David Beckham has sparked fresh speculation about a rift within his famous family after sharing a 2025 year-in-review post on Instagram that notably excluded his eldest son, Brooklyn. The former England football captain, 50, posted a heartfelt look back at a landmark year which included his 50th birthday and receiving a knighthood, but the absence of his 26-year-old son was conspicuous.
A Family Celebration With One Notable Absence
In the post shared on Thursday 1 January 2026, David Beckham expressed his gratitude for an "incredible" year, writing: "I feel very lucky to have had the year I've had in 2025, full of moments that I will never forget from my 50th to my knighthood." He was recognised for his services to sport and charity at a Windsor Castle ceremony in November.
The carousel of photos featured his wife, fashion designer Victoria Beckham, 51, and three of their four children: Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20, and Harper, 13. Brooklyn Beckham, however, was completely absent from the collection, which included images of David and Victoria smiling together, a group shot without Brooklyn, Cruz posing with his father on a boat, and David with Harper at a cooking class.
Setting the Record Straight on Social Media
The post came just days after reports circulated that David and Victoria had unfollowed their eldest son on Instagram. This claim was swiftly denied by their son, Cruz Beckham, who took to his own Instagram Story to clarify the situation.
Cruz stated unequivocally: "NOT TRUE. My mum and dad would never unfollow their son… Let’s get the facts right. They woke up blocked… as did I." This revelation suggested that it was Brooklyn who had taken the step to block his parents and brother on the platform.
A Year of Tension and Separate Celebrations
Rumours of discord within the Beckham clan have simmered throughout 2025. The tension reportedly began in April with a rift between Brooklyn and his brother Romeo, allegedly connected to Romeo's then-girlfriend, Kim Turnbull. Tabloid reports suggested Turnbull had briefly dated Brooklyn prior to her relationship with Romeo.
The strain appeared to manifest publicly in June, when Brooklyn and his wife, actress Nicola Peltz, skipped Victoria Beckham's Paris Fashion Week show. Sources claimed Turnbull's attendance was the reason for their absence. Notably, Romeo and Turnbull ended their seven-month relationship in June.
Further signs of a separation emerged in August, when Brooklyn and Nicola held a lavish vow renewal ceremony officiated by Nicola's billionaire father, Nelson Peltz. The event was dominated by the Peltz family, with David, Victoria, and Brooklyn's siblings conspicuously absent from the shared photographs.
The most recent indication of a family divide came over the Christmas period. While David and Victoria celebrated with their three younger children, Brooklyn spent the holiday with Nicola and her parents. The couple shared images on Instagram wearing matching red pyjamas in front of a Christmas tree, with Nicola captioning the post with seasonal well-wishes.
Brooklyn's Response to the Speculation
While Brooklyn Beckham has not directly addressed the current rumours, he spoke about dealing with family drama in an interview with the Daily Mail in September 2025. He emphasised the support he receives from his wife, stating: "There’s always going to be people saying negative things, but I have a very supportive wife. Me and her, we just do our thing, we just keep our heads down and work. And we’re happy."
He added that he "never" worries about headlines concerning his private life, dismissing much of the chatter as "rubbish." Despite his apparent dismissal of the rumours, the evidence of a physical and digital distance between Brooklyn and the rest of the Beckhams continues to fuel public fascination with the state of their relationships as the new year begins.
