‘I’ll find somewhere else’: Joe Lycett says he won’t be visiting Qatar during his Channel 4 show ‘Travel Man’… following ‘money shredding’ protests over David Beckham’s World Cup role
Joe Lycett said he will not be visiting Qatar any time soon during his Channel 4 show Travel Man on Monday.
The comedian called former England player Beckham a “disgrace” for promoting Qatar before and during the World Cup without mentioning its anti-LGBTQ laws and human rights abuses.
The Birmingham-born star threatened to shred £10,000 of his own money if Beckham didn’t end his Qatar ad campaign, even posting a video of him “shredding” the money on social media.
‘I’ll look elsewhere because I’m happy anywhere’: Joe Lycett said he won’t be visiting Qatar anytime soon during his Channel 4 show Travel Man on Monday
He later revealed he hadn’t shredded any money and instead donated the £10,000 to LGBTQ charities.
Joe explained that he will find “another place” instead of Qatar for his travel series as he is “happy anywhere”.
He told Radio Times: “Well, I don’t think I’ll be performing on Travel Man in Qatar anytime soon. But it doesn’t matter, I’ll look elsewhere because I’m happy everywhere.
Not happy: The comedian called former England player Beckham a ‘disgrace’ for promoting Qatar before and during the World Cup without mentioning its anti-LGBTQ laws and human rights abuses
“My normal vacation consists of lying down and having fruit in my mouth. In fact, I could have a great time in Birmingham – just swap the tropical fruit for a Balti and I’ll be fine.
Joe recently faced a storm of hypocrisy after it was revealed he had played several shows in Qatar and the Middle East, despite his recent campaign against David Beckham for supporting the World Cup.
He wrote in his book Parsnips, Buttered that he played the gigs while poking fun at countries’ anti-LGBTQ laws.
Travel show: Joe explained that he will “find somewhere else” for his travel series than Qatar as he is “happy anywhere”.
He told Radio Times: “Well, I don’t think I’ll be performing on Travel Man in Qatar anytime soon. But it doesn’t matter, I’ll look elsewhere because I’m happy everywhere
Mr Lycett said: “I’ve played stand-up in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar. Friends of mine had warned me against traveling to these countries, claiming that, as one friend put it, “they don’t like their lot”.
“The penalty for being homosexual in these countries is often prison, the logic of which I have never understood. Oh you like men? We’ll put you in a box with some. Not exactly a punishment boys!’
Joe Lycett referenced a series of shows in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in his 2017 autobiography
It comes after Joe threatened to wipe out £10,000 of his own money if Beckham doesn’t finish his Qatar ad campaign, but later revealed the money was fake
A number of fans responded to Mr Lycett’s criticism of Beckham and the Qatari regime by accusing him of hypocrisy.
One said: “I don’t understand why you are so angry when I remember seeing you here in Qatar at the Radisson Blue at the laugh factory!
“You seemed to have no problem taking money from Qatar that night?”
Another said: “Lots of people share Joe Lycett’s publicity stunt that shames David Beckham. In 2015 he performed in stand-up in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar. In any case, feel free to criticize David Beckham, but don’t be hypocritical about it.’
Mr. Lycett’s representatives have been contacted for comment.
“Friends of mine had warned me not to travel to those countries”: Joe previously mentioned in his 2017 autobiography that he played a number of shows in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates