Topline
A series of comments about children being “allowed to make mistakes” made by soccer star David Beckham on Tuesday have been linked by fans to the ongoing feud between Beckham, his wife Victoria and their 26-year-old son Brooklyn that was swiftly escalated this week in a series of posts on Instagram.
Brooklyn Beckham and David Beckham attend the “Our Planet” global premiere in 2019.
Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
Key Facts
David Beckham appeared on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Tuesday morning to discuss the dangers of social media and said he’s always tried to teach his kids to “use it for the right reasons.”
Beckham didn’t explicitly mention his son’s recent viral posts about their family but did say he’s tried to “educate” his children on how to best use social media,” cryptically adding, “Children are allowed to make mistakes. That’s how they learn. That’s what I try to teach my kids, but, you know, you have to sometimes let them make those mistakes as well.”
The comments came hours after his oldest son, Brooklyn Beckham, took to Instagram to post a scathing series of Instagram stories accusing his parents of prioritizing the family’s image over its well-being, trying to assert control over his life, leaking stories to the press and manipulating the narrative about him and his wife, Nicola Peltz, daughter of billionaire Nelson Peltz.
The post was a direct response to years of rumors that have hinted at a growing rift between Brooklyn and his famous family, which have intensified since Brooklyn missed his father’s star-studded 50th birthday party in London last May.
Brooklyn’s post was the first time he’s directly addressed the long-rumored family feud, which he said would not be coming to an end anytime soon: “I do not want to reconcile with my family,” he posted.
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you’ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here: joinsubtext.com/forbes.
Crucial Quote
“I have been silent for years and made every effort to keep these matters private,” Brooklyn Beckham posted, saying his parents left him “no choice but to speak for myself and tell the truth about only some of the lies that have been printed… I’m standing up for myself for the first time in my life.”
Key Background
Rumors of a Peltz-Beckham feud started back in 2022, sparked by Nicola Peltz’s decision to wear Valentino for her nuptials instead of a gown designed by her future mother-in-law, Victoria Beckham. For years after the wedding, rumors of a family rift swirled as Brooklyn and Nicola skipped out on family events, including Nicola missing Victoria Beckham’s 50th birthday party in April of 2024. The first major signs of a family fallout came in May of 2025, when the couple didn’t attend David Beckham’s birthday party. Brooklyn then missed the annual Beckham family fishing trip, did not post on social media in honor of David on Father’s Day (but did post a tribute for his father-in-law’s birthday the same month) and skipped out on celebrations surrounding David’s knighthood ceremony. Brooklyn and his brothers unfollowed each other on Instagram last summer, Brooklyn and Nicola renewed their wedding vows in August with no Beckhams in attendance and Brooklyn blocked his parents on Instagram at Christmas, according to his brother Cruz. Brooklyn reportedly sent his parents a letter asking them to communicate only through lawyers in January, and on Monday posted a series of claims against his parents.
What Did Brooklyn Beckham Say About David And Victoria?
Brooklyn Beckham claimed his parents have been “trying endlessly to ruin” his relationship with Peltz since before their wedding. He said before he married her his parents tried to pressure him into signing away the rights to his name, and claims they reminded him Nicola was “not blood” and “not family” the night before his wedding. He said his mom was set to make Peltz’s wedding dress, but backed out “in the eleventh hour,” and claimed Victoria hijacked his first dance with Peltz at his wedding reception. “She danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone,” he wrote. “I’ve never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life.” He said he and Nicola renewed their vows in an effort to create new memories of their wedding without “anxiety and embarrassment.” He claims his parents’ love has long been dictated by how well the family can play up the image of a happy and loving, and that the same support has not been reciprocated. Brooklyn said he and his wife traveled to London for David’s 50th birthday party last year but his father refused to see them “unless it was at his big birthday party with a hundred guests and cameras at every corner.” He added: When he finally agreed to see me, it was under the condition that Nicola wasn’t invited. It was a slap in the face.” Finally, he rejected claims Nicola “controls” him: “I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life,” he wrote.
Contra
Eagle-eyed fans have noticed some stark differences between Brooklyn’s claims on Monday and earlier narratives released by the Beckham family. A Vogue feature on her wedding dress, for instance, claimed the design was the result of “a year’s worth of conversations” with Valentino’s creative director, disputing claims Victoria Beckham pulled out last minute. Beckham’s story about his first dance also contradicts a story from British Vogue, which had a reporter at the wedding. The magazine described Brooklyn inviting his mother on stage and that they were later joined by his father and sister, suggesting the dance was a planned, family-inclusive moment.
Forbes Valuation
Peltz is the daughter of activist investor Nelson Peltz, who has an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion. The Beckhams are not billionaires but are estimated to have net worths in the hundreds of millions thanks to their early careers and various business ventures, including Victoria’s fashion brand and MLS team Inter Miami, which David co-founded.
Further Reading
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2026/01/20/david-beckham-says-children-make-mistakes-as-feud-with-son-brooklyn-blows-up-online/
