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?

How long before the Oprah interview

I’ve no feelings about either of them tbh. I don’t know much about them, the Brooklyn story has entered my consciousness a few times - mainly because of his hilarious attempts to make his own career. Good luck to them, what a lovely life. This thread has been genuinely eye opening to me, seeing how much people hate them and the hilarious things like calling them narcissists etc. Very MN of course.

Of course we can all interpret anyone’s words however we wish, but I think it’s pretty clear that these words are neither a response to Brooklyn nor solid policy direction on kids and social media.

The Beckhams or the P-Bss? Or both - a programme each?!

David presented his own father as very hard on him and pretty controlling when he was growing up in his Netflix documentary. He then had Sir Alex Ferguson trying to control his every move from about 16 years of age. It’s history repeating itself. David knows no other way to be a father. Didn’t Alex Ferguson try to split David and Victoria up?

They added: "Everyone is in shock. But Victoria is totally in pieces over this. But, she is worried, as is David, that this will be the end of Brand Beckham, with the claims of the falseness and pretend relationships; they are worried about what else he is going to come out with.
According to the same source, blame within the family has once again been directed at Nicola, despite Brooklyn insisting the decision to speak out was his alone.
They’re still blaming Nicola, feeling she had put him up to this,” the insider said. “But as Brooklyn said, he had to do this. He’s sick of being controlled by their narrative.”
addressing the claim, the source said: “Victoria, it doesn’t matter if she was drunk, she said it was a bit of fun – it was highly embarrassing.”

I don't think that 'source' is from DB or VB!! (or any representative of theirs).

I'm going with made up by the Express for clicks.

Honestly just bored of your obtuseness and trying to be as clear as possible.

YOU think it's pretty clear but that's your opinion which you're presenting as an objective fact here. If we're being objective, the results of the poll so far that the majority, although by only 2%, disagree with you.

And I don't think it's a lovely life for all of them at all. I feel sad for them tbh. A family split like this is no fun, and neither is living in the public eye. I know some far less famous but still famous people personally and professionally and while there is a lot of great things that fame and money (and talent) can bring, there is also a huge heap of stress and limitations and the need to always be aware of your image.

The feeling is mutual, but still...Caps Lock?! Really? 😂 You have a good night, I'm off to sleep now.

Of course, that’s why I said ‘I think’.

No doubt there are difficult bits of being rich and famous, but compared to huge swathes of people in this country - let alone the world - it’s a lovely life. If they don’t like it they can withdraw from public life and live quietly, as many famous people have done over the years.

💤

" as many famous people have done over the years."

Yes, but that is people who have created great works of literature, art, films, music, stuff that resonates with the public for years so they are still remembered and talked about, this lot would be forgotten in five minutes if they let go of social media, they obviously don"t want that.

Absolutely - they enjoy the limelight so they stay in it. They have enough money to last a lifetime so it’s not like they need to stay and earn. They enjoy being in the public eye. And, despite his protestations, so does Brooklyn otherwise he’d stop living his life all over instagram.

It’s so interesting hearing people’s reactions to all this brouhaha. And how people see what most resonates with them. I’ve just skimmed the whole affair but what sticks out to me in the transcript of DB was “But what I’ve found personally, especially with my kids as well, is that they use [social media] for the right reasons”

He said that the day after the Instagram reel/story from his son. Perhaps he was mainly referencing using it as a professional tool rather than to show off their fancy cars or shoe collections, but he still said this and included all his children.

That’s what sticks out to me. I really have to stretch to see the points about infantilising Brooklyn, narcissism etc etc. To me he comes across as a weary dad who’s been through the (media) wars and knows shit happens and that his son is going through the same stuff he went through 25+ years ago. It’s a forgiving dad who sees his son cock up, a son who hasn’t the first clue what it’s like to raise kids in the spotlight being hounded by paparazzi (as they were back then) seeing as he’s not a parent himself and frankly has no clue what the real world that he’s been protected from is actually like.

Im pretty sure the parents have made huge mistakes in some of their choices, and I’m pretty sure they love their children dearly. Im also pretty sure Brooklyn is a spoilt brat lacking maturity who’s had some struggles in life. What’s unforgivable of the son is the untold damage he will have done to his siblings, his wider family, his future children and whatever discord this is undoubtedly going to sow or amplify in his marriage now or in the future.

Exactly, they are addicted to the adulation, if you could even call it that, most people just envy them and are drawn to have a nosey at the lifestyle, the majority of people gazing at them on social media would also enjoy watching their downfall I think.

Yeah and Oprah in the middle aghast

Oprah in the middle loving it 😂

"People" make mistakes? Why did he have to say children? He is not DB's "child". He is their son, yes. But no longer their "child".

I think DB was talking about the much darker stuff on SM that kids can access, not his son having a hissy fit because he has a family that makes money from keeping control of their media image. The surprising part for me is that anyone would think they need DB to explain how social media is fucking people up! Someone described him as "not the brightest bulb" (he is though in terms of the materialistic celebrity world we inhabit because he has made a ton of money!) slightly harsh, but he is not an engaging speaker or chat show guest, he just comes over as a nice decent bloke who would lend you his lawnmower (yes I know he doesn"t cut his own grass)

I wonder if, as with Harry, there is now going to be a slow drip feed of awful revelations. Brooklyn must be privy to all sorts of information. I wonder if there is terrible animosity between Victoria and Nicola. I wonder where the truth lies. Is it really possible that the Beckhams are almist coercive parents. That is a stretch too far surely. If true, it's very disturbing. I've always felt that DB isn't anywhere near as nice as his carefully controlled public image would have us believe he is.

In all honesty, he isn't that old. Is he 26? When I was 26 I thought I had life sussed. A good 20 years on and I realise how young I was.

There has been quite a lot of research lately about brains not actually maturing till we are over 30.

He is within the range of still finding his bearings in life. And, as you say, people of all ages make mistakes so I'm not really sure the child thing is all that offensive.

Right?!

he's literally talking about children and social media and his role in UNICEF

What the hell is it got to do with his adult son? This is ridiculous.

Makes a change from seeing Trump's mug on it every time I switch on. At least it's UK news of sorts!

fair point!

I'm 50 and am still my mother's child. Your children are your children no matter how old they are. I would fully expect my mother to respond to the question, how many children do you have with, "I have two children." Says nothing about their age or independence or any kind of possession or control.

If someone asks me what I'm doing this weekend I might say my children are coming to visit for lunch. I'm not going to say my people are coming to visit for lunch. That would sound weird.

Doesn't look like BB"s claims are holding water now so it sounds like he's suffering from mental health problems that have made him paranoid.