If my kids saw this they would cry, says Beckham
AS anyone in the public eye will tell you, image is everything. So when David Beckham came face-to-face with a golden statue of himself with a thin head, big chin, long arms and an outrageously proportioned bottom, he was none too impressed.
With no idea he was being pranked, the star complained he had been made to look like Stretch Armstrong, the action figure toy that can be pulled in all directions. He even fretted that the artwork would make his children weep. The 43-year-old thought he was viewing a statue due to be unveiled at his former Los Angeles club, LA Galaxy, later that day.
In fact, it was a spoof piece that had been organised by comic pal James Corden to replace the real thing.
Beckham’s face dropped as soon as he saw the statue showing him with wonky eyes and only three teeth.
An actor posing as the sculptor explained: “I believe, what I did here was try to capture you in motion,” to which Beckham replied: “Look at my chin. It doesn’t really look nothing like me, look at my eyes. The only thing that’s good is the hair. Look at my bum. There’s no way that can go at the front of the stadium.
“My parents are coming over, my wife’s coming. Look how long my arms are, I honestly look like Stretch Armstrong. If my kids were to see this they’d just cry.”
Behind the scenes, Late Late Show host Corden was in fits of laughter. Things took a turn when a forklift truck “accidentally” smashed the statue to the ground – with Beckham telling the driver “You probably did me a favour”.
Corden then came out and Beckham realised he’d been had.
The statue bore a remarkable likeness to one of Cristiano Ronaldo that was ridiculed when it was unveiled in 2017.
Beckham’s official – more flattering – statue was revealed later that day, at the California club where he spent five years.
| Daily Mail