Joe Lycett

[Northernhibee]

Took issue with David Beckham accepting a reported £10m to be the face of the Qatari World Cup after being something of a gay icon before and shredded £10k of his own money today on a live stream. If Beckham had stood down, he would have donated it to charity.

Really in two minds about this stunt. No doubt it's raised a lot of discussion and shone a lot of light on the situation, but that money could have done a lot of good to a charity. Some of the voices arguing the latter (Nadine Dorries, GB News presenters) make me think the former.

What's everyones thoughts on it?

[wookie70]

Took issue with David Beckham accepting a reported £10m to be the face of the Qatari World Cup after being something of a gay icon before and shredded £10k of his own money today on a live stream. If Beckham had stood down, he would have donated it to charity.

Really in two minds about this stunt. No doubt it's raised a lot of discussion and shone a lot of light on the situation, but that money could have done a lot of good to a charity. Some of the voices arguing the latter (Nadine Dorries, GB News presenters) make me think the former.

What's everyones thoughts on it?

Same as you. Not sure as that money could have been put to much better use. I think he may have been better shredding the money at the end of the tournament. There is plenty discussion at the moment and he could have reignited the discussion after the football and tried to keep it going. I like Joe Lycett but the cynic in me thinks that is a huge amount of publicity for £10K.

[AugustaHibs]

The publicity he has got for LGBT rights is worth far more than £10k. Could buy you so I understand it from that view.

[OldEast]

The publicity he has got for LGBT rights is worth far more than £10k. Could buy you so I understand it from that view.

Is there really more discussion about LGBT rights or is it all about his utterly pointless act? Beckham won't give a toss that's for sure. I believe it's been reported on the likes of Al Jazeera and CNN but again what is the talk really about?
I'm ready to concede I'm wrong if the reporting has furthered the LGBT discussion rather than a story about some minor gay celebrity shredding a load of dough.

[Jones28]

The publicity he has got for LGBT rights is worth far more than £10k. Could buy you so I understand it from that view.

Agree with this.

Some something on Twitter last night that made a good point: if the money had been spent on advertising for the campaign no one would have batted an eyelid and it wouldn’t be getting talked about nearly as much.

I do think we have jumped to the morality of shredding the money, rather than the message the campaign was meant to have.

[The Modfather]

Am I too cynical to think that in amongst generating debate there’s also a dollop of self promotion and someone I’d never heard of looking to also further their career opportunities?

[danhibees1875]

It's a difficult one, and I totally get where his detractors are coming from when they talk about better use of that money but ultimately agree with the point above, just.

In terms of discussion it's created, the campaign couldn't have generated this level with £10k... However, has the discussion done £10k worth of good to the actual cause - I'm not so sure about that.



Am I too cynical to think that in amongst generating debate there’s also a dollop of self promotion and someone I’d never heard of looking to also further their career opportunities?

There's always a way to make anything look like it's done out of self interest - I'm not saying you're wrong, but I choose to give him the benefit of the doubt for now.

If nothing else, he had an entertaining title to his Fringe show a few years back that's stuck in my head: "That's the way aha aha Joe lycett, aha aha "

[BroxburnHibee]

Be surprised if it was real money. Job done as far as Lycett is concerned

[Stairway 2 7]

Good on him. Mr PR Beckham won't be amused. As has been said millions get spent advertising causes. I don't many of the anti Qatar human rights campaigns will get a thread on hibs.net, so it must have worked

[Jones28]

Am I too cynical to think that in amongst generating debate there’s also a dollop of self promotion and someone I’d never heard of looking to also further their career opportunities?

Thats a very cynical view. I don't think anyone can do anything without it being construed by some as self promoting. Except Lycett has dumped £10,000 of his own money by doing that. I don't really see what he gains from this.

[danhibees1875]

Thats a very cynical view. I don't think anyone can do anything without it being construed by some as self promoting. Except Lycett has dumped £10,000 of his own money by doing that. I don't really see what he gains from this.

