David Beckham’s Acting Debut: Stick To The Day Job, Becks

The first reviews are in.

And they are not good.

David Beckham has been roundly mocked after making a hammy acting debut in his friend Guy Ritchie’s new film, King Arthur: The Legend of the Sword.A trailer from the movie was released Tuesday, showing the former England soccer captain speaking in the character of swordsman Trigger, advising a young Arthur to grab the sword Excalibur with two hands as he attempts to pull it out of the stone.

Beckham’s performance has attracted much mirth and derision on social media:

The footballer was mocked by his longtime antagonist Piers Morgan, who sarcastically said on a British TV breakfast show: “I thought it was fantastic. I thought it was a very, very good performance. Honestly. Oscars, wow, exciting.”