David Beckham dismissed the brutal boos he received after commenting on the World Cup final, mingling with a host of celebrities at the match. The former England footballer, 51, was jeered by fans for what some called a “typical PR” answer at Fanatics Fest in New York on Saturday. The next day, he watched Spain take on Argentina in the final alongside his wife Victoria, 52, son Romeo, 23, and his girlfriend Kim Turnbull, 24, and son Cruz, 21, with his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 29.
VIP Box with Tom Cruise and Martha Stewart
Beckham rubbed shoulders with various A-listers in the VIP box at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, including Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, 64, and BTS singer Taehyung, 30. David and Victoria also mingled with US cook and TV star Martha Stewart at their suite. Stewart praised the couple as she shared a photo on Instagram, writing: “I am so happy I bumped into David Beckham and his inordinately talented beautiful wife Victoria.”
Family Presence and Absence
Beckham’s estranged son Brooklyn, 25, watched the game at home in Los Angeles with his wife Nicola Peltz, having publicly denounced his family in a blistering online statement in January. Meanwhile, performers at the final included Robbie Williams, Shakira, Madonna, and Justin Bieber, while stars like Matt Damon, Mick Jagger, Dua Lipa, and Callum Turner were seen watching the action.
Heckled for 'Sitting on the Fence'
David’s outing came hours after he was brutally heckled for failing to give a clear answer on who should win the final. When quizzed on who would take the trophy, he said: “I'm going to sit on the fence. I don't know who's going to win. I want Lionel to do incredibly well because he's an exceptional person and player. But Spain are going to be tough to play against. I'm not going to say who I think is going to win. I'm just going to sit on the fence and enjoy the game.” The audience reacted with boos and jeers, prompting him to laugh and say: “Oh, come on!” He added: “I haven’t been booed for a while. I wasn’t expecting it here. I played in Spain, so I have a huge affection for Spain as a country and obviously for their football team. I think they’ve done an exceptional job this World Cup and they deserve to be in the final. With Argentina, they have Lionel. He’s an exceptional player, an exceptional person with the right values, and he treats everyone the way they should be treated.”
Fan Reactions
His response divided fans online. One wrote: “Nobody comes to these events for safe diplomatic answers.” Another added: “Typical PR move to keep everyone happy.” Others defended him, penning: “Booing Becks is crazy, what was their actual beef with him?” and “You are the man David. You know how to handle boos with style! Go David!!!”
Emotional Moment During Semi-Final
David hit the headlines when he became emotional last week during England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina. His son Cruz wrapped his arm around his father after Lautaro Martínez's late winner silenced England fans inside Atlanta Stadium. Cameras captured the touching exchange, with David appearing close to tears as Cruz leaned in to embrace him.