Wait until he launches his UK tour tomorrow. :wink:

[Hibbyradge]

Am I too cynical to think that in amongst generating debate there’s also a dollop of self promotion and someone I’d never heard of looking to also further their career opportunities?

This event has nothing to do with further Lycett's career.

He's already very well known, he's hugely popular, his tours are always sold out and he's very funny. He routinely attacks injustice and unfairness, and stands up for "the little people", usually in very funny ways which are more
impactful than the usual methods.

He is a well known TV personality and has had his own very successful, and hilarious, show.

I saw him live in a huge venue a few weeks ago and he was excellent so the fact that you, surprisingly, haven't heard of him is irrelevant.

Certainly, shredding the money has bought him more publicity than using it to buy advertising ever could, but everyone who hears about this is going to ask the question "why".

The answer to that, is the point of the exercise. It attacks Qatar's lack of human rights, it supports lgbtq rights generally, and it dilutes Beckham's highly positive and supportive publicity for Qatar for which he was paid £10m. It also highlights Beckham's hypocrisy.

I imagine that Lycett would quite like to be arrested and charged for the offence he has committed because that will give him another platform to promote LGBTQ rights.

[Hibbyradge]

Wait until he launches his UK tour tomorrow. :wink:

He just finished one. It was sold out and great.

[Hibbyradge]

Be surprised if it was real money. Job done as far as Lycett is concerned

It'll definitely be real money. If it was found to be fake, his credibility would be gone.

[Keith_M]

How much money do various groups spend on advertising?

To me, this is just the same. He's bought an extremely large amount of publicity for a cause he believes in, with his own money.

Job done.

[Hibbyradge]

How much money do various groups spend on advertising?

To me, this is just the same. He's bought an extremely large amount of publicity for a cause he believes in, with his own money.

Job done.

Indeed.

There are a lot of people who don't believe that anyone could possibly think that LGBTQ rights were more important than £10k.

[Hibbyradge]

Celebs aren't allowed to believe in anything other than themselves.

I remember Bob Geldof being accused of self promotion when he organised a couple of big gigs a few years ago!

Lineker and Neville are regularly told to "stick to football" when they dare to give their opinions about political or social issues.

It's nonsense.

[danhibees1875]

He just finished one. It was sold out and great.

Good time to launch a bigger one then. :wink:

To clarify, it was tongue in cheek from me!

Although, I maybe am more likely to see him should he return to Edinburgh.

[The Modfather]

This event has nothing to do with further Lycett's career.

He's already very well known, he's hugely popular, his tours are always sold out and he's very funny. He routinely attacks injustice and unfairness, and stands up for "the little people", usually in very funny ways which are more
impactful than the usual methods.

He is a well known TV personality and has had his own very successful, and hilarious, show.

I saw him live in a huge venue a few weeks ago and he was excellent so the fact that you, surprisingly, haven't heard of him is irrelevant.

Certainly, shredding the money has bought him more publicity than using it to buy advertising ever could, but everyone who hears about this is going to ask the question "why".

The answer to that, is the point of the exercise. It attacks Qatar's lack of human rights, it supports lgbtq rights generally, and it dilutes Beckham's highly positive and supportive publicity for Qatar for which he was paid £10m. It also highlights Beckham's hypocrisy.

I imagine that Lycett would quite like to be arrested and charged for the offence he has committed because that will give him another platform to promote LGBTQ rights.

Fair enough, I merely made a point that I didn’t think this would harm Lycett’s career reputationally, or likely financially either. That is a cynical view and maybe unfair on Lycett, but I don’t think it’s an unreasonable question. Your robust defence is also fair though.

It’s raised awareness and generated debate. Maybe it would have been more positive from me to focus on that rather than the cynical question. Either way I hope it was fake money he shredded and he quietly donated that money to a good cause.

[Kato]

Is he in the KLF?

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[Onceinawhile]

Those worrying about him shredding the money - he didn't.

He donated 10k to charity instead.

[Hibrandenburg]

Am I too cynical to think that in amongst generating debate there’s also a dollop of self promotion and someone I’d never heard of looking to also further their career opportunities?

