British singer Will Young is the latest high-profile figure to blast David Beckham for his support of Qatar.
Beckham took on paid role as an ambassador for the country in the run-up to the FIFA World Cup. Homosexuality is illegal in the Middle East country and LGBTQ people face harsh discrimination. Qatar has also faced criticism for other human rights violations, including its treatment of migrant workers.
Related: David Beckham gushes over Qatar in cringey new video and the responses are brutal
Young, who shot to fame on Pop Idol (the UK precursor of American Idol) 20 years ago, did not hold back. He posted his thoughts on Instagram.
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“Qatar is of course not the only country in the world with appalling records on human rights. The argument that sport is not political is duplicitous and two faced. Look at South Africa during apartheid, look at Russia now. Who decides the yays and the nays?,” Young began.
“What is undoubtedly clear however is a star like you @davidbeckham who I once sang for (not for any money I hasten to add) at your birthday has disappointed me more than I can say.
“Our paths crossed a fair few times due to being with 19 Management and you were always friendly and generous.”
19 Management was run by pop svengali Simon Fuller, a former manager of the Spice Girls.
“Cowardice personified”
Young, who is gay, continued, “People do things for money we all know that. Here is what irks me the most – not a WHISPER from yourself David to show solidarity, not a WHISPER from yourself to show support for the practical massacre of migrant workers, not a WHISPER David to help LGBTQIA+ communities living under constant danger.
“The decision to take the alleged £150 million over 15 years is greedy enough, the burying of your head in the sand from you, your team and your advisers is repellent and cowardice personified.
“So here is what I suggest if you won’t change your mind: give £1 million to LGBTQIA+ charities in Qatar every year that you get your £10 million a year. Can something be salvaged from this odious deal? Perhaps those funds can help provide much needed safety to those living in terror whilst your posters smile down on the people of Qatar.”
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Joe Lycett v. David Beckham
The FIFA World Cup is currently taking place in Qatar. Soccer fans have reported having anything with a rainbow confiscated at the security gates of stadiums.
Last week, queer comedian Joe Lycett also blasted Beckham for his support for Qatar. Lycett gave Beckam a week to rescind the deal or else he would shred £10,000 of his own money in protest.
Related: Queer comic threatens to shred $12,000 if David Beckham doesn’t ditch Qatar deal
Last Sunday, the deadline for a response passed with no word from Beckham. Lycett duly posted a video in which he appeared to throw £10,000 in a shredder.
“A platform for progress” pic.twitter.com/EeMelv01nu
— Joe Lycett (@joelycett) November 20, 2022
He later posted another video confirming the £10,000 threat was a stunt to raise awareness of the issue. He said he would never shred real money when so many people were struggling with the UK’s current cost-of-living-crisis. Instead, he shredded an old cover of the gay magazine Attitude, featuring David Beckham. Lycett said he was symbolically shredding any claim Beckham might make to being a “gay ally.”
🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/YuPYSQ2M6u
— Joe Lycett (@joelycett) November 21, 2022
Covid Hermit
I love football/soccer, but I am refusing to have anything to do with the World Cup because of the host nation’s draconian anti-gay laws, not to mention their disgraceful treatment of women and migrant workers, and the fact they basically bought the right to host the tournament (at the wrong time of the year no less). I’m not watching games and not following it on my phone/tablet. At least I have hockey to distract me until league games come back in January…
Neoprene
You go girrrrl! Just FYI: Despite the 0-0 result, USA-England today was excellent!
Chrisk
I don’t know why people have these expectations out of Beckham. He’s a narcissistic douche that lives in the 1% world of obscene wealth.
Good that these guys are rubbing his face in it though.
ScottOnEarth
I’m so glad queer celebrities are speaking-out on this. People like Beckham and his phony wife pretend to be allies when it’s convenient and timely but their greed and narcissism will always prevail. They have no true regard for equality or humanitarian treatment of all people.
LumpyPillows
The money they gave him and Morgan Freeman must have been huge. That’s the only thing I can think for them to support Qatar. I’m very disappointed. FIFA has always been a cesspool. Perhaps this will be the end of them over this.
GlobeTrotter
Hate to break it to you guys, but most of these celebs confessing solidarity with the gay community only do so for our money. Ditto corporate America. They’ve long ago figured out that the gay community is a formidable and relatively affluent consumer group, so they tell us what we want to hear and pose half-naked in a few gay magazines in exchange for our cash. It’s when push comes to shove however, that you see who’s still standing in your corner, which is why I’m so glad the Qatari millions forced David Beckham to finally show his true colors. I’m DONE with him!
Ronbo
Excess and wealth seems to change everyone for the worse – maybe we should stop kneeling down and praying to it, electing it, wearing it, etc….
Fahd
I admit I have been surprised at what moneygrubbers the Beckmans have turned out to be. I´m cutting ties.
Also, the club captains should have gone ahead with wearing the one love armbands instead of giving in to the FIFA mob bosses. I doubt FIFA would have escalated the situation. Bad call to cave in on standing up for what´s right.
An independent international investigation needs to investigate FIFA, and there needs to be huge reforms in that utterly corrupt organization, btw.
cuteguy
We all know that Beckham will try and give to some lgbtq charity AFTER the World Cup is finished through a well orchestrated publicity stunt in order to save face. We must never forget who and what David Beckham is and always has been. Like Maya Angelou said, when a person tells you who they are, listen to them the first time