It’s been another stressful week in the life of Victoria Beckham. While trying to negotiate being a bad-ass fashion designer and schmoozing with all the right people at London Fashion Week, the mum-of-four has been contending with backlash against son Cruz’s magazine cover debut, as well as pressure to reunite with the Spice Girls for the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations in June. All the usual problems of a 40-something working mum, right?
The Beckham family celebrated third child Cruz’s 17th birthday last week, sharing a series of images from a photo shoot he did with edgy i-D magazine. Now, there comes a significant time in every Beckham child’s life when they are officially launched to the world. Oldest son Brooklyn had his a few years ago with his not-so-successful photography career, Romeo followed with his tennis-turned-football dream, and now Cruz has had his turn, making his cover debut.
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David shared the photo shoot images telling his 71m followers he was “such a proud dad” and that the shoot was “so cool”, while thrilled mum Victoria wrote, “Big first day as a 17-year-old!” But the family wasn’t expecting the backlash that followed the publication of the photos, which saw Cruz posing topless with his trousers pulled down around his ankles on the cover, as well as one showing him grabbing his crotch and another with his finger in his mouth while wearing a string vest. Beckham fans branded the provocative images “disturbing”, with one commenting, “Imagine if it was a girl! Everyone would call it out, these pictures are not in good taste for a 17 year old.”
An insider close to David and Victoria – who are also parents to ten-year-old Harper – tells heat they were taken aback by the response and the criticism that they’d gone too far promoting their child in this way. Victoria is understandably always devastated if there is any hint of her being a bad parent, as her kids are her life.
Check out: 21 celebs who took back their cheating partner
CLOSER Celebrity who took back their cheating partners - slider
1 of 21Danny Dyer and Joanne Mas
Danny Dyer and Joanne Mas' relationship hit a rough patch in 2017 when it was reported that he had a six-week affair with Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding. However they managed to work through it and are back together.
2 of 21Gaz Beadle and Emma McVey
Emma McVey accused Gary Beadle of cheating on her after he brutally dumped her via text. However she later fell pregnant with their first child, they reunited and the happy couple are now engaged and parents of two.
3 of 21Jay Z and Beyoncé
The world was shocked in 2017 when Jay-Z admitted he cheated on his wife and the mother of his children Beyoncé. They've since moved on from the drama and have even released a joint album together.
4 of 21Coleen and Wayne Rooney
They're childhood sweethearts but in 2002 Coleen Rooney discovered Wayne had slept with a 48-year-old nan, there's also been allegations that he cheated with prostitutes Jennifer Thompson and Helen Wood and in 2017 Wayne was arrested for drunk driving and Laura Simpson claimed they kissed. Laura then backtracked during an interview on This Morning and denied that anything went down with Wayne. Despite all the rumours and allegations, Coleen has stuck by her husband and has even shared a brutally honest Facebook post about her marriage.
5 of 21Tess Daly and Vernon Kay
In 2010 it came to light thatVernon Kay had sent 'flirty' texts to Rhian Sugden behind Tess Daly's back. Fast forward to 2016 and he was caught texting the glamour model again. However the TV presenters are still together.
6 of 21Katie Price and Kieran Hayler
We were all shook in 2014 when Katie Price announced husband Kieran Hayler had been cheating on her with her best friend Jane Pountney for seven months. She managed to forgive him and move on but in 2017 she revealed he had been unfaithful again with their children's nanny and a few months later she called it quits after he reportedly cheated again with a 19-year-old co-op worker.
7 of 21Mary Berry and Paul Hunnings
Great British Bake Off legend Mary Berry admitted that she cheated on her current husband Paul Hunnings when they first started dating. However they put it behind them and are still together.
8 of 21Lucy Mecklenburgh and Mario Falcone
While filming for TOWIE Lucy Mecklenburgh admitted that she had been unfaithful with ex-boyfriend Mark Wright during a holiday in Ibiza. Mario Falcone ended their relationship but swiftly took her back and they went on to get engaged but in 2013 they called it quits and have both moved on.
9 of 21Katya and Neil Jones
After Katya Jones was spotted kissing her Strictly partner Seann Walsh, they were both quick to apologise for their actions. Seann's girlfriend dumped him but Neil forgave his wife. However in 2020 they announced they'd split with Neil insisting it was not because of the infamous kiss.
10 of 21Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson
It's one of the Kardashians biggest scandals - Tristan Thompson cheating on Khloe Kardashian days before she was due to give birth to True Thompson. They appeared to work through his betrayal but almost a year later he allegedly kissed Kardashian/Jenner's family friend Jordyn Woods. There's since been speculation that a reunion for Khloe and Tristan could be on the cards.
11 of 21Spencer Matthews and Louise Thompson
Spencer Matthews and Louise Thompson's relationship largely consisted of Spenny cheating while Louise cried her eyes out. She continued to take him back but eventually decided enough was enough and ended it for good.
12 of 21Balthazar Getty and Rosetta
In 2008, Balthazar Getty had an affair with Sienna Miller despite being married to his wife and the mother of his four children Rosetta. Balthazara and Rosetta separated but two years later they got their marriage back on track.
13 of 21Bill Clinton and Hilary Clinton
The Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal is one of the most famous affairs EVER. However his wife Hilary appeared to take it in her stride because they're still married.
