Joe Lycett returned to screens on Thursday evening with a special instalment of his Channel 4 show Got Your Back to chart his ultimatum to David Beckham.
The comedian hit the headlines during the Qatar World Cup when he seemed to destroy £10,000 in a stunt to highlight the host country’s human rights record – especially in terms of the LGBTQ+ community.
The special episode explored how the comedian locked horns with one of the world's most famous footballers over his controversial position as an ambassador of the 2022 tournament.
The hour-long special concluded with Beckham’s highly anticipated response to Lycett, which saw him stress that football is a ‘force for good’.
A spokesperson for Beckham told the Channel 4 programme: “David has been involved in a number of World Cups and other major international tournaments both as a player and an ambassador and he has always believed that sport has the power to be a force for good in the world.
"Football, the most popular sport globally, has a genuine ability to bring people together and make a real contribution to communities.
"We understand that there are different and strongly held views about engagement in the Middle East but see it as positive that debate about the key issues has been stimulated directly by the first World Cup being held in the region.
"We hope that these conversations will lead to greater understanding and empathy towards all people and that progress will be achieved."
Yet fans at home were left cold by the statement, with some labelling it a ‘cop out’ as one took to Twitter to write: "David Beckham's spokesperson's response to Joe and the LGBTQ+ is as tone deaf as you expect.
"The fact there isn't any direct response from David Beckham just shows he doesn't care, he is just about his wallet. Wonderful special by Joe and the team."
Another wrote: "What a cop-out of a statement on Joe Lycett's Got You rBack... Shame on you, David Beckham."
A third echoed: "David Beckham has really shredded his reputation with this Qatargate deal. On Joe's show, he read out a piece of s*** statement from Beckham's PR. So much for LGBTQIA rights."
Another concluded: "Joe Lycett may not be able to comment on David Beckham's spokesperson's mealy mouthed statement on Got Your Back, but that b*******, nothing laden twaddle spoke volumes. David Beckham was never an LGBTQ+ ally."
Joe noted the programme lawyers had told him he could not comment on the statement from Beckham, but concluded that the footballer had still not directly addressed the LGBTQ+ situation in Qatar.
He added: "We need allies. Allies we can rely on not to run away the moment it looks difficult, or when the first yellow card is threatened.
"We need everyone to be our allies and we need them to remember that being an ally is for life, not just for Christmas specials."
