While the fallout from Brooklyn Beckham's recent Instagram statement continues to simmer, his younger brother Romeo has been making headlines of a different kind during a trip to Japan. The 23-year-old model and footballer attempted sumo wrestling at a prestigious Tokyo stable, providing a light-hearted diversion from the family's well-publicised discord.
A Cultural Experience in the Far East
Romeo Beckham, the second of David and Victoria Beckham's four children, is currently travelling through Japan with his girlfriend, Kim Turnbull. The couple ensured that a visit to Tokyo's renowned Tatsunami sumo wrestling stable was a priority during their stay. This 150-year-old institution, founded in 1876 and located in the capital's Taitō ward, is widely regarded as housing some of Japan's finest sumo wrestlers and is considered among the best stables in the country.
Facing a Sumo Champion
During his visit, Romeo was given a tough lesson in the full-contact sport when he gamely tackled Mongolian professional Hōshōryū Tomokatsu. This wrestler holds the prestigious rank of yokozuna, the highest possible achievement in sumo wrestling, making him the 74th individual to attain this honour in the sport's history.
Taking to Instagram afterwards, the model confirmed he was forced to admit defeat after being lifted off his feet by the imposing athlete, much to the amusement of onlookers. The Tatsunami stable itself shared footage of Romeo's wrestling tutorial on social media, though they mistakenly referred to Turnbull as his 'wife' in their accompanying caption.
Family Dynamics and Public Appearances
Romeo's Japanese adventure follows his support for his fashion designer mother Victoria at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, where she was knighted into the Order of Arts and Letters on January 26th. Predictably, his older brother Brooklyn was absent from this family trip, having severed ties with his relatives in a bombshell statement just a week earlier.
This marks the latest family event snubbed by the aspiring chef, who was previously absent from his father's milestone 50th birthday celebration, the UK launch of his mother's Netflix documentary, and the ceremony where David Beckham received his knighthood at Windsor Castle.
Navigating Public Scrutiny
The Beckham clan appeared determined not to allow their family drama to overshadow Victoria's significant honour in Paris. During her acceptance speech, the former Spice Girl made special mention of her children, thanking them for 'always believing in my vision', despite Brooklyn's recent vitriolic claims against her.
The Paris ceremony represented the Beckhams' first public appearance since Brooklyn's damning statement, with the family presenting a united front. They have maintained a stoic silence since the influencer, now based in the United States with actress wife Nicola Peltz, claimed he has been 'controlled by a family that values public promotion above all else.'
In one of the statement's more colourful passages, Brooklyn alleged his mother pulled out of designing his bride's wedding dress at the 'eleventh hour' and 'hijacked' the first dance at his wedding by dancing 'very inappropriately on me in front of everyone'. The lengthy six-page document contained numerous other allegations about family dynamics and media manipulation.
As Romeo continues his travels through Japan, engaging with traditional cultural experiences like sumo wrestling, the Beckham family narrative continues to unfold on both sides of the globe, blending personal journeys with ongoing public scrutiny of one of Britain's most famous families.
