As Sir David Beckham was knighted in a ceremony marking decades of influence on and off the pitch, reports of a family feud emerged once again, threatening to cast a shadow over what should have been a moment of personal and professional triumph.
The former England captain, now 50, is at the helm of a £500 million empire but recent headlines have shifted from celebrating his legacy to questioning the strength of the family image behind it.
Much of the renewed speculation centres around David and Victoria Beckham’s eldest son, Brooklyn, and his wife Nicola Peltz. Whispers of a strained relationship between the couple and the rest of the Beckham family first surfaced three years ago. At the time, tabloids pointed to a wedding day decision by Nicola reportedly refusing to wear one of Victoria’s designs as the root of the tension. Nicola later clarified that the designer gown had been unavailable due to time constraints and denied the existence of any feud.
For a while, the family appeared to put the speculation behind them. Social media tributes and shared appearances suggested harmony had returned. But last month, the absence of Brooklyn and Nicola from David’s 50th birthday celebrations reignited the rumours. They did not attend the event or post birthday wishes online, which led many to believe that the family division had deepened.
According to a source quoted by the BBC, Brooklyn opted out of the party because his younger brother Romeo attended with a woman Brooklyn had previously dated an invitation that allegedly stirred up further tension. The Beckhams have not publicly addressed the issue. When contacted, the family declined to comment.
On Father’s Day, Sir David attempted to project unity by posting a series of photos of his children on Instagram, including one of him and Brooklyn with the caption “love you” and a white heart emoji. Victoria also shared a tribute featuring all four of their children, seemingly attempting to quiet speculation without directly addressing it.
Despite these gestures, public relations experts say the ongoing narrative threatens the integrity of Brand Beckham. Celebrity crisis PR consultant Lauren Beeching suggests that the family is now “being spoken about like a reality TV family,” which she warns could damage their carefully crafted legacy. The media tone, she argues, has shifted from admiration to intrigue, a dangerous shift for a family whose image has always been built on control and class.
For over two decades, David and Victoria Beckham masterfully blended fashion, fame, and family into a globally admired brand. According to PR strategist Mark Borkowski, their appeal was rooted in calculated openness feeding just enough of their personal lives to the media to remain compelling, but never vulnerable. “They gave the media a trail to follow,” he says, mixing “scandal with strategy and high-end deals.”
That balance may have shifted with the release of David’s Netflix documentary in 2023, which offered unprecedented access into the family’s personal life. Since then, observers say the Beckhams have increasingly shared personal content online, edging them closer to the realm of reality television—a far cry from the polished exclusivity that once defined them.
Adding fuel to the fire, Brooklyn and Nicola appeared in German Glamour magazine earlier this month, a shoot in which the couple repeatedly mentioned Nicola’s family but made no reference to the Beckhams. This omission only fanned the flames of speculation among fans and tabloid media.
Social media expert Matt Navarra notes that in today’s culture, silence or absence online is often interpreted as conflict. “Fans expect to see social signals likes, birthday posts, mutual follows. When those are missing, people assume tension,” he explains. The algorithm rewards speculation, not accuracy, creating a feedback loop where engagement is driven by gossip rather than truth.
Even if the Beckhams attempt to move past the rumours, the nature of digital culture means the story is unlikely to die quietly. Beeching warns that once the public starts engaging with a family like the Beckhams in the same way they do with the Sussexes or the Kardashians, it becomes difficult to reclaim their narrative.
