By Onome Iroko
A deepening rift within one of Britain’s most famous families spilled into public view on Tuesday after Brooklyn Peltz Beckham declared he has no intention of mending ties with his parents, David and Victoria Beckham.
In a lengthy social media post shared late Monday with his more than 16 million Instagram followers, the 26-year-old accused his parents of manipulating public narratives and interfering in his marriage to American actress Nicola Peltz Beckham.
“I do not want to reconcile with my family,” Brooklyn wrote, confirming months of speculation surrounding tensions between him and his celebrity parents. He said the decision marked the first time he had chosen to “stand up for myself” without external control.
Brooklyn, the eldest child of former England football captain David Beckham and fashion designer Victoria Beckham, alleged that his family had repeatedly attempted to undermine his relationship, both before and after his 2022 wedding.
He claimed that his mother withdrew at the last moment from designing Nicola’s wedding dress, despite initial enthusiasm, forcing his wife to urgently find an alternative. He also accused Victoria of disrupting the couple’s first dance during their wedding reception, describing the incident as humiliating and deeply uncomfortable.
Brooklyn further alleged that his wife had been treated with disrespect by members of his family and said she was excluded from his father’s 50th birthday celebration.
“My family prioritises image, branding, and public endorsements above everything else,” he said, adding that the “Brand Beckham” consistently took precedence over personal relationships.
Despite growing up in global spotlight, Brooklyn said the experience left him with severe anxiety. He added that distancing himself from his family had allowed him to find peace.
David Beckham, who was recently knighted by King Charles III, and Victoria Beckham have not publicly responded to their son’s claims. Representatives for the couple declined to comment when contacted.
However, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, David Beckham addressed a broader question about children and social media without referencing his son directly. He said parents must sometimes allow children to make mistakes, stressing that learning often comes through personal experience.
“Children are allowed to make mistakes — that’s how they learn,” he said, while highlighting his own efforts to guide his children on responsible use of social platforms.
Brooklyn’s public comments dominated British tabloids and social media throughout the day and even drew mention during a Downing Street press briefing. When asked about the family dispute, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer deflected, noting that diplomacy remained important but that the prime minister was focused on other pressing matters.
As of Tuesday night, there were no indications that the Beckham family dispute would be resolved privately, with Brooklyn’s remarks suggesting the estrangement is likely to persist.
