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Artist Jonathan Greenyer: “The Beckhams are masters of self publicity. This is a very generous donation, but David could have raised £3.3m by many, many methods.
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What Does Bracknell think? Is Beckham charity donation selfless act or publicity stunt?

By Jennie Slevin
February 13, 2013

Last week David Beckham signed a five-month contract with French side Paris Saint-Germain vowing to donate his £3.3 million earnings from the club to a Parisian children’s charity.

This week we asked our panel what they thought of this move? Is it selfless and charitable or just a PR stunt to keep the Beckham brand strong?

Jonathan Greenyer, an artist from Winkfield: “The Beckhams are masters of self publicity. This is a very generous donation, but David could have raised £3.3m by many, many methods.

“All credit to their image advisers as once more David Beckham is seen as relevant, involved, edgy and caring. All the characteristics that ensure the Beckham brand continues at full strength and will win him plaudits, sponsorship and column inches.”

Caroline Allain said: “I think it’s great that David Beckham is donating wages to charity, although the cynic in me wonders how much of a tax break he gets for it.

“Generally, a lot of footballers are highly overpaid and don’t need that much cash, and end up wasting it on flashy cars or prostitutes, so I really do commend him for giving it to charity and hope it encourages others to follow in his footsteps.”

Hazel Kent, of Bracknell Market Cafe: “Fantastic. So this country raised him and got him where he is today so the obvious thing is to give his money to a different country. That sounds about right! What happened to charity beginning at home?”

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Most recent user comments 7 of 7

I tend to agree with timespassing. There is always an ulterior motive to people who are loaded giving to charity and it is generally for a tax break, not because they are lovely people.

HK, bracknell
14/02/2013 at 16:40

Was he donating money to charity or sticking up two fingers to the French government and their avowed intent to bring in a 75% tax rate. The man's a patriot!

timespassing
13/02/2013 at 20:52

David Beckham is a god among men - or at least a tasteful statue.

If he earns the money he can do what he wants with it. It's nobody's business. I doubt anyone here would be too appreciative if David commented on what you spend your hard earned rubles on.

(and I know for a fact that Bruce has a chronic Muzzy's habit, tut tut!)

Mme. Madeline Vegas
13/02/2013 at 17:08

Really? So when Didier Drogba announced he is using the millions he earned whilst at Chelsea to build a Hospital in his home country of the Ivory Coast there was uproar was there?!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4132856/Drogba-Now-the-war-in-Ivory-Coast-is-over-I-can-build-my-country-a-3m-hospital.html

Bruce Wayne
13/02/2013 at 13:09

I agree, if a foreign player playing for a premiership team donated his money to charity I'd expect it to go to a British one.

Rumpelstiltskin, Penn Islands
13/02/2013 at 10:58

Hazel - Its a French club and French money - if he tried to give it a UK Charity there would be uproar .... at the very least we should be a grateful that a deserving cause is going to get a lot of money as a result?

Tom Edwards, Bracknell
13/02/2013 at 10:44

Love Hazel Kent's comment, that's exactly what I thought! Excellent thing for him to do, regardless of whether it's a publicity stunt or not, but he should have given it to a decent UK charity. One that doesn't have a CEO on £600k a year for example! But let's face it, he's David Beckham, he doesn't need any publicity, everyone knows who he is and he's insanely popular!