Shaughna Phillips brands Joe Lycett ‘disgusting’ for shredding £10,000 while others praise comedian’s ‘performance art’ in stand against Qatar-Alicia Adejobi-Entertainment – Metro

Love Island star Shaughna Phillips has made her strong feelings about Joe Lycett’s divisive stunt, where he shredded £10,000, very clear. 

The comedian went through with his promise to destroy the large sum of money if David Beckham did not step down as an ambassador of the Qatar World Cup, in light of the controversy surrounding the Middle Eastern country’s laws around the LGBTQ+ community and treatment of local workers. 

Former footballer Beckham didn’t back down and instead was front and centre at the first World Cup game on Sunday, watching from the VIP stands as Qatar played against Ecuador.  

At midday, Lycett posted a video of him appearing to throw wads of bank notes into a large shredder, although it’s not known if the money was genuine. 

Reacting to the move, Shaughna tweeted: ‘Someone shredding £10k in this current climate is absolutely vile. Doesn’t matter what the cause was, absolutely disgusting behaviour.’ 

Broadcaster Dominique Samuels agreed with the reality star’s sentiments and said: ‘Joe Lycett actually burned ten thousand pounds to make a stupid virtue-signalling point in a cost-of-living crisis, instead of donating that money to charity. 

‘What a tool.’ 

Joe Lycett went ahead with his promise to shred £10,000 (Picture: Benders Like Beckham)

It’s not confirmed if the bank notes were genuine (Picture: Benders Like Beckham)

David Beckham has reportedly received a hefty payday for his ambassadorship of Qatar (Picture: Getty Images)

Shaughna Phillips didn’t hold back in her criticism of Lycett (Picture: Rex Features)

Another critic weighed in: ‘I understand the point about David Beckham is in the wrong for taking money from Qatar. However, Joe Lycett shredding £10,000 just looks like an attention seeking stunt to me. Donating it to charity would have been better.’ 

However, there were plenty of others in Lycett’s corner including the Deputy Mayor of London for Housing, Tom Copley, who tweeted: ‘Totally understand the view that £10k would’ve been better spent donated to LGBTQ+ charities but this was performance art and it’s done a huge amount to highlight the hypocrisy of those who have taken money from Qatar while claiming to support LGBTQ+ rights. Good work.’ 

Times Radio presenter Darryl Morris also defended the comic and added: ‘If you feel uncomfortable about Joe Lycett shredding £10,000, that’s exactly the point.

‘It’s a statement on discomfort and money: at Qatar’s oppression of gay people and David Beckham profiting from them.

‘It’s performance art. It’s supposed to make you feel.’ 

One other supporter stated: ‘If you’ve held more issue with Joe Lycett shredding £10,000 than David Beckham being paid £10,000,000 to tell everyone how “good” Qatar is, then you’re part of the problem.’ 

Another commentator wasn’t sure how real the stunt was and said: ‘I’m convinced this Joe Lycett thing was nothing but a stunt and he’ll say so soon.

‘While it’s his money, would he really shred £10k instead of donating it to an organism or charity that supports the very people he was supposedly advocating for or am I mad?’ 

In Qatar, homosexuality is illegal and anyone found participating in same-sex sexual activity can be punished with up to seven years in prison. 

Beckham proudly stood in the stands at the first Qatar World Cup game on Sunday (Picture: Shutterstock)

The nation has also fallen under scrutiny amid questions over how many of its local workers, who have helped to build stadiums for the World Cup over the past 11 years, have died during the construction. 

In a video message shared last week, Lycett addressed Beckham directly and called for him to end his relationship with Qatar.

‘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,’ he said.

‘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. Not just the money, but also your status as gay icon will be shredded.’ 

Lycett added: ‘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.

‘The choice is yours. I look forward to hearing from you.’

Beckham is yet to respond to the stunt.

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