Amid their bitter family feud, David and Victoria Beckham are reminiscing on better times with her family and estranged son, Brooklyn.
Photographer Platon Antoniou shared an anecdote from a 2006 photoshoot with David in an Instagram post which has garnered 14.8 thousand likes.
The photos show a close up of David’s face, as well as a shot of his back, which details a large cross tattoo with the name of his then three children – Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz – surrounding it.
Watch the video above.
The photographer recalled in the January 22 post how Victoria and the kids – Brooklyn, then seven, Romeo, then four, and Cruz, who was just a baby – came to visit the set where the Real Madrid star was being photographed.
“Brooklyn and Romeo charged into the studio wearing football kits, kicking balls, doing headers and other tricks. While Victoria was busy with the children, I started work with David,” Antoniou recalled.
“At one point, Brooklyn ran on set with his football under his arm and hugged his dad’s right leg. Then, Romeo joined his older brother. Then, Victoria also appeared with baby Cruz in her arms. The whole family turned away from us for a private heartfelt group hug. It was a poignant thing to see – this spontaneous moment of affection happening on a giant photography set in front of 60 people.
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“Celebrity comes with a heavy price and often it is family members who also pay,” he noted.
“To see this tenderness was very moving and I knew it would make a beautiful picture, especially as this famous family were not facing my camera. But my portraits are always collaborative and I never feel comfortable stealing a moment. If I had taken a single frame, it would have betrayed trust and invaded privacy. So, I put down my camera and took a picture only with my eyes.”
After the session, the photographer broached the topic of recreating the photo, but Victoria, ”gently smiled and said, ‘Thank you for not taking that picture earlier. Today, I’m not here as a celebrity, I’m here as a mother. I hope you don’t mind if I respectfully pass’.”
Instead, she offered up the back shot of David that we see. Antoniou described the shot as “a man stripped bare, no belt, no designer shirt, no fancy watch.
“I’m normally drawn to eyes, but when we can’t see the face we search for other clues that may reveal someone’s humanity. In this picture, although David stands alone, we see the love of his children tattooed onto his back. Family is everything. David Beckham, I salute you.”
Victoria appreciated the post, leaving a comment on the post. “Brings back great memories! ❤️” she wrote.
David also added, “Good memories ❤️”
Other fans debated the contents and “funny timing” of the post.
“What a lovely tribute to a beautiful family of a precious moment in their lives. A moment when everything was just so ❤️” said one.
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David Beckham and Victoria Beckham’s family life in pictures
Another added, “In the light of the recent tabloid sensations, this is a beautifully human insight into the depth & complexity of family relationships – & a time capsule, literal moment in time, in the life of the Beckham’s. Insightful work, as always. ❤️”
Others took issue with the post. One shared, “I struggle with your phrase ‘Family is everything’. Family can also be toxic to some reading this. Families can disown gay people, Families can be mean. Family is NOT everything”
Another took the post to be “Proving Brooklyn’s point I think. ‘Performative social media’ posts and damage limitation for the Brand always coming first, even if it affects their children’s well-being. Very sad.”
“Is this story meant to negate or refute the pain Brooklyn is currently experiencing with his parents? I stand with Brooklyn. Always believe the victim,” one said.
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