the World Cup and stream it live on a website I’ve registered called benderslikebeckham.com.

“Not just the money, but also your status as a gay icon will be shredded. You will be forcing me to commit a crime.”

Newsweek has reached out to Joe Lycett for comment.

Di Cunningham, co-founder of Three Lions Pride, spoke out on Beckham’s paid role for the World Cup during a webinar hosted by the Sports and Rights Alliance.

“We’re just so disappointed because the LGBTQ+ community has had David Beckham on a pedestal as a great ally, and then it turns out he’s an ambassador for this World Cup and that’s incredibly disappointing,” she said. “So I hope the message has got through that people will be criticized for that.”

Same-sex “sexual conduct” between men is criminalized in Qatar under Sharia, but a top soccer official from the country previously assured LGBTQ+ fans they would be safe and welcomed to attend the international competition.

LGBTQ+ groups still have concerns about safety and Liz Ward, Director of Programmes at Stonewall, previously told Newsweek: “As we approach the 2022 Men’s World Cup, we must remember that Qatar is a country where LGBTQ+ people are persecuted simply for being themselves. Sadly, this year’s tournament is not safe for everyone.”

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