Last week, David Beckham refused to pay £1 million to blackmailers who had hacked and doctored a series of personal emails between him and his team, broaching various subjects from his involvement with UNICEF to his lack of knighthood.
The leaked emails are between Beckham and his publicist, Mr Oliveira, suggest that he has used his work with UNICEF as part of a campaign for a knighthood. In one email, the former England captain branded the Honours Committee “unappreciative c***s” after missing out on a knighthood in 2013 and dismissed lesser awards, ranting: “Unless it’s a knighthood f*** off”. Beckham’s team have hit back at the emails, saying that some are doctored and others are taken out of context and therefore not factually the correct statements as written by Beckham.
Beckham's team have hit back at the emails
The hacker who went on to blackmail Beckham went by the fake name Artem Lovuzov and told Doyen Sports, part of Simon Oliveria’s firm Doyen Global: “a generous donation, and you can be sure that all the information I possess will be destroyed.”
This weekend, Beckham’s team released a statement reading: “This story is based on outdated material taken out of context from hacked and doctored private emails from a third-party server and gives a deliberately inaccurate picture, David and UNICEF have had a powerful partnership in support of children for over 15 years. The David Beckham 7 Fund specifically has raised millions of pounds and helped millions of vulnerable children around the world. David has given significant time and energy and has made personal financial donations to the 7 Fund and this commitment will continue long term. Before establishing the 7 Fund, David had supported UNICEF and a number of other charities over many years, including donating his entire earnings from PSG during his time playing there. David and UNICEF are rightly proud of what they have and will continue to achieve together and are happy to let the facts speak for themselves.”
This story is based on outdated material taken out of context from hacked and doctored private emails
In turn, UNICEF released a statement saying: “Some reports relate to alleged private correspondence between our ambassador and other parties, which we have not seen and cannot comment upon,” a statement from UNICEF read. “David Beckham has been a UNICEF goodwill ambassador since 2005, and as well as generously giving his time, energy and support to help raise awareness and funds for UNICEF’s work for children, David has given significant funds personally.”
Become a Gentleman’s Journal Member?
Like the Gentleman’s Journal? Why not join the Clubhouse, a special kind of private club where members receive offers and experiences from hand-picked, premium brands. You will also receive invites to exclusive events, the quarterly print magazine delivered directly to your door and your own membership card.
