Bravo Brooklyn Beckham!

The latest episode in the ongoing feud between Brooklyn Beckham and his parents Victoria and David Beckham played out publicly in an advert Brooklyn has just done for the food service delivery company DoorDash, promoting the FIFA World Cup 2026. In this advert, he is reported to be making fun of his relationship with his parents.

Many commentators have vilified Brooklyn for acting like a spoiled brat, and not being grateful for the exposure he receives as the eldest child of his famous and supremely wealthy parents. However, few have assessed the situation from Brooklyn’s point of view.

Things came to a head when he released a damning six-page rebuke of his parents on his Instagram feed in January this year. In it, Brooklyn alleged that Victoria and David Beckham are only concerned about creating a media friendly image of themselves, where family love takes second place to carefully orchestrated family photo opportunities to promote Brand Beckham. He further accused his parents of controlling behaviour and ruining his relationship with his wife Nicola Peltz Beckham.

Brooklyn is an adult. As such, he is entitled to be his own man, and do things, which he deems fit. If this means breaking off his relationship with his parents because it is toxic, Brooklyn has every right to do so. It may be sad that he has resorted to such action to protect his mental health. However, his decision must be respected.

It seems understandable that he has taken this approach after a photograph was taken of Brooklyn’s sister Harper Beckham as recently as 11 June outside the home Brooklyn shares with his wife in Los Angeles in the United States. The Beckhams and their three other children were in the city to attend David Beckham's Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony. During Harper Beckham’s visit, she is seen holding a letter, which she planned to hand deliver to her brother, but was unable to do so. Brooklyn was not at home during his sister’s visit, and was rumoured to have been in New York City at the time. This visit prompted a source close to Brooklyn and his wife Nicola to tell London’s Metro newspaper: ‘That photographers were in place as the letter was hand delivered says it all — this was choreographed for the cameras.’ Any impartial observer would be entitled to think that this latest incident is one of several Brooklyn has personally observed, where family members of Victoria and David Beckham have been used to peddle a certain narrative for the watching media.

When all is said and done, Victoria and David Beckham have to take a long hard look at themselves, and try to work out why their eldest child would want to cut off all dealings with them.

Ultimately, it is in both parties’ interests that this relationship is salvaged, but more on Brooklyn’s terms.

One thing is for sure. It is that all the honours Victoria and David Beckham receive in their professional lives are never as important as their son Brooklyn Beckham. He deserves their full love, support and respect, which they should give him unconditionally.

It is to Brooklyn’s credit that he called his parents out on the fact that his emotional needs are not being met by them. It is a pity that he felt it necessary to do it publicly.

Romer Cherubim