Brooklyn Beckham faced a wave of criticism after sharing an Instagram post that many felt slighted his family, especially his father, David Beckham, amid reported tensions. The backlash followed scrutiny over Brooklyn and his wife, Nicola Peltz, attending a dinner with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
On July 1, 2025, Brooklyn, the eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham, posted a touching photo of himself, Nicola, and her family celebrating her father Nelson Peltz’s birthday. The image, bathed in warm golden-hour light, showed the group gathered around Nelson, radiating joy. Brooklyn captioned it simply with a heart emoji, “❤️.”
Nicola also shared a tribute, posting photos of tender moments: kissing her father’s cheek, laughing with family, and Nelson enjoying birthday cake. One image captured Brooklyn beaming as he carried a young relative on his shoulders. Her caption read, “Happy birthday, dad! I’m so lucky to be your daughter—you’re the most loving, supportive father I could imagine. I love you beyond words and loved celebrating you! Thank you for always being there ✨🎂.”
While Nicola’s post drew warm responses, Brooklyn’s sparked a firestorm. The absence of his own family in the photo, coupled with David’s recent arm surgery, fueled accusations of insensitivity. “I feel so bad for David—he adores his kids, and Brooklyn’s acting like he’s nothing without him,” one commenter wrote. Others echoed, “That’s cruel to your dad,” and “So disrespectful 😢 Poor David 💔.”
Some saw the post as a deliberate jab at the Beckhams. “He’s rubbing it in their faces,” one netizen claimed, predicting, “He’ll regret this one day.” Another added, “This is childish—haven’t you hurt your family enough?” The comments suggested a deepening rift, with many believing Brooklyn’s actions were personal, not coincidental.
The timing intensified the backlash. Days earlier, on June 29, David appeared at the FIFA Club World Cup with his arm in a cast, explaining he’d had surgery to remove a screw from a 23-year-old injury and a splinter. “It’s not as bad as it looks,” he assured, expecting to ditch the sling soon. Victoria supported him quietly, sharing Instagram Stories of David in a hospital gown, holding a beaded bracelet, and surrounded by snacks and lilacs for his recovery.
By June 30, David was sling-free, spotted with his mother at Wimbledon. However, Brooklyn and Nicola’s absence from David’s 50th birthday celebration, despite an invitation, had already fueled speculation of family strain. Their attendance at an intimate dinner hosted by Harry and Meghan in Montecito added to the controversy, with sources noting the couple enjoyed the “warm, welcoming” evening with VIPs and film executives.
Online reactions to the dinner were heated. “They need to live quietly like they claimed they wanted,” one commenter wrote. Others accused Meghan of “stirring the pot” or exploiting Nicola’s wealth, with remarks like, “This is a new low,” and “They love breaking up families.” One noted, “Harry and David were once friends—now this feels like a betrayal.”
The dinner coincided with Harry’s own family tensions, as he remains estranged from King Charles III, who is undergoing cancer treatment. Harry recently expressed hope for reconciliation, saying, “There’s no point in fighting anymore.”
Family therapist Diana Parkinson, with nearly 40 years of experience, commented on the parallel family dramas, noting that both the Beckhams and royals face challenges repairing relationships under public scrutiny. She emphasized the need for private reconciliation, especially for the Beckhams, who have built a public brand, unlike the royals, who face unavoidable attention.
The outpouring of sympathy for David highlights the emotional weight of Brooklyn’s post, which many saw as a painful snub amid a time of healing—both physical and familial.