Our Story - Joe Lycett

Why Joe Lycett Might Kill Us All - and what he's got to do to stop himself

In the lead-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, British comedian Joe Lycett made global headlines. By his own admission, his (fake) money destruction was the biggest stunt of his career. It captured so much attention that it even made its way into Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons—marking the first time money destruction was debated in Parliament.

At first, Church of Burn was thrilled. The public frenzy over money destruction was exactly the kind of discourse we had hoped to spark. Debates erupted: Should Joe donate the money to charity instead? Is it a total waste? Or a price worth paying to highlight LGBTQ+ rights in Qatar, the World Cup hosts?

However, when Joe later revealed that the shredding was a mere ruse, our excitement turned to outrage. The Emergency Ecumenical Council convened in response to the shockwaves reverberating through our community. At the Bishop’s extraordinary request, the High Priest, on behalf of Church of Burn, penned a public letter directly addressing Joe. It detailed how Joe’s actions had jeopardized the future of humanity, inflicted harm on our Church, and outlined the steps Joe could take to make amends.

Despite various attempts to engage Joe, no response has been received. However the letter represents a pivotal moment in both the history of Church of Burn and the broader narrative of money destruction.

Read the full letter exclusively at The Vestry.