14 of 21Alex Mytton and Binky Felstead
Made in Chelsea's Alex Mytton cheated on Binky Felstead several times during their relationship but she kept on taking him back. However she finally ended it when she discovered he had an orgy with Spencer Matthews.
15 of 21Gaz Beadle and Charlotte Crosby
They were the Geordie Shore couple we were all rooting for but Gaz Beadle just couldn't keep it in his pants even when he was with Charlotte Crosby. The final straw for Char was when he slept with Jemma Lucy on Ex on the Beach and [she heartbreakingly suffered an ectopic pregnancy](https://closeronline.co.uk/family/news/ectopic-pregnancy-signs-symptoms-diagnosis/agnosis/).
16 of 21Abbey Clancy and Peter Crouch
Back in 2010 while Abbey Clancy was pregnant with her first child, there were reports that her partner Peter Crouch had an alleged affair with a teenage prostitute. They've since moved on from the reports and are still happily together.
17 of 21Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor
Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor both cheated on each other during their Made in Chelsea days. However they've since reunited, gotten married and in 2020 welcomed their daughter Sienna.
18 of 21Sam Thompson and Tiffany Watson
Sam Thompson and Tiffany Watson were both guilty of cheating and they both kept taking each other back. However they've finally called it quits - thank God.
19 of 21Pete Wicks and Megan McKenna
Megan McKenna forgave Pete Wicks for sexting his ex-girlfriend Jacqui Ryland however she later discovered (while filming TOWIE) that he had sent even more messages. She forgave him but couldn't forget and they later split for good.
20 of 21James Argent and Gemma Collins
In 2012 Gemma Collins accused James Argent of cheating but she seemed to forgive and forget and they've been on/off ever since.
21 of 21Malin Andersson and Tom Kemp
Love Island star Malin Andersson accused her boyfriend Tom Kemp of cheating on her during pregnancy. However they managed to get through it and got back together. They since split.
“Cruz has had so many offers, and this was all his decision, with input from his brothers and mates rather than his parents. Victoria had actually been a little concerned over it and did wonder about the look, but the magazine is edgy, and this is what they wanted – and Cruz was all for it,” we’re told of the shoot, which was inspired by similar images of David in 2000, also taken by renowned photographer Steven Klein.
“Victoria and David are disappointed by the negativity of the comments, while Cruz is a little shaken by it all. It’s his first experience of being in the spotlight, and while he’s a tough cookie, he’s been knocked by this. His parents are doing their best to reassure him, but are also telling him that if this is a path he chooses, then he will probably have to deal with a lot of negativity.”
In the interview, Cruz announced he had decided to pursue music as a career, although he is yet to release anything.
“I don’t think you ever stop learning, but I’m taking my time seeing what happens,” he said in the magazine, adding that for now, his focus is on “just making the music I love”.
And we’re told this latest Beckham family launch has been in the works for a while. “Victoria has been planning Cruz’s debut for a long time,” our insider reveals. “After the experiences with Brooklyn, they really wanted to play it differently with Cruz and make sure he was working on his talent and had a vision and direction before launching him. But this backlash has panicked and upset her. She knows you can’t please everyone – she is only too familiar – but now she’s got to help him deal with this.”
Cruz spent the majority of last week ignoring the backlash while on a skiing holiday with his younger sister, and dad David. Victoria was unable to join her family on the holiday – David shared a loving, “miss you, Mummy” Instagram story from him and the kids – as her schedule was chock-a-block with fancy engagements.
As well as sitting front row at London Fashion Week alongside Romeo’s model girlfriend Mia Regan, Victoria attended British Vogue Editor Edward Enninful’s lavish wedding held at Longleat House. Wearing a white gown (as only Victoria could), the designer enjoyed the occasion surrounded by friends and colleagues from the industry. Victoria has spent years carving out her place in the fashion world and leaving her pop days behind her, so the 47 year old was feeling the pressure last week as her fellow Spice Girls tried to convince her yet again to reunite with them.
Our source says, “With the Spice Girls due to be headlining the Queen’s big Jubilee concert later this year, Posh is now in the spotlight as her former bandmates are begging her to agree to perform alongside them. Despite her swearing she never wanted to be a performing Spice Girl again, this is a different kind of pressure. Everyone – including her own kids, who are so excited – is begging her daily to get back on the stage.”
But we’re told the former singer – who last performed with the group at the 2012 London Olympics – is worried she’d be widely mocked.
“Ever since the Spice Girls were approached to perform, the pitch always included Victoria. Initially, she said no and didn’t even enter discussions about it. But there is a lot of pressure on her and she’s in a total spin over it,” our source shares.
“Part of her would love to be involved in what is going to be an amazing celebration of the Queen and Great Britain, but she’s also so reluctant to step back onto the stage and thinks it could open her up to ridicule. Also, she knows how it will take over her life and drag her back to a chapter that she chose to move on from.”
The rumours that she will rejoin her bandmates were fuelled last week when Victoria filed documents with Companies House confirming she will be an active director of Spice Girls Ltd for at least another year. But, our source continues, “She doesn’t really want to be known as a Spice Girl again, not after all of the hard work she’s done to build up a business empire – she feels it downgrades her. But even David is saying it could be really great for her to go out and show her fun side again. It’s a real dilemma for her.”