The carefully curated image of the Beckham family has been shattered by an explosive public statement from their eldest son, Brooklyn, who has accused his parents, David and Victoria, of prioritising their global brand over their children.
An Instagram Outburst Rocks the Foundation
In a lengthy and impassioned Instagram post on Monday, 26-year-old Brooklyn Beckham broke years of silence on the rift that has torn the family apart. He launched a scathing attack, alleging his parents have been "endlessly trying" to ruin his marriage to actress Nicola Peltz, 31, and "valuing public promotion above all else".
Brooklyn claimed his parents have controlled the media narrative about the family for his entire life, using "performative social media posts" and "inauthentic relationships" to maintain a facade. He accused them of "placing countless lies in the media" to preserve their image, often "at the expense of innocent people".
A Former Teammate Weighs In
In the aftermath of the post, former Manchester United defender John O'Kane, who claims to have lived with David during their youth team days in the late 1980s and early 1990s, offered a damning perspective. The 51-year-old took to X to share his view.
"I lived with Beckham for [a] few years... Let's just say he likes to be in TOTAL CONTROL and was OBSESSIVE on PERFECTION," O'Kane wrote. He added, "Brand Beckham should not come before your kids no matter what has happened!!"
O'Kane, who made seven first-team appearances for United, progressed through the club's famed youth academy alongside Beckham as part of the 'Class of 92'.
Wedding Woes and Birthday Snubs
Brooklyn's statement detailed a series of alleged incidents that fuelled the feud, which is believed to have begun in 2022. He claimed Victoria cancelled designing Nicola's wedding dress at the "eleventh hour", forcing a last-minute replacement.
He also alleged his parents pressured him to "sign away the rights to my name" weeks before the wedding, a deal that would affect his future with Nicola and their potential children. His refusal, he said, impacted a "payday" and changed their relationship forever.
The rift was publicly evident when Brooklyn and Nicola were absent from David's lavish 50th birthday party in May last year. Brooklyn claimed they travelled to London for the event but were "rejected for a week" in a hotel, with David only agreeing to meet him on the condition Nicola was not invited. "It was a slap in the face," he wrote.
Other key allegations from Brooklyn's post include:
- Victoria called him "evil" for seating his grandmother and Nicola's grandmother at their wedding table.
- Family members told him the night before the wedding that Nicola was "not blood" and "not family".
- His brothers were allegedly sent to attack him on social media before blocking him last summer.
- Victoria has repeatedly invited women from his past into their lives to cause discomfort.
- The family refused to support a charity effort by Nicola to save dogs during LA fires.
Brooklyn concluded by stating that stepping away from his family has alleviated a lifetime of "overwhelming anxiety". He and Nicola now seek "peace, privacy and happiness" away from a life "shaped by image, press, or manipulation".
The Fallout and Radio Silence
David and Victoria, whose celebrity friends reportedly reached out in sadness over the post, have yet to issue a public response. David was pictured looking weary-eyed at the World Economic Forum in Davos less than 24 hours after the statement was released.
The Daily Mail reported that relations deteriorated so badly last summer that Brooklyn asked his parents to communicate only through their lawyers—Schillings for the Beckhams and Harbottle & Lewis for him. A source stated, "David was told to speak to them via Schillings. That was the only way for them to communicate."
Despite the bitter dispute, Brooklyn remains in regular contact with both sets of grandparents.
