Brooklyn Beckham speaks out against parents in scathing Instagram post

The eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham accused his parents of controlling him and disrespecting his wife, Nicola Peltz.

By Rebecca Cohen and Alexander Smith

Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, the eldest child of soccer phenom David Beckham and his fashion mogul wife, Victoria, broke his silence Monday night on the long-rumored feud between him and his parents.

In a series of Instagram stories, Beckham accused his parents of controlling him for years, leaking stories to the media and manipulating the narrative about him and his wife, Nicola Peltz.

NBC News has asked David and Victoria Beckham, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham and Nicola Peltz for comment. On Monday, David Beckham told CNBC his kids have “made mistakes” on social media.

“I have been silent for years and made every effort to keep these matters private,” Brooklyn Beckham began the six-part story, before he said his parents have left him with “no choice but to speak for myself and tell the truth about only some of the lies that have been printed.”

“I do not want to reconcile with my family,” he continued. “I’m not being controlled, I’m standing up for myself for the first time in my life.”

He said that his parents’ previous social media posts about their family have been performative and that within the family, relationships are “inauthentic.” He added that his celebrity parents have pushed “countless lies in the media … to preserve their own facade,” later accusing them of having turned his brothers against him.

The lengthy posts are the latest development in the long-standing family feud that has gnawed away at the Beckhams’ attempts to project a perfect family life.

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In April 2022, reports in the British media suggested that Nicola Peltz — whom Brooklyn Beckham married in 2022 — had refused to wear one of Victoria Beckham’s designs for her wedding dress. Peltz later denied that, telling the British newspaper The Times that Victoria’s atelier could not make it in time.

Brooklyn Beckham’s Instagram post, however, gave a different version of events amid his claims that his parents have been “trying endlessly to ruin” his relationship with Peltz.

In the post, he claimed Victoria Beckham was set to make Peltz’s wedding dress but backed out “in the eleventh hour.” Around the same time, he said, his parents pressured him into signing away the rights to his name before he was wed. “They have never treated me the same since” he refused, he said.

The night before the wedding, Brooklyn Beckham said, family members reminded him that his bride-to-be was “not blood” and “not family,” he wrote.

Brooklyn Beckham also accused his mom of hijacking his first dance with Peltz at the wedding reception. He described a scene in which Marc Anthony called him to the stage for the first dance, which he said had been planned with Peltz for weeks, “but instead my mum was waiting to dance with me.”

“She danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone,” he wrote. “I’ve never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life.”

The family’s stories continue to splinter

Rumors of familial strife resurfaced in May, when the young couple inexplicably failed to show up at David Beckham’s 50th birthday party, a celebrity-packed dinner in London.

In his Instagram stories, Brooklyn Beckham gave his own explanation for his absence — saying the birthday party was the latest example of his wife’s being “constantly disrespected by my family.”

He described having felt “rejected” until the lavish party with hundreds of guests, saying that he was allowed to see his father only then and that he was told Peltz was not invited.

“My family values public promotion and endorsements above all else,” he said. “Brand Beckham comes first. Family ‘love’ is decided by how much you post on social media, or how quickly you drop everything to show up and pose for a family photo opp, even if it’s at the expense of our professional obligations.”

Brooklyn Beckham dispelled the long-standing rumor “that my wife controls me,” instead insisting that “I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life.” He said he grew up with “overwhelming anxiety” that has disappeared since he distanced himself from his family.

“My wife and I do not want a life shaped by image, press, or manipulation,” he wrote. “All we want is peace, privacy and happiness for us and our future family.”

Rebecca Loos, David Beckham’s former assistant, weighed in on the family drama in her Instagram comments Monday. When a commenter prompted her to see Brooklyn Beckham’s lengthy Instagram statement, Loos responded that she is “happy he is standing up for himself and speaking publicly.”

“I have felt so bad for his poor wife, knowing too well what they can be like!” Loos wrote in the comment, a representative confirmed.

In response to another commenter who mentioned the “fascinating admission from Brooklyn,” Loos responded, “The truth always comes out,” with a heart emoji.

A representative for Loos said she will not be making any additional comments on the Beckham family drama at this time.

