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Like many a father and son before them, Brooklyn and David Beckham are going through a rough patch.
The footballer celebrated his 50th last weekend with a swanky do at a London restaurant with famous friends, Tom Cruise, Eva Longoria, a couple of Spice Girls and all the family – minus his eldest Brooklyn.
Naturally, speculation around Brooklyn’s absence has been rife, particularly as the aspiring chef was in London at the time of David’s third and final big bash.
But the reaction to the ‘feud’ by fans and critics feels unnervingly similar to another famous family fall-out, which sparked an equally misogynistic backlash: Prince Harry’s separation from the royal family.
Meghan Markle became a panto villain for millions when that happened, and now Brooklyn’s wife Nicola Peltz is taking the brunt of the blame here.
The truth is, we have no idea what has caused a rift in the Beckham family but Peltz has been accused of being trouble since she tied the knot with Brooklyn back in 2022.
Their wedding was plagued by feud rumours after Nicola wore three outfits on the big day and none of them were designed by her now mother-in-law Victoria Beckham.
Granted, many would kill for a couture gown by one of the most celebrated designers in the world, and more importantly an actual Spice Girl, but Nicola wasn’t obliged to walk down the aisle in a custom-made VB original.
The speculation was only fuelled further Nicola and Brooklyn started skipping family events – although none quite as significant as his dad’s big 5-0 – until now.
They did, however, spend last Christmas Boxing day at Chez Beckham and it appeared to be a love-fest that made my family look as close as the Markles.
Nicola and the Beckham clan took a photo in front of their offensively bright Christmas tree, all in festive black outfits, with Victoria captioning the pic: ‘Being together for the holidays makes me so happy xxxx I love you all so much’ and tagging everyone, including Nicola.
Posh’s daughter-in-law replied: ‘I love you all so much!’
Five months on, it’s hard to argue that there’s trouble in paradise, that facade of a picture-perfect family has been broken.
But why, when no one has any concrete evidence, is the blame automatically thrown at Nicola?
Earlier this week, Piers Morgan directly compared Nicola to Meghan Markle, who he claimed without any rhyme or reason whatsoever is ‘milking Prince Harry dry.’
He then added: ‘Brooklyn Beckham’s wife is doing it to him now.’
Implying Nicola’s motivations are financial was pretty bizarre, considering her father, fast food tycoon Nelson Peltz, is worth an estimated £1.6billion, dwarfing her in-laws’ own not exactly modest £425million fortune.
I have no idea if Nicola will or even expects to inherit her father’s billions, but I’d say it’s a stretch to say she’s with photographer-turned-chef Brooklyn for his money.
Regardless, it’s the same old story of a woman being criticised, being blamed for her husband’s decisions.
But even taking money out of it completely, it’s clear that, like with Meghan Markle, critics who know absolutely nothing about this ‘feud’ are so quick to blame the wife.
Brooklyn may not be capable of making a decent bacon sandwich but he is a 26-year-old man capable of making up his own mind.
There is clearly more to this than a classic daughter v mother-in-law feud, with Brooklyn’s younger brother Romeo, recently appearing to mock Nicola on Instagram.
Nicola remains close friends with Romeo’s ex Mia Regan, and recently commented on one of her photos: ‘so beautiful mia’
Two days later, when Romeo shared his own collection of photos on Instagram, the youngest Beckham brother Cruz commented: ‘So beautiful Romeo’ with Romeo replying with two laughing face emojis.
If there’s any takeaway from that it’s that the younger Beckham boys are deeply immature and perhaps a little bit cruel.
But of course that won’t fit the misogynistic narrative that Nicola has swooped in and manipulated Brooklyn just like Meghan supposedly did with Harry.
Nicola is being used as a scapegoat – like Meghan Markle (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)
I’m not insisting Nicola isn’t in part behind the fall out, perhaps she is. But I have no better idea than those who are quick to comment and assume that she is so warped that she’s determined to break up a loving family for no reason.
Contrary to what online cynics think, people are rarely thrilled when families don’t get on.
Do you honestly think Meghan Markle is happy her husband no longer speaks to his family, that their children won’t know their grandfather any better than a Union Jack waving tourist outside Buckingham Palace?
What has Meghan really gained from her husband’s fall out with her family?
Yes, a lucrative Netflix deal perhaps, but I wouldn’t swap places with her for all the money in the world, facing that intense scrutiny every day and being irrationally hated by people you’ve never met, while your husband has to communicate with his family through TV interviews.
I doubt Nicola will ever face the same level of unwarranted venom as Meghan, but the parallels between the way they’re being treated are becoming increasingly clear.
The natural instinct is to accuse the woman of breaking up a happy family, because the reality that maybe the Beckhams, or the Royals, aren’t perfect is too unbearable for people to comprehend.
We may never know the truth behind the Beckham feud, but it’s clear that no matter what has happened behind the scenes, the finger will always be pointed at Nicola.
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