Qatar Promotion 'Gay Icon' Beckham... Speaks Out Amid Controversy

Some Fans Criticize Qatar World Cup Promotion for Not Recognizing Sexual Minorities
Silent Beckham Expresses Hope for "Progress" Near Tournament's End

David Beckham, a football star representing England, is watching the Group B first match between England and Iran in the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup group stage at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on the afternoon of the 21st (local time). Photo by Reuters News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] David Beckham (47), who is serving as an ambassador for the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup, has officially responded to the criticism surrounding him.

Beckham, a football star representing the United Kingdom, is the ambassador for this World Cup. It is reported that he received 150 million pounds (approximately 240 billion KRW) in exchange for activities such as filming a commercial featuring scenes of him walking along the Doha waterfront promenade.

These activities have caused some members of the LGBTQ+ community to turn their backs on Beckham. Qatar criminalizes homosexuality, does not recognize sexual minorities, and imposes punishments. Many fans felt betrayed by Beckham’s actions, especially since he had previously expressed pride in being a "gay icon" and had enjoyed the love of sexual minorities for decades.

One fan even ground up about 16 million KRW worth of pounds in a shredder as a form of protest against Beckham. According to BBC, British comedian and bisexual person Rycett posted a video of this scene on his social media on the 20th of last month (local time). In the video, he wore rainbow-colored clothing symbolizing support for sexual minorities and fed stacks of money into a shredder one after another.

The money used at the time was fake, and Rycett later posted another message on social media explaining that he donated 10,000 pounds to an LGBTQ+ support organization.

Beckham, who had remained silent despite fans’ criticism, finally spoke out near the end of the tournament. According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 17th, Beckham stated the day before, "I have participated as a player or ambassador in numerous international matches including the World Cup, and I have believed that sports have the power to exert a positive influence worldwide."

He added, "I am aware that there are differing and strong opinions regarding the contract in the Middle East," and expressed, "I view positively that the first World Cup held in this region has sparked discussions on major issues." He further said, "I hope these conversations lead to better understanding and empathy for everyone, and to progress."

The NYT evaluated that Qatar, which utilized Beckham as an ambassador, enjoyed a promotional effect far below the amount of money spent. It pointed out that Beckham showed limited and passive behavior, such as agreeing to fan events only under conditions of prior non-disclosure to avoid sensitive questions, thus failing to properly fulfill his role as an ambassador. The NYT analyzed that Beckham’s avoidance of public appearances actually worsened international public opinion toward Qatar, resulting in a backlash.

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