David Beckham’s links to the gay community as Joe Lycett continues to pressure star over World Cup deal

Joe Lycett is making it his life's mission to troll the biggest names in British public life. And it seems his latest target is David Beckham.

With the level of questionable, to downright inconceivable, decisions being made by some of our politicians and sporting heroes, there is certainly plenty of material for the comedian to work with.

His latest ultimatum is to sporting legend, David Beckham, a man who - until now - could do no wrong. A man who, despite his millions, queued for more than 13 hours to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state in September 2022.

Revered and adored, a gay-icon and a family man. Until now.

Beckham has revealed he is an ambassador for Qatar in a rumoured £10m deal for the World Cup.

This deal has been met with disappointment among the LGBTQ+ community. Qatar is a country where homosexuality is illegal, same-sex relationships are criminalised by prison sentences, and the maximum possible penalty for Muslims is death by stoning.

But many may be curious as to what exactly Beckham's links are to the LGBTQ+ community. People World has taken a look back.

Although the way someone dresses is never an indication of their sexuality, David Beckham wearing a sarong back in 1998 was a pretty gorundbreaking moment.

The football star broke all stereotypes of his profession with the highlighted look.

Beckham also has history of breaking barriers with his polished looks in photoshoots that has challenged traditional manly norms.

His 2002 photoshoot with David LaChapelle for GQ is one example of this, as well becoming a cover star for gay publication Attitude Magazine in the same year.

The impact of his magazine cover was perhaps more present given that Becks was captain of the England football team at the time.

It seems 2002 was something of a pivotal year for Beckham as this was also when his close friend ELton John - an openly gay man - was named as godfather to his two eldest sons Brooklyn and Romeo.

And if those shoots weren't enough, Beckham spoke in 2007 during a BBC interview about feeling "honoured" to be a labelled a gay icon - the same tag Joe Lycett has pinned on him.

More recently in 2020, Beckham wore a top designed by his wife Victoria that featured the words 'Listen Without Prejudice' - the title of George Michael's 1990 album - in rainbow colours.

It's safe to say that despite being heterosexual himself, David is indeed an ally of the LGBTQ community.

Joe has given David an ultimatum. In an instagram video, Lycett sits at a desk with £10,000 in cash in front of him and says: "You're the first premiership footballer to do shoots with gay magazines like Attitude, to speak openly about your gay fans, and you married a Spice Girl, which is the gayest thing a human being can do.

"But now it's 2022. And you signed a reported £10m deal with Qatar to be their ambassador during the FIFA World Cup.

"Qatar was voted as one of the worst places in the world to be gay."

Lycett then goes on to give Beckham a choice: "If you end your relationship with Qatar, I'll donate this £10,000 of my own money, as a grand for every million you're reportedly getting, to charities that support queer people in football.

"However, if you do not, by midday next Sunday (20 November) I will throw this money into a shredder just before the opening ceremony of the World Cup and stream it live on a website I've registered called benderslikebeckham.com."

David Beckham is yet to respond.