When Brooklyn Beckham had his first tattoo inked on his forearm, it marked a moment of bonding with his once-beloved father David.
A month after turning 18, father and son drove to tattooist-to-the-stars Mark Mahoney’s parlour, tucked away just off Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, where Brooklyn chose a portrait of a Native American chief – much like an inking David has on his torso.
Brooklyn, of course, celebrated the moment on his Instagram account by sharing a picture of the tattoo, confirming that he had indeed taken inspiration from his famous father, writing: ‘just like dads [sic].’
That was almost nine years ago. But the happy memory will now be tainted for David. For Brooklyn appears to have weaponised what was once their shared passion – one they could talk about for hours – in his latest move to hurt his estranged parents.
Yesterday, it emerged that the 26-year-old has inked over another sentimental tattoo dedicated to his father. The design in question – a large anchor on his upper right arm that once carried the word ‘dad’ – has now been partially covered.
Appearing in a white T-shirt during a trip with his wife Nicola Peltz, 31, near their mansion in Los Angeles, it was clear that Brooklyn has covered the word with a series of non-descript shapes and a star.
Underneath remains another handwritten inking which says, ‘love you Bust,’ short for Buster, the nickname his father gave him as a boy and one that David also has emblazoned on his neck, done in 2015 as a tribute to his firstborn.
The writing on Brooklyn’s arm, though, looks as if it has been lasered: it is faded and far less prominent than it was a few years ago.
Brooklyn Beckham’s tattoo in honour of his father, David, on his right arm
But the ink now appears to have been altered with a laser, the word ‘dad’ no longer legible
Meanwhile, another of Brooklyn’s designs – the date 1975, a tribute to his father’s year of birth on his right hand – also no longer seemed to be visible.
Sources close to Brooklyn say there is so much hurt on his part that keeping a tribute to his father on his body no longer felt appropriate.
Covering up tattoos seems to be a common activity for Brooklyn. Last year he also inked over the ‘mama’s boy’ chest tattoo dedicated to his mother Victoria – a nod to the 1997 Spice Girls hit Mama.
All of which begs the question as to whether Brooklyn will cover up any more of his family tattoos – of which there are many. He has a heart with the word ‘Mum’ on his left shoulder as well as tattoos for his siblings Romeo, Cruz and Harper – reportedly their dates of birth and a ballerina on his leg for his sister.
For David, 50, Brooklyn’s latest slight will be utterly devastating. Those who know the former England captain say that while covering a tattoo may sound trivial, it will be of serious significance for David and Brooklyn.
‘Brooklyn wanted tattoos like his dad since he was a little boy,’ said one long-standing friend of the family. ‘Each time David had a new one Brooklyn would be in awe, he wanted to copy him.’
David had even insisted on being present for Brooklyn’s first tattoo, demanding he cancelled plans to get one without him. ‘David looked forward to Brooklyn’s first visit to a tattoo parlour. That almost didn’t happen, because during a trip to Paris with an ex-girlfriend he almost got one done’, the friend tells me.
‘David found out in the nick of time and called him to say that he wanted to be there for his first inking. So Brooklyn cancelled and they went a few weeks later.’
So Brooklyn’s decision to cover the tattoo has stunned those familiar with their relationship.
Until he met Nicola Peltz, those who know the Beckhams say Brooklyn ‘hero-worshipped’ his father. Yet there has been no communication between them since last summer, when Brooklyn and Nicola sent a legal letter demanding his parents stop contacting him.
Brooklyn has many tattoos on his body, including one which read ‘mama’s boy’ on his chest – now covered up with a flower
One friend added: ‘Brooklyn wanted to be a footballer, just like his dad. There were the cutest stories, like the time Romeo was crying on a plane on the way to the Euros in 2004 aged two. Brooklyn put his arm around him and told him to stop crying and said: ‘Don’t worry, our dad is David Beckham.’ Brooklyn idolised him. He would even go through David’s wardrobe to see what he could borrow – or steal. When David was away working, Brooklyn would miss him terribly. He always loved his mum but the father-son bond ran really deep.’
Which is why both David – and Victoria – were left so heartbroken when last month Brooklyn launched what many saw as a brutal attack on his parents via Instagram. The six-page post shared excoriating detail about his angst against his parents whom he has been estranged from since last April when neither he or wife Nicola attended David’s 50th birthday celebrations, despite flying to London.
Among the most explosive claims was that Victoria, 51, had ‘hijacked’ the first dance at his 2022 wedding and danced ‘inappropriately’ with him. Victoria hit back strongly at the allegations, with friends of hers telling me that it was in fact a ‘wholesome family moment’ while her friend, singer Marc Anthony, performed.
However, Brooklyn insisted: ‘I’ve never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life.’
He also said he does not want to reconcile with his parents and accused them of controlling, ‘inauthentic’ behaviour and trying to destroy his marriage to Nicola. Brooklyn claimed they prioritise ‘Brand Beckham’ over family, saying he finally found peace after stepping away.
His tattoo cover-up is just the latest salvo in this ugly fallout.
And this week Nicola’s father, billionaire businessman Nelson Peltz, 83, broke his silence on the public feud in a public talk near his £76million Palm Beach mansion. During a Q&A session with reporter Lauren Thomas at a Wall Street Journal Digital event, he joked: ‘Has my family been in the Press lately? I haven’t noticed that at all.’
Asked if he had advice for his family, he said: ‘I do. My advice is to stay the hell out of the Press. How much good did that do? My daughter and the Beckhams are a whole other story and that’s not for coverage here today.
‘I’ll tell you my daughter is great, my son-in-law Brooklyn is great and I look forward to them having a long, happy marriage together.’
David and Victoria are yet to speak publicly about the situation. Privately, friends say they still hope their eldest will rebuild the relationship.
One told me: ‘I have known them all for many years, never did I think this would happen, never would I have predicted such a horrible fallout, they were so close.
‘Sadly, now I don’t see a day when they will reconcile either. While the latest thing may only be over a tattoo, it’s the point behind it that will be so hurtful to David. Tattoos were their thing.’
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