Nothing wrong with a win win situation.

[Northernhibee]

Am I too cynical to think that in amongst generating debate there’s also a dollop of self promotion and someone I’d never heard of looking to also further their career opportunities?
He tours arenas and has two TV shows, I don’t think he needs the promotion.

[Smartie]

Is he in the KLF?

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The "burning money" issue and the controversy it causes has always fascinated me.

I think the KLF had tried to ask the question that if they burned the million pounds, stuffed the ashes in a suitcase and as a piece of art it ended up worth more than a million pounds then would it be worth it? Hard to monetise, but I wonder what the £££ value of the publicity the KLF have received over the years would be worth? Drummond has stopped well short of saying he regretted it but he has said that there have been times when he could have done with the money.

Overall I think they are powerful and significant gestures. I love how it's folk, normally Tories, for whom money is their God, who take great exception to these gestures. Personally, I think it often focusses a sharp spotlight on all sorts of good that people can do with their time and money at all times that they choose not to do, every minute and every day of their lives.

Do governments and banks not just print money all the time anyway?

Good on him, I say. Great publicity for a cause he clearly feels very passionate about and probably money well spent.

[OldEast]

I'll ask the question again. Is anybody discussing LGBT because of this or is the discussion all about Joe Lycett and the effectiveness or otherwise of this stunt.

[Stairway 2 7]

I'll ask the question again. Is anybody discussing LGBT because of this or is the discussion all about Joe Lycett and the effectiveness or otherwise of this stunt.

We're currently talking about it on a Scottish football clubs forum, job done joe

[OldEast]

We're currently talking about it on a Scottish football clubs forum, job done joe

No we're talking about Joe Lycett and his stunt. How has it furthered your understanding of LGBT issues? I've been all over the internet and see nothing even remotely linking his stunt with discussion or further understanding of LGBT rights.

[500miles]

Qatar's laws on homosexuality are backwards and bigoted without a doubt. However, we're excluding a lot of the Muslim world if they pulled the WC on that basis - which I'm fine with, but if it was put in those terms to some of the people railing against Beckham today, im not sure they'd be so cavalier.

Find it a bit sickening that this is overshadowing the 6500 deaths and slave labour used to build the stadiums. Shady practices regarding imported "fans" from Pakistan getting 10 pound a day and 3 meals to fill seats is still ongoing.

Gay white anger seems always seems to outweigh brown and black lives. The Iranian captain as well, what a story, what bravery.

I'm also a bit uncomfortable with the idea that because Beckham done some sexy photos and a puff piece for attitude, he is somehow now property of the gay community. Just because I pulled my plunger to a copy of FHM, doesn't mean Abby Clancy owes me one

[Kato]

The "burning money" issue and the controversy it causes has always fascinated me.

I think the KLF had tried to ask the question that if they burned the million pounds, stuffed the ashes in a suitcase and as a piece of art it ended up worth more than a million pounds then would it be worth it? Hard to monetise, but I wonder what the £££ value of the publicity the KLF have received over the years would be worth? Drummond has stopped well short of saying he regretted it but he has said that there have been times when he could have done with the money.

Overall I think they are powerful and significant gestures. I love how it's folk, normally Tories, for whom money is their God, who take great exception to these gestures. Personally, I think it often focusses a sharp spotlight on all sorts of good that people can do with their time and money at all times that they choose not to do, every minute and every day of their lives.

Do governments and banks not just print money all the time anyway?

Good on him, I say. Great publicity for a cause he clearly feels very passionate about and probably money well spent.The KLF deleted their catalogue quickly after burning that money so any publicity was worthless.

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[Stairway 2 7]

No we're talking about Joe Lycett and his stunt. How has it furthered your understanding of LGBT issues? I've been all over the internet and see nothing even remotely linking his stunt with discussion or further understanding of LGBT rights.

That's ridiculous. It's like how much more educated are you on each charity advert you see, probably not very much but it about raising awareness.