David Beckham refuses to comment

The message puts a colossal dent in the Beckham dynasty, which has swelled from 1990s tabloid fascination into an international behemoth.

Though David Beckham, 50, retired 13 years ago, he remains arguably the most famous soccer player on the planet. He was among the first to fuse elite sporting success with a parallel life in fashion, celebrity and entertainment.

In 1999, he married Victoria Adams, then more commonly known as “Posh Spice” in the Spice Girls. She has since engineered one of pop culture’s unlikeliest second acts: swapping girl-band caricature for the role of global fashion doyenne.

The couple have always been happy to sell access to their most private moments. Pictures of their wedding and Victoria’s pregnancy with Brooklyn were syndicated to OK! magazine. And both David and Victoria have, in recent years, had separate films commissioned by Netflix (2023’s series “Beckham” and last year’s film “Victoria Beckham,” respectively) that were meticulously controlled versions of their family stories.

On Monday, David Beckham declined to answer questions about the Instagram post when he was asked by Sky News, NBC News’ British partner, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

He did appear to refer to the story during an interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box” at the summit.

“Children are allowed to make mistakes; that’s how they learn,” he said, discussing young people’s use of social media. “You have to sometimes let them make those mistakes.”

Understanding conflict in families and building stronger bonds.

Key points

• Many family tensions trace back to perceived favoritism, parental expectations, or sibling rivalry.
• Honest conversations about expectations help prevent misunderstandings.
• Accept that loved ones may take different paths while valuing family traditions.

Family life is a blend of love and challenges. While our families offer belonging and support, they can also be a source of conflict, often stemming from misunderstandings, unresolved issues, or differing values.

As a family coach, the key to overcoming these obstacles is understanding the root causes of tension and learning to handle them effectively. In this post, we’ll explore the three most common causes of family conflict and offer practical tips for diffusing them.

1. Unresolved Childhood Issues

Many family tensions trace back to unresolved childhood experiences, such as perceived favoritism, parental expectations, or sibling rivalry. For example, Olivia and Simon, both in their thirties, still struggle with unresolved resentment from childhood when Simon felt overlooked in favor of Olivia, the “golden child.”

How to Diffuse It:

• Open Communication: Create a safe space for honest discussions. Olivia could say, “I had no idea how much my behavior hurt you, and I’m sorry.” Empathy helps heal old wounds.
• Therapy or Mediation: Family therapy can provide professional guidance for more profound issues.
• Shared Experiences: Reconnect through positive activities like family vacations to build new memories.

2. Money Struggles

Financial stress often fuels family tension. Differences in financial views can create divides, as seen with Jared, a successful lawyer, and his mother, Martha, who lives on a fixed income. Jared feels obligated to help her but grows frustrated by her lack of financial initiative, while Martha resents his judgment.

How to Diffuse It:

• Set Boundaries: Honest conversations about expectations help prevent misunderstandings. Jared might say, “I want to support you, but I need to know you’re also working on budgeting.”
• Collaborative Budgeting: Set a shared budget to ensure transparency and avoid resentment.
• Emotional Support: Beyond finances, reassure loved ones of your care for their well-being.

3. Different Life Choices

As family members grow, their choices may diverge, creating tension. Rachel, an aspiring artist, left her corporate job to pursue painting, which her father, Richard, sees as irresponsible.

How to Diffuse It:

• Respect Differences: Even if you don’t understand the choice, respect it. Richard could remind himself, “Rachel’s happiness matters most.”
• Celebrating Individuality: Encourage family members to share their choices openly. Rachel could explain her passion for painting to Richard, helping him understand her decision.
• Adjusting Expectations: Accept that loved ones may take different paths while valuing family traditions.

Tips for Managing Family Tension

• Stay Calm: When tensions rise, step back before responding.
• Active Listening: Listen without interrupting to understand others’ perspectives.
• Compromise and Flexibility: Sometimes, agreeing to disagree is the healthiest approach.
• Regular Check-Ins: Keep communication open to prevent issues from lingering.

THE BASICS

• Family Dynamics
• Take our Family Estrangement Test for the Adult Child
• Find a Family Therapy Therapist

By addressing these causes and applying these strategies, families can work through tension and create stronger, more supportive relationships.