At a Glance
- Brooklyn Peltz Beckham says his parents have controlled him and misrepresented him in the media.
- He accuses Victoria Beckham of undermining his wedding and manipulating his first dance.
- The feud has resurfaced after a series of Instagram stories and a public denial of earlier rumors.
- Why it matters: The fallout threatens the image of a family that has long been a global brand.
Brooklyn Peltz Beckham broke his silence on Monday night, detailing a long-standing conflict with his parents, David and Victoria Beckham. In a six-part Instagram story, he accused them of controlling him, leaking stories to the press, and manipulating the narrative about him and his wife, Nicola Peltz.
The Instagram Outcry
The post began with Brooklyn stating that he had been silent for years and had made “every effort to keep these matters private.” He went on to say that his parents had left him with “no choice but to speak for myself and tell the truth about only some of the lies that have been printed.”
> “I do not want to reconcile with my family,” he said. “I’m not being controlled, I’m standing up for myself for the first time in my life.”
He added that his parents’ previous social media posts about their family were performative and that relationships within the family were “inauthentic.” Brooklyn also claimed that his celebrity parents had pushed “countless lies in the media… to preserve their own facade,” and accused them of turning his brothers against him.
Wedding Drama and Family Pressure
In April 2022, reports in the British media suggested that Nicola Peltz had refused to wear one of Victoria Beckham’s designs for her wedding dress. Peltz later denied this, telling The Times that Victoria’s atelier could not make it in time.
Brooklyn’s Instagram post gave a different version of events, saying that Victoria was set to make Peltz’s wedding dress but backed out “in the eleventh hour.” He also claimed that his parents pressured him into signing away the rights to his name before he was wed. After he refused, he said, “They have never treated me the same since.”
During the wedding reception, Brooklyn accused his mother of hijacking his first dance with Peltz. He described a scene where Marc Anthony called him to the stage for the first dance, which he said had been planned with Peltz for weeks. Instead, his mother “was waiting to dance with me.” He wrote that she “danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone,” adding that he had never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated.
Public Apology and Loyalty
On Saturday, May 24, the eldest Beckham child declared his love for and loyalty to his wife in an Instagram post featuring a video of the couple riding on a motorcycle. The couple also renewed their vows, though not all family members were present.
Brooklyn explained his absence from David Beckham’s 50th birthday party in London, saying the event was the latest example of his wife being “constantly disrespected by my family.” He described feeling “rejected” until the lavish party, noting that he was only allowed to see his father and was told Peltz was not invited.
> “My family values public promotion and endorsements above all else,” he said. “Brand Beckham comes first. Family ‘love’ is decided by how much you post on social media, or how quickly you drop everything to show up and pose for a family photo opp, even if it’s at the expense of our professional obligations.”
Brooklyn dispelled the longstanding rumor that his wife controls him, insisting instead that he has been controlled by his parents for most of his life. He said he grew up with “overwhelming anxiety” that has disappeared since distancing himself from his family.
David Beckham’s Response
David Beckham declined to answer questions about the Instagram post when asked by Sky News, NBC News’ British partner, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. However, he appeared to reference the story during an interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box” at the summit.
> “Children are allowed to make mistakes, that’s how they learn,” he said, discussing the use of social media by young people. “You have to sometimes let them make those mistakes.”
Legal and Public Relations Implications
Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz have hired a lawyer with connections to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as rumored tensions with the Beckham family continue. The family’s public image has long been a carefully curated brand, with both David and Victoria having commissioned Netflix series and films that present a controlled narrative.
The feud threatens to unravel years of brand building that began in the 1990s and has grown into an international behemoth. The Beckhams have historically sold access to their private moments, and the current conflict could undermine that business model.
Key Takeaways
- Brooklyn Peltz Beckham has publicly accused his parents of controlling him and misrepresenting him.
- He claims Victoria Beckham sabotaged his wedding dress and hijacked his first dance.
- David Beckham has responded with a muted statement, acknowledging children’s mistakes.
- The family’s long-standing brand image is now at risk as private disputes become public.
- Legal representation for Brooklyn and Nicola suggests the conflict may have broader implications for their public personas.
Conclusion
The revelations from Brooklyn’s Instagram stories have opened a new chapter in the Beckhams’ public narrative. As the family’s internal conflict becomes more visible, stakeholders-including fans, investors, and media partners-will watch closely to see how the brand adapts to this unprecedented scrutiny.