His point was to stop Beckham pocketing millions and its at least bought 10ks worth of bad press to Beckham. The price to media attention ratio is massive. Many people don't watch football so they wouldn't have seen the debate around kanes armband ect. They might have seen Lycett is going to burn 10k ok social media and investigated more

[BroxburnHibee]

It'll definitely be real money. If it was found to be fake, his credibility would be gone.

https://twitter.com/joelycett/status/1594657948525289473?t=3W_3_tJSwAQwZOCtKF0xTQ&s=19

[OldEast]

That's ridiculous. It's like how much more educated are you on each charity advert you see, probably not very much but it about raising awareness.

His point was to stop Beckham pocketing millions and its at least bought 10ks worth of bad press to Beckham. The price to media attention ratio is massive. Many people don't watch football so they wouldn't have seen the debate around kanes armband ect. They might have seen Lycett is going to burn 10k ok social media and investigated more

I'm already aware of LGBT. Lycett hasn't made me more aware.
What does 10k's worth of bad press to Beckham mean in reality? Some people MIGHT have seen the stunt?
I think people are giving far more importance and relevance to this than it deserves.

[CropleyWasGod]

I'm already aware of LGBT. Lycett hasn't made me more aware.
What does 10k's worth of bad press to Beckham mean in reality? Some people MIGHT have seen the stunt?
I think people are giving far more importance and relevance to this than it deserves.

Then it's probably not aimed at you.

[Stairway 2 7]

I'm already aware of LGBT. Lycett hasn't made me more aware.
What does 10k's worth of bad press to Beckham mean in reality? Some people MIGHT have seen the stunt?
I think people are giving far more importance and relevance to this than it deserves.
I'm aware of hunger in Africa I don't need to see an oxfam advert its not made me more aware.
It's brought up the subject to millions. I say millions as I notice that twitter video a couple of post us he put up, has 1.1 million views in two hours. I think you're underplaying the relevance

[OldEast]

Then it's probably not aimed at you.

Definitely not you're right. My original question though was has it increased awareness and understanding as many, including on here say. Or is all the talk merely been about the stunt? Probably best I leave it now but one final question. For those who claim it's anything other than a pointless stunt, how has it raised your awareness, or that of anyone you know? Have you or they spent time investigating the LGBT issues?

[Kato]

Definitely not you're right. My original question though was has it increased awareness and understanding as many, including on here say. Or is all the talk merely been about the stunt? Probably best I leave it now but one final question. For those who claim it's anything other than a pointless stunt, how has it raised your awareness, or that of anyone you know? Have you or they spent time investigating the LGBT issues?

If everyone in public eye had kept schtum over the years LGBT issues would never have been investigated, gay people would still be getting jailed for nothing.

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[OldEast]

If everyone in public eye had kept schtum over the years LGBT issues would never have been investigated, gay people would still be getting jailed for nothing.

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Very good and I agree. How's about having a go at answering my question.

[Stairway 2 7]

Very good and I agree. How's about having a go at answering my question.

Your question is daft. That video above has now been seen by 1.8 million people in a couple of hours. Have we to ask all of them if this has got them to find out more about Qatar's treatment of LGBT.

[CropleyWasGod]

Aside from the publicity that this has created, we shouldn't forget that the £1,000 that's going to charities will help to support the LGBT community in this country.

Double-result IMO.

[Pretty Boy]

Very good and I agree. How's about having a go at answering my question.

There's almost no one in the world who hasn't heard of Coca Cola, they are one of the most instantly recognisable brands in the entire world. Yet they still spend anywhere between 2 and 4bn dollars every single year on advertising and more again on protecting their brand. No one really needs reminded that Coca Cola exists yet at this time of year their adverts are synonymous with the season, particularly in the western world. Why?

I'm not sure if Joe Lycett has raised awareness with this stunt. He's certainly got people talking though, this thread is testament to that. It's the same principle, it's not necessarily about introducing people to the product/subject but rather keeping it at the forefront of their minds.

