David Beckham's Birthday Tribute to Cruz Sparks Family Feud Speculation
Football legend Sir David Beckham has ignited fresh speculation about tensions within his famous family with a heartfelt birthday message to his youngest son, Cruz. The Instagram tribute, posted to celebrate Cruz's milestone 21st birthday, praised the budding musician's character in terms that many observers interpreted as a subtle dig at estranged eldest son Brooklyn.
A Focus on Loyalty Amid Family Strife
In his emotional post, David Beckham described Cruz as "kind, considerate and fiercely loyal to your family, friends and everyone around you." This emphasis on loyalty comes just months after Brooklyn Beckham launched a public attack on his parents, accusing them of controlling behavior and disrespect toward his wife, actress Nicola Peltz.
The 26-year-old chef had claimed in January that his mother Victoria danced "inappropriately" at his wedding and that his father would only spend time with him when Nicola wasn't present. Brooklyn has since begun covering tattoos dedicated to his family and declared he "doesn't wish to reconcile" with them.
Social Media Reaction and Family Responses
Instagram followers were quick to notice the potential subtext in David's message. User @heatherholyland called it an "unnecessary comment," while @minemendoza0411 described it as "passive aggressive." @simonetta_vespucciore noted that David wrote the post "knowing perfectly well the other son will read this too."
However, Beckham fans defended the football star, with @mag55wiz stating Cruz is "obviously worthy of the praise" and @okaysure1989 commenting: "David is allowed to commend his son for being loyal. That is a good trait to possess."
Family Unity and Separate Paths
Other family members joined in celebrating Cruz's birthday. Victoria Beckham wrote on Instagram: "Happy birthday @cruzbeckham.... we could not be prouder of the sweet, kind, talented young man you have become." She added: "You have worked so hard and learned your craft, the world is now your oyster."
Model brother Romeo, 23, shared nostalgic photos of the pair as children wearing football kits, captioning it: "Happy 21st lil bro ❤️❤️." Cruz's girlfriend, Jackie Apostel, 30, commented on David's post: "I cannot handle the cuteness ?" and told Cruz in her own birthday message: "I beyond love you."
Brooklyn's Separate Celebrations
While his family celebrated Cruz's birthday, Brooklyn made his first public appearance since his January statement at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival's Burger Bash in Miami. The eldest Beckham child promoted his hot sauce brand, Cloud 23, which pays homage to his father's jersey number at Real Madrid and references his proposal date to Nicola.
Brooklyn wore clothing that covered his arms, following reports he's been removing or covering tattoos dedicated to his parents. He began last June by covering a "Mama's boy" chest tattoo with a sketch of Nicola's wedding flowers, and most recently has been working on covering "Dad" etched on his arm.
Contrasting Family Dynamics
This stands in stark contrast to his brothers' continued family tributes. Romeo recently added "Family" to the back of his neck as part of his extensive tattoo collection. David Beckham himself maintains his own family tattoos, including "Brooklyn" across his lower back and "Buster" on his neck.
Despite the public tensions and reports that Brooklyn now communicates with his parents only through lawyers, family insiders claim David and Victoria would still "take him back in a minute" and are devastated by the thought of "losing" their eldest son.
The birthday tribute to Cruz highlights the complex dynamics within one of Britain's most famous families, where public displays of affection carry unspoken messages and private conflicts play out in the social media spotlight.
