Joe Lycett reveals he didn’t shred £10,000 in David Beckham World Cup protest
Joe Lycett has revealed that he didn’t shred £10,000 in a livestreamed stunt on Sunday, and has instead donated the money to LGBTQ+ charities.
The comedian, who is known for his high-profile stunts, had pledged to shred £10,000 of his own cash if David Beckham failed to end his controversial multimillion-pound World Cup promotion deal with Qatar ahead of Sunday’s first match.
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The moment comedian Joe Lycett dropped £10,000 into a shredder
When Beckham failed to respond, or acknowledge the ultimatum in any way, Lycett had appeared to carry out his promise, livestreaming himself dropping £10k into a wood-chipper on a website titled BenderLikeBeckham.com.
However, on Monday the 34-year-old posted an admission in a short video on social media, calling the stunt “an empty threat designed to get people talking”, adding that, like the football star’s controversial ambassadorship, it was “total b******* from the start”.
Calling this his “last message to David Beckham” he jokingly labelled himself, “that p**** who shredded loads of money in a cost of living crisis”.
He went on to explain: “I haven’t quite told you the whole truth… Because the truth is, 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 so irresponsible. In fact, the £10,000 had already been donated to LGBTQ+ charities before I even pressed send on the initial tweet last week.”
Directly addressing Beckham, he went on: “I never expected to hear from you. It was an empty threat, designed to get people talking.
“In many ways, it was like your deal with Qatar David, total b******* from the start.”
In his initial ultimatum, Lycett had warned that along with the money, the former England star’s “status as a gay icon” would also be shredded if he didn’t end his relationship with Qatar.
Proving the point, he went on to shred the famous David Beckham cover issue of Attitude – the first ever front cover of a gay magazine to feature a Premier League footballer.
Lycett said he had asked Attitude for permission to shred it, and that the publication had said “they were more than happy to oblige”.
Read more: Being gay is ‘damage in the mind’ – Qatar World Cup ambassador
Beckham in the Qatar World Cup stands before the first match
He then placed the June 2002 edition into a paper shredder propped up on bricks – not the industrial wood-chipper he had used for his initial stunt – and watched Beckham’s face disappear into the machine.
It has been reported that Beckham signed a multi-million-pound deal with the FIFA World Cup hosts, which Lycett said was worth £10m – but other reports have put as high as £150m.
Qatar has faced an onslaught of criticism since being chosen as the host nation, with the country’s poor human rights record and ban on same-sex relationships proving particularly problematic.
In Qatar, participating in same-sex sexual activity can be punished with up to seven years in prison, or even the death penalty.
Lycett ended his video, which was filmed in the same dingy room as his money shredding livestream the day before, by saying it had “all been quite a lot this” and that he was “off down the gay village to have a few pints”.
World Cup kicks off – Qatar take on Ecuador as fans celebrate start of event
Lycett said the money that went into the shredder was real, but the money that came out was fake. Pic: Joe Lycett
As with his initial stunt, which divided opinion (some saying it was immoral to destroy money when so many were in financial crisis, and others highlighting that Lycett was raising awareness for important issues), the revelation that the money had not actually been shredded has again given cause for debate.
Some called the comedian’s actions “attention seeking”, saying his admission had proved them right in confirming it was all a publicity stunt and reflecting that a star as big as Beckham would be unlikely to be bothered by Lycett’s antics.
Others however labelled him “an icon” and “a legend”, with one fan saying: “In a world of David Beckhams, be a Joe Lycett.”
One social media user, responding to a post saying “knew it was a publicity stunt”, replied: “A publicity stunt that got people talking about an important issue and resulted in charities getting £10,000. Works for me.”
Another joked that Lycett should be nominated for Sports Personality Of The Year.
The UK, France and Ukraine will work on a ceasefire plan to present to the United States, the prime minister has said, in the wake of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s White House clash with Donald Trump.
Sir Keir Starmer, who visited Washington on Thursday, said he believes Mr Trump does want a “lasting peace” between Russia and Ukraine.
He also said Europe is in a “moment of real fragility” and he would not trust the word of Vladimir Putin.
Follow live – UK hoping Ukraine peace plan can get ‘back on track’ at London summit
Referring to the argument in the White House’s Oval Office on Thursday between Mr Trump, US vice president JD Vance and Ukrainian president Mr Zelenskyy, the PM said it made him feel “uncomfortable”.
“Nobody wants to see that,” he told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
He added: “We have to find a way that we can all work together. Because, in the end, we’ve had three years of bloody conflict. Now, we need to get to that lasting peace.”
The prime minister said he was in his office when the White House shouting match began to be broadcast.
“Clearly, you know, there’s a lot of tension,” he said. “The cameras were on.”
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When Starmer met Zelenskyy: What happened?
Later in the evening he phoned both Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy, saying his “driving purpose” is to “bridge this and get us back to the central focus”.
On Saturday, the PM said he had “quite a long time with President Zelenskyy” before speaking to Donald Trump and French president Emmanuel Macron on the phone.
