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?

Why are you so invest OP? All this yeah but, yeah but

'Would any of them be prepared to give up such a lucrative avenue of self-promotion, that's the question. And that goes for all of them, including Brooklyn.'

Why would they? When the world supports their delusions of grandeur by becoming invested in their mere existence. When a mediocre ex footballer, who married a less than mediocre ex pop star ends up being invited to fucking DAVOS!!

And that talentless wee nomark shares a bitchy tweet about his mealtickets and mainstream/social media light up. There's now a piece in The Times...I mean for the love of god.

Will someone please consider my poor blood pressure. 😂

I thought you may have been being disingenuious, but you'll also note I took the time to give you a detailed, serous answer.

I've told you what I think he should have said instead and why, giving two reasons, one of which doesn't relate to his children at all and simply to the topic of what he was being asked about. Do you agree with my second reason as to why its problematic?

I'm a laywoman too, it took me under a minute to put this together. I'm sure as a professional you'd have a lot more useful things to say. In the context of DB and the fact he has a PR team to help 24/7 even if he isn't the brightest bulb, I am pretty certain he could have prepared a different, more appropriate response without any unnecessary or perceived undertone. I see what you're saying though, perhaps it's his PR's cock up in diluting it clumsily or he fumbled delivery on the spot. We won't know the story.

The article itself is sympathetic to Brooklyn - I mean the “source”. May not have been VB directly - I’m sure they can manage to get certain information out without making a statement themselves.

It’s equally possible the express have completely made this up. Not renowned for their fact checking are they?

Honest? I've had a horrendous 2 days in work and it's a big escape that I really need right now. Enjoying a debate, too.

You were completely rude and it was unnecessary.

We work in a positive risk management pathway so, yes children do need to learn to make mistakes and come back from it. I dont read into those comments that involves stalking, abuse etc, thats an overreach.

I didn't say they didn't make this up? Did you mean to quote somebody else in that regard?

Exactly, of course he doesn't. Which is why it's problematic he said he what he did about 'children making mistakes and that's how they learn'. It's a mis-step. He could have said, "children make mistakes, that's natural, and I am promoting education on this topic to help reduce the harm that can come to children when they are not aware of the risks". Or he could have said nothing to do with children making mistakes.

Except that not everyone sees an unnecessary or perceived undertone. So perhaps there isnt one.

No, i wasn't "completely rude".

You can't work in safeguarding regarding social media.

The Beckham children probably learnt how to do selfies whilst learning phonics. In my opinion very unhealthy they were pimped and can’t imagine any parent doing this. Many celebrities pixilate their children’s photos. And those critical of Brooklyns use of sm - maybe that’s all he’s known since he was a child.

I agree it is possible. VB having leaked something herself - given David’s comments and statement today I think is equally possible.

Just my opinion though.

No, you linked the article, I commented on it.

Yes KP is another one who seems to insert herself into high places.

Similar to many children then. Two of the boys did photo shoots as teenagers, they have public eye careers (is one a model and one a footballer?)

Absolutely this @GardenGaff - it is nauseating the way these parents have sexualised a child. How old is this poor girl - 13/14? Eeeuuuggghhh

Oh come on , at what age does anyone stop becoming their parents children. I'm really old and she has two children

You said: "It is equally possible..."

But I didn't make any mention of whether the source may have been VB or otherwise, or whether it was made up. So what is "equally possible" in response to what I said?

You’re reading way too much into it. Perhaps because you don’t like him/them. His comments were innocuous and answered the question that was asked, in his own way. UNICEF aren’t the expecting him to have all the data, he’s there for a bit of glamour and fluff and the media splash that anything he says will create.

THE ARTICLE CITES A SOURCE.

IT IS EQUALLY LIKELY THE EXPRESS HAVE MADE IT ALL UP.

I think this is exactly what has happened.

It isn't a massive leap for me at all to believe he might well have found numerous aspects of his childhood difficult. I mean, most people do, so why not him? I guess the difference when those things stem from a variety of privilege is a) nobody gives a sh"t and thinks you just should stop whining and b) it is probably easier to "blame" parents than if they were struggling to provide financially etc. Yet they no doubt had plenty of other pressures of a different nature. For eg, the Loos thing must have been hard for VB. Yes, affairs are common but most people don't weather "did he/didn't he" fascination in the media.

FWIW I would have loathed having B's childhood.

So yes, the complaints might have been there for a long time, but I think the relationship between VB and N has probably set the match to the bonfire of issues he carries from his childhood (as do so many people; it's not unusual).

The IG statement, I think, suggests this. There are not a whole lot of references to things I could really feel sorry about, such as paps when he was a little boy, the Loos saga etc. Instead, the focus was essentially on the N/V clashes and things like V trying to "steal" the first dance. To me that's something that grates on the bride's nerves - and when that bride has presumably had a lot of getting her own way, that is probably even more inflammatory. Add to that that the Beckhams no doubt struggle in the face of a wealth that dwarfs theirs - something they have underpinned their "brand" with - it was never going to be an easy MIL/DIL relationship.

I think there is a lot of dysfunctionality in it all, but probably no single player is "the one" at fault. It's the same old, same old of complicated dynamics where everybody's insecurities and resentments and missteps add to the mix - then it all gets writ large because they have a public audience.

He hasn't played it perfectly, but then I suspect none of them have, and I am not unable to feel sorry for him in some respects.

No I'm not reading too much into it. It's an interpreation which is why what he said was problematic, for at least two reasons.

Perhaps you like him/them? I'm pretty neutral. There's a fair bit I admire about him and VB but there are also things I find unsavoury. I think they are very careful about their imagea and what they say, and this has basically been proved to be a fact. Eg his leaked emails about how much charity work he has to do before he gets a Knighthood.

It's because he's been known to be so careful about his image that I think there was subtex regarding BB in DB's statement. I think he's a clever man tbh and I think he chooses his words carefully. And if he doesn't choose his words carefully, then he hasn't learnt from the 30 or so years he's had in the spotlight.

Why Caps Lock? I am capable of reading, including reading with understanding. Your post was unclear. Or you've 'read too much into mine', perhaps. Interpretations can vary, but there is no need for this, it's not 1995 to type furiously 😂🤷🏼‍♀️