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?

For anyone interested, here’s the transcript:

interviewer: “What are your thoughts on how young people use social media today?”
David Beckham:
“I’ve always spoken about social media, and the power of social media — for the good and for the bad. The bad we’ve talked about, what kids can access these days — it can be dangerous. But what I’ve found personally, especially with my kids as well, is that they use it for the right reasons.”

“I’ve been able to use my platform and my following for UNICEF, and it’s been the biggest tool to make people aware of what’s going on around the world for children.”

“And I’ve tried to do the same with my children, to educate them. They make mistakes. Children are allowed to make mistakes. That’s how they learn. That’s what I try to teach my kids. But, you know, you have to sometimes let them make those mistakes as well.”

So, not really a response to Brooklyn but to a question that’s highly current in the UK and US. Of course it’s too juicy an opportunity for some people not to salivate over.

Making a statement about social media was always going to be awkward at this time. His statement does seem to be more general, but people were always going to link it to current happenings.

He’s probably not living on his parents’ money any more. I expect his in-laws have taken over now. He’s a grifter neobabe.

I think the best thing he could have done is say nothing, let the dust settle for a good long while, by all means rant and rave with Posh behind closed doors…but keep schtum in public and don’t poke the bear any further.

Making a patronising ‘children’ comment when your young adult offspring has just had a massive ‘I hate youuuu, mum & dad, you have ruined my liiiife!’ rant on social media…not the best move if you don’t want to alienate them even further.

But what was the point of the final few sentences? Completely unnecessary in response to that question. His use and references to UNICEF in that particular response are also neither here nor there.

Invoking his children to appear like he gets it and is relatable? In light of his son's post, he probably should have left that part off.

Thanks to this thread I’ve been reminded to watch the Boss One advert again on YouTube

Didn"t know that, yes that is more interesting than any of the other stuff about his son, but the majority of the public are not interested in bankers and elites gathering at a resort, very odd really?

That was extremely cringe given scrolling through DB’s socials reveals much self promotion unrelated to charitable works.

Some parents can't let go of wanting to be the boss, always see their offspring as underlings.
Also their children were very much part of their brand, their feelings of ownership of the brand were highly likely to spill over onto wanting to own & control the children.

I think he was answering the question he was asked but people are (naturally, given the posts made by Brooklyn yesterday) going to read into it what they want. Had the posts not been written yesterday nobody would think twice about his answers today, but they were and so people are second guessing everything he says and looking for meaning.

So, I think YABU - he was just answering the question he was asked and people are just interpreting it for the answers they want.

Yes, it's all so crass and undignified. Story of their lives, I suppose.

The whole thing is just very sad. I'm really glad I'm not the child of famous parents.

I was talking about this with DH earlier - and my friend not long after. How fucking dare David say 'children make mistakes, and children should be allowed to make mistakes.' As if Brooklyn is a silly naughty little boy, who is just behaving terribly badly at the moment, and when he comes round and realises what a naughty silly boy he's being, he will come back with his tail between his legs. If he begs and pleads enough, we maaaaay forgive him. Bless....'

As you say OP, he is a 26 year old MAN. I had been in the workplace for 10 years then, I was married, and I had a house, I had a career -

I was an independent adult, who could make my own decisions. I cut off a couple of toxic family members some 32 years ago in my mid to late 20s, (for valid reasons) and was treated like I was some kind of childish fucking idiot, )by a few people.) I had a couple older friends and acquaintances of the family, and a couple of parents neighbours, telling me I was a very silly girl, and I should grow up, and 'you can't just cut off family like this.'

I thought at the time 'just fuck off why dontcha? I am an independent married adult with a mind of my own, a job, a home, and a career. 32-33 years later, these 2 people are still cut out of my life. They never came to my wedding, they have never met my 2 children, and I don't care if they're dead or alive.

😅 Did it come up on this thread for you? The algorithm, eh! Credit where it's due, he remains in great shape.

Oh

So this thread is really nothing to do with the family issue.

No one is infantilising his child!!!!

DB knew the posts were made yesterday and that his answers today would be interpreted with that in mind. He deliberately chose to make the comments he did. He knows how the media works.

I agree with you OP.

They' ve probably been written ages ago in terms of discussion points

I see nothing wrong with David's response to a direct question.
He didn't say that he was perfect himself, either.

The whole saga is unfortunate.
There will be two sides, two truths and everyone looking in will assess the situation like experts.
David Beckham will continue to be a public figure and Brooklyn needs to vanish if he wants a peaceful life.

Trouble is, media report their every breath.

If you choose to assume a person versed in media management suddenly forgets how the world works then you're free to do so. Maybe I'm cynical.

Of course, media will link it because it sells ads/garners clicks. It’s very obviously not a response to his son’s post though.

Perhaps avoiding a UNICEF panel today would have been wiser, but he wanted that spotlight and he has it

Or he had a commitment and he chose to honour it, despite the circumstances.

You’re the one who conflated the two things, so coming back and castigating others for discussing the Brooklyn issue is hardly reasonable. Obviously you’re permitted to discuss his comments, and similarly I’m entitled to point out that other interpretations are possible.

I didn’t think it was sleazy or gaslighting. I thought he played it down so as to deescalate it. It sounded like him leaving the door open for if BB had a change of heart. Parents don’t get everything right. Sometimes they control their kids too long and forget when a kid becomes an adult they have autonomy. It’s easy to fall out over wedding plans and other stuff. But going nuclear isn’t necessarily the best response. I feel sorry for him.

His answers?

Maybe. But he made them live today. If you believe he wouldn't have had an emergency briefing with his team about how to answer questions today after Brooklyn's post, and tweak any pre-pepared answers, I have a bridge to sell you.

No need to accuse of "conflating" or "castigating", we simply have different views.