“We’ve now agreed that the United Kingdom, along with France and possibly one or two others, will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting, and then we’ll discuss that plan with the United States,” he said.
Of Mr Trump, he said: “I am clear in my mind that he does want a lasting peace.”
Asked why that was, he said: “Because I’ve spoken to him a number of times. I’ve got to know him. I’ve had extensive discussions with him and I believe his motivation is lasting peace.”
He added: “If the central question you’re putting to me is do I trust Donald Trump when he says he wants lasting peace? The answer to that question is yes.”
The PM said he was still pushing for a US “backstop” on Ukrainian security, adding that it was the subject of “intense” discussion.
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Ukrainians react to Trump row
The “components of a lasting peace”, he said, include a “strong Ukraine to fight on, if necessary, to be in a position of strength”.
And he is pursuing a “European element to security guarantees”.
“That’s why I’ve been forward-leaning on this about what we would do – and a US backstop,” he said.
“That’s the package: all three parts need to be in place, and that’s what I’m working hard to bring together.”
Asked if he would trust Vladimir Putin, Sir Keir said: “Well, no, I wouldn’t trust Putin, which is why I want a security guarantee.
“I wouldn’t trust him not to come again, because he’s proven that he will come again. He’s already done it and we know what his ambitions are.”
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said his party would support sending British troops to Ukraine as peacekeepers in the event that a “credible” deal is struck.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said European nations need to “make sure that America does not disengage”, adding: “If we all get dragged into an escalation, America will get dragged into it eventually.”
She described Volodymyr Zelenslyy as a “hero” and said her heart “went out to” him during the on-camera argument at the White House.
“I watched it and I couldn’t believe what was happening,” she said. “He was being humiliated.”
Such “difficult conversations” should not happen in front of the cameras, she added.
Read more from Sky News:
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Sir Keir Starmer greets Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni in Downing Street. Pic: Reuters
The UK is holding an international defence summit on Sunday, hosting the leaders of Italy, France, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Canada, Finland and Romania.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told Sir Keir Starmer it is “very, very important that we avoid the risk that the West divides” as she arrived for talks at Number 10.
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, and Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan will also attend the summit.
It is hoped the meeting will help to get things “back on track”, a government source has told Sky News.
However, they admitted there will be “more ups and downs” ahead.
“We must keep our eyes on the prize.”
The insider added that the government was “working yesterday to get [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy back to the table” and finish the minerals deal with the US.
That was thrown into question on Friday during the clash at the White House.
The source said: “We think it’s the right thing to do. Today is about getting European leaders to go beyond the Twitter rhetoric and step up on defence spending – prepare now for a world with no US security guarantee for Europe, not just in Ukraine.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the Ukrainian people “are truly thankful” for US support, hours after talks with Donald Trump descended into a row at the White House.
During a disastrous meeting with Mr Trump, the Ukrainian president was asked by vice president JD Vance, “have you said thank you once?”
In a lengthy social media post, Mr Zelenskyy said: “I always begin with words of gratitude from our nation to the American nation”.
The Ukrainian president insisted the US-Ukraine relationship “is more than just two leaders” but it was “crucial” for his country to have Mr Trump’s support.
He added: “American people helped save our people. Humans and human rights come first. We’re truly thankful. We want only strong relations with America, and I really hope we will have them.”
Ukraine latest: Zelenskyy says Ukraine should be ‘not forgotten’
Mr Zelenskyy will meet Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street on Saturday afternoon after his plane landed at Stansted Airport.
It comes ahead of a major summit hosted by the UK prime minister on Sunday, where more than a dozen European and EU leaders including Mr Zelenskyy will meet to discuss the Ukraine war and security.
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Zelenskyy’s plane lands in UK
The Ukrainian president had travelled to Washington DC to attempt to secure a ceasefire agreement after three years of war with Russia and a possible mineral deal with the US.
The meeting descended into a shouting match in front of cameras and journalists.
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Watch Trump and Zelenskyy clash
Mr Vance told Mr Zelenskyy: “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.
“You should be thanking the President [Trump] for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”
Mr Zelenskyy and Mr Trump clash. Pics: Reuters
‘You’re gambling with World War Three’
The Ukrainian president tried to object but Mr Trump spoke over him and told him: “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.
“You’re gambling with World War Three, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have.”
Mr Zelenskyy defended himself and his country, openly challenging Mr Trump on his softer approach to Vladimir Putin and urging him to make “no compromises with a killer”.
More from Sky News:
How Starmer secured wins at the White House
Inside the Oval Office with Trump and Starmer
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Trump and Zelenskyy’s body language analysed
European leaders express support for Zelenskyy
After the row, Mr Trump told his Ukrainian counterpart to leave the White House, according to a US official, leaving the minerals deal in limbo.
European leaders expressed their support for Mr Zelenskyy ahead of the UK summit on Sunday.
France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Olaf Scholz, and Poland’s Donald Tusk all shared social media posts expressing their support.
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