The Victoria Beckham documentary - is this a weird perspective of mine?

[Jessekate]

Just reading about tonight's premiere of VB's documentary and seeing the Beckhams lined up ready to watch it, and all I can think of is how awful it is for the kids (and particularly Harper) having to watch all this.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we shouldn't ever be vulnerable in front of our kids and I know they have to understand the real world etc etc, but it just seems like such a lot for a 14 year old to have to absorb about a parent. So much vulnerability, all the stuff about eating (or lack of), VB being bullied as a child, her low self esteem. I look at my DD and DS (13 and 17) and think how worried they would be to hear all that about me and how anxious and protective it would make them feel, and in turn, how guilty I would feel. I don't think it's something that any amount of material wealth could compensate for. It would have such an impact on them, and not in a good way, I think.

I applaud VB for being so open, but part of me thinks it might have been a documentary to have done when all her kids were older...at least well out of their teens.

I also remember watching the David documentary and they were talking about how footie fans used to shout 'Posh spice takes it up the a*e' and again, all I could think of was....your kids are going to watch this. I was cringing on my sofa!!

I'm late 40s so maybe a bit old fashioned, but to me a lot about parenting is about having very filtered conversations in front of kids, even (or maybe especially) teenagers.

I don't mean to sound sanctimonious, although I probably do, lol! Just interested to hear other viewpoints, as everyone is going on about how amazing the documentary will be, but it can't be an easy watch for everyone in that family.

It is one of the most boring shows I have watched.

For her to talk about being bullied when she was an utter cunt to Katie Price is ironic.

It was a tax dodge. She also tried to claim furlough at the taxpayers expense during the pandemic and only gave it back when she was shamed for it.

I’m not sure it was a tax dodge as they seem to have had genuine losses

although they did take part in a few of the ax avoidance schemes that have been shut down in the last few years - like the film one

I just assumed they’d been through the script a million times which is what made it odd. She was also answering the questions almost before he’d asked them. Also that strange way she was holding her head throughout. I’d have ended up with neck ache and the silly way she has her hair over one shoulder. Looks so uncomfortable.

Hasn't everyone been bullied these days?

They have been through the script loads of times but that's what they do for all of them, and it's also a feature in all of them where it's like they've answering the questions before they're even asked because they're probably on the 10th take by them and the style of the interview is fast paced.

A side business that loses for a couple of years is a great way to dodge tax.
You can't get away with it forever though, a business can't keep making such huge losses year after year.
If you've just launched a new business where the clothes are as expensive as Louis Vuitton, yet you're an unproven designer, does it seem wise to you to 'spend' £80k on houseplants?

I’ve always quite liked VB and thought her previous documentaries were funny but this was soooo boring.

Agree it was too business focused, IMO. What about social VB with friends (?) a view of 50th Birthday? VB the Mum out with kids or socially with David? We saw a bit of family dynamic growing up but what about her siblings & VB as a sister?

I think it should be remembered she blatantly lied time after time about whether she had a boob job or not. Obviously her business and her choice but she obviously thinks the public are daft. Not sure why people would watch a documentary about her.

On reflection I think it was a pitch to gain investors or sell the brand?

The whole thing just reminded me of Amanda in motherland/amanda land ☺️ nice lady but utterly baffled by the real world

In whicj episode did she talk about an eating disorder?

The dancing with Harper was weird. I suspect they were aiming for something that would go viral like the Islands in the Stream video of D&B dancing.

But it was just awkward.

Actually, VB is awkward at all times.

I disagree. I was aware of the trauma my parents had experienced by the age of 14. It didn't have any negative impact on me, I'd say it was actually positive for me to develop empathy and understanding of the real world.

I think VB is so extraordinarily self-conscious that she seems quite fragile despite the 'in-control, tough, driven career woman' image she wants to portray. She seems so hyper aware of how she looks in every photo and every glance at the camera as she poses and moves her hair, that she always seems completely unable to relax. I understand that she had an awful time from the press ridiculing her but surely you get to a point where you can say 'f you' and smile and relax without trying to control everything, all of the time?

Shes just started Uni unless theres more than one daughter?

I know someone whos kids went to school with their children. There is lot the public don’t know. They are a brand they are nit together as a couple

I’ve just watched the first episode of this and found it.. unconvincing. Obviously VB is very self conscious but in the scenes from her London atelier it felt almost as if the staff had never really met her before , and certainly that the small talk was scripted rather than genuine. David didn’t do much to dispel the image of a mildly embarrassed husband cringing at his wife’s latest project. At points his body language suggested he was rather irritated by her , contrary to the script.
I felt a bit sorry for her rather than impressed, it all seemed so very dull.

Totally agree.
Parents need to protect their children. Not discuss their fears and insecurities and mental health problems in front of a TV audience of millions.

Just watched the first episode. She takes herself very seriously, doesn’t she? 🤣 She’s not as relevant as she thinks she is, and I thought she came across as self-serving and unintelligent. It’s a shame she hasn’t had proper treatment for her eating disorder. I think she suffers from very bad self esteem problems & may even be narcissistic.

I’ve always liked VB (but my point about having her children on show still stands). I do always think Emma and Mel C seem to have a much happier life, not being so public, seemingly no drama and still both incredibly rich 😉 Not Beckham rich, but my point is they both seem in a very good place and also look great (with less tweakments).

It's self indulgent clap trap, paid for by David. They are and always have been (and will always be) all about themselves, nothing they do is because they're truly interested in donating to charity or helping the needy.

Once David got his much longed for knighthood , I had hoped they would slither off to obscurity but no they inflict another tell all documentary on us, and the Brooklyn feud continues daily.

You can bet your bottom dollar that his PR said "David, go stand in the queue for the Queen, be one of 'the people', it will make you look humble and like one of them."

Her fashion line is laughable, at least in the beginning you had Roland Mouret helping design, whoever is designing now (and it won't be her) must be thinking "why am I producing nighties and trousers that are far too long".

Maybe if she had kicked David to the curb when he first cheated instead of letting him get away with it time and time again for the sake of Brand Beckham and the pretence of being a happy loving family, she wouldn't be such a self conscious woman. She also might get her eldest son back.

I like their kitchen and would love a full house tour.