David Beckham has made his first public appearance since a dramatic escalation in his family's ongoing feud, which saw his eldest son Brooklyn block all of his relatives on Instagram. The former England captain, 50, attended the funeral of Stone Roses bassist Gary 'Mani' Mounfield in Manchester on Monday, looking understandably downcast.
A Public Family Rift Boils Over
The weekend saw the private tensions within the Beckham family spill into public view once more. Reports initially suggested that David and his wife Victoria had unfollowed their 26-year-old son Brooklyn on the social media platform. However, their younger son, Cruz Beckham, 20, swiftly took to his own Instagram to set the record straight.
Cruz clarified that his parents had not initiated the split, but instead woke up to find themselves blocked by Brooklyn. He stated in a post: 'My mum and dad would never unfollow their son. They woke up blocked. As did I.' This action appears to have extended to Brooklyn's siblings, Romeo and 14-year-old Harper, effectively cutting off his immediate family digitally.
The catalyst for this drastic move is believed to be linked to Victoria Beckham liking one of Brooklyn's cooking posts. The aspiring chef, who has 16 million followers, shared a video on brining a chicken. Victoria's public 'like' prompted a flood of comments from fans urging a family reconciliation, which sources say annoyed Brooklyn and led to the blanket blocking.
A Sombre Occasion in Manchester
Against this fraught personal backdrop, David Beckham attended the funeral of music legend and fellow Manchester United fan Gary Mounfield. He arrived at Manchester Cathedral alongside his former teammate Gary Neville, clutching his invitation and dressed in a smart black leather coat and white shirt.
The service drew a host of famous faces from the music world, including Stone Roses singer Ian Brown and Paul Weller. Mounfield, 63, died peacefully in his sleep at his Stockport home on November 20 after a seizure, having suffered from the lung condition emphysema. His death came two years after his wife Imelda passed away from bowel cancer, leaving behind their two young sons.
Christmas Apart and a Plea for Peace
The Instagram blocking represents the most public sign yet of a deep and ongoing estrangement. It comes just days before Christmas, confirming that Brooklyn will not be joining his family in the UK. Instead, he will spend the festive period in the United States with his wife, actress Nicola Peltz, and her billionaire family.
Friends of Brooklyn and Nicola have stated that the couple find the public narrative and Instagram activity from the Beckham camp 'upsetting and anxiety-inducing'. They have reportedly asked David and Victoria to stop contacting them and briefing the media. 'It would be really in the holiday spirit if the Beckhams could just back off and leave them alone for now,' a friend of the couple said.
Meanwhile, sources close to David and Victoria express their devastation. They emphasise that the couple 'will never stop loving Brooklyn' and that following him on Instagram was their last connection to his life, as direct communication has ceased for 'months and months'. The situation is also said to be particularly painful for the grandparents, with Victoria's mother, Jackie Adams, still hanging a Christmas stocking for Brooklyn in a poignant symbol of hope.
As the Beckhams prepare for a family Christmas at their Cotswolds estate without their firstborn, and with David and Victoria also planning time at their new Miami home, the rift shows no immediate signs of healing, casting a shadow over their holiday season.
