David Beckham's Response

[GrooveArmada]

The family feud has had a number of dedicated threads already, this is not a repeat.

I want to focus on DB's today's response, available here: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jan/20/children-make-mistakes-david-beckham-brooklyn-post

"Children make mistakes" - I find it incredibly offensive and gaslighting. His son is a 26 year old adult man. A husband. He isn't talking about a 5 year old in Reception here.

I think his PR advised him to put children into his response to seemingly soften it, but I think he's very undermining to Brooklyn and this language smacks of being controlling.

AIBU?

@sprigatito the levels of animosity for the Beckham parents astound me, as does the leap you make from David Beckham making comments on social media as part of his unicef job to him being infantilising of his son. How do we know they are narcissistic?

How do we know Brooklyn Beckham is not just a bit of a prick? Every family has got one…

Don’t forget putting her at risk of stalkers.

If the question was regarding children and social media I dont see how he could have avoiding the words childrn and social media. Whatever he said would be related to Brooklyn. He could have said "children need to understand what they say on SM is there forever and cant be unsaid." Children make mistakes is a much softer message if it is going to be related to his personal life.

Does anyone know how the conversation started?

Nor to Mumsnet.

I don’t understand what’s wrong with a family wanting to control the narrative in the press about themselves. Surely everyone wants to control the press about themselves? That’s exactly why people and companies employ PR experts.

Do you not see anything wrong with "controlling the narrative" at the expense of your children? Wow. No, I wouldn't go that far.

I can’t get over him being a 'global advocate for children’s rights‘. He sold his children from when they were foetuses. What about their rights? I’ve never been a fan of him or Victoria. I believe Brooklyn and I hope he will be ok eventually.

Parents don’t need to use dc to build their brand.

I had the same thought!

I doubt he needs their financial support now that he can tap into his wife’s family money.

I’m no big fan of DB but have a heart. He was due to be in the public eye today, the day after his son’s very public bombshell when I’m sure he’d have preferred to be quietly at home and with VB. Brooklyn may have known exactly when to cause the most hurt.

I thought exactly the same thing OP

Hooooraaayyyy !!!8

Whatever he said would be pulled apart. I get why he said it, its a shrug of the shoulders, shutting it down and actually referencing that families are complicated

Along with Katy Perry. Although she might be Justin Trudeau's plus one, but that doesn't make it any less odd!

Given his in-laws are even richer than the Beckhams, I would have thought if he’s “living off” anyone it’s them / his wife.

There is only so long people can keep on blaming their parents for he is an adult now

I mean no one has mentioned all the holes in the statement? Not to mention the fact brooklyn released it the same night his brother was releasing his album and tour launch last night ?

This is not a thread about Brooklyn's statement but about David Beckham's comments. There are multiple other threads about BB's statement (I'm not trying to be ridiculous here, just trying to keep the focus).

Big, BIG reach.

The brother who plays gigs in pubs has got an album and a tour? Wonder how that came about.

I'm not sure I understand. They were blamed for a variety of behaviours, many recent ones. I think today's comments added even more fuel to the fire, whether intended or not, DB should've known better.

What?? As In “I have two people, a man and a woman?”

Well you have framed David Beckham’s comments as a response to Brooklyn’s statement, which it wasn’t. I realise some of the press have done the same, for clicks obviously. What’s your reason?

Can't get excited about it.

I don't see anything wrong with referring to your adult children as children. That's what they are, your children, whether they are 7, 17, or 70. That's a non-issue.

I thought the response was reasonable as generally a non-response that shut it down quickly. Better yet might have been, "I won't discuss this with anyone but my son." I generally think it is a mistake to deal with this sort of thing in such a public way, however, can sympathise with responding in a public way to public gossip.

No real feelings about it either way.

I wouldn't