[OldEast]

Your question is daft. That video above has now been seen by 1.8 million people in a couple of hours. Have we to ask all of them if this has got them to find out more about Qatar's treatment of LGBT.

The majority of whom are either already followers or folk like me who saw a link and followed it to see the act happening.

[OldEast]

There's almost no one in the world who hasn't heard of Coca Cola, they are one of the most instantly recognisable brands in the entire world. Yet they still spend anywhere between 2 and 4bn dollars every single year on advertising and more again on protecting their brand. No one really needs reminded that Coca Cola exists yet at this time of year their adverts are synonymous with the season, particularly in the western world. Why?

I'm not sure if Joe Lycett has raised awareness with this stunt. He's certainly got people talking though, this thread is testament to that. It's the same principle, it's not necessarily about introducing people to the product/subject but rather keeping it at the forefront of their minds.

At last someone prepared to suggest or at least question if it has actually raised awareness. Why do folk keep twisting the point to suit their views? I've never once said it's not stimulating conversation but rather it's conversation about the stunt rather than LGBT issues. What's so hard to understand about that?

[CropleyWasGod]

The majority of whom are either already followers or folk like me who saw a link and followed it to see the act happening.

If 1% of the minority have been moved to examine their own views, job done IMO.

And if it's reinforced the views of the majority, even better.

[Pretty Boy]

At last someone prepared to suggest or at least question if it has actually raised awareness. Why do folk keep twisting the point to suit their views? I've never once said it's not stimulating conversation but rather it's conversation about the stunt rather than LGBT issues. What's so hard to understand about that?

I would suggest that conversation about the stunt stimulates further conversation about the matter in hand, not among everybody but that't true of any subject.

Personally I've found that this World Cup and the whole debate around it has motivated me to look at several issues in more detail. Particularly in the way certain issues have been at the forefront in Qatar but likely won't be in the USA in 4 years (women's rights immediately springs to mind). I'd also argue that there is a level of complacency in the UK and further afield around homophobia and, arguably more pertinently now, transphobia. The days of section 28, stigma around HIV and criminalisation have slipped from the general public conscience and the odd timely reminder that both are still real issues is welcome.

If Lycett's stunt hasn't stimulated any response from you, me or anyone else on the forum then what does it matter? If it's motivated even a handful of people to consider the issues raised then it's worthwhile imo.

[Stairway 2 7]

At last someone prepared to suggest or at least question if it has actually raised awareness. Why do folk keep twisting the point to suit their views? I've never once said it's not stimulating conversation but rather it's conversation about the stunt rather than LGBT issues. What's so hard to understand about that?

I think your at the ham to be honest.

[Hibbyradge]

https://twitter.com/joelycett/status/1594657948525289473?t=3W_3_tJSwAQwZOCtKF0xTQ&s=19

I saw it. I'm surprised.

[OldEast]

I would suggest that conversation about the stunt stimulates further conversation about the matter in hand, not among everybody but that't true of any subject.

Personally I've found that this World Cup and the whole debate around it has motivated me to look at several issues in more detail. Particularly in the way certain issues have been at the forefront in Qatar but likely won't be in the USA in 4 years (women's rights immediately springs to mind). I'd also argue that there is a level of complacency in the UK and further afield around homophobia and, arguably more pertinently now, transphobia. The days of section 28, stigma around HIV and criminalisation have slipped from the general public conscience and the odd timely reminder that both are still real issues is welcome.

If Lycett's stunt hasn't stimulated any response from you, me or anyone else on the forum then what does it matter? If it's motivated even a handful of people to consider the issues raised then it's worthwhile imo.

Your last paragraph is fair comment. Whilst I believe his stunt was no more than than that for the overwhelming majority of people who saw it I'll agree it's possibly got some thinking. Thanks for engaging.

[OldEast]

I think your at the ham to be honest.

That's up to you buddy.

[Kato]

Very good and I agree. How's about having a go at answering my question.I don't know everyone who has seen the story so there is little chance I'd be privy to every conversation its started.

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