Victoria Beckham admits she couldn’t bear the idea of son Romeo, 22, going through what David did after World Cup 1998 exit: ‘I don’t know how he would handle that’

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As an ardent fan who has closely followed the lives of the Beckham family for decades, I can’t help but empathize with Victoria’s protective instincts towards her son Romeo. The public scrutiny and criticism that David faced during his football career, especially after England’s World Cup 1998 exit, was truly unprecedented and heart-wrenching. It’s no wonder that Victoria wouldn’t want her children to experience the same ordeal.

Victoria Beckham shared that it was unbearable for her to imagine her son, Romeo, experiencing public criticism similar to what David endured following England’s departure from the 1998 World Cup.

At the age of 22, just like his father, Romeo embarked on a journey in sports, specifically football. He started with Fort Lauderdale FC and then moved on to Brentford B. However, his interests have recently expanded into modeling.

In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, fashion designer Victoria (age 50) reminisced about the criticism leveled at David (age 48), who was unfairly held responsible for England’s elimination from the World Cup.

In this rephrased version, I’ve tried to maintain the original meaning while making it more conversational and easy-to-understand:

Reflecting on the criticism David faced earlier, Victoria remarked, “Well, you know, David was about the same age as Romeo is today when those events unfolded.

For a 22-year-old, that’s quite a load. In the heat of the moment, it feels like ‘dive in or drown,’ and you simply deal with it. We were there for each other, and the rest became an unwritten chapter.

However, contemplating Romeo facing such hardship leaves me uncertain. I can hardly imagine how he might cope, or anyone for that matter. Yet, there was no alternative.

In the Netflix documentary titled “Beckham,” David confessed that he abstained from both food and rest following the harsh public critique he received in the wake of the World Cup.

He mentioned: “I haven’t discussed it before because I couldn’t. I wasn’t consuming food, I wasn’t resting – it was affecting me in ways I didn’t know I could be affected.

Following England’s heartbreaking elimination during the round of 16, I found myself, a once ardent supporter, glued to the screen, hoping against hope, as they faced their fate in a nail-biting penalty shootout.

During the 1998-99 season that followed, the footballer was persistently jeered and booed by opposing teams’ fans for most of it. An effigy of him being burned and death threats were among the harshest forms of criticism he faced as a consequence of his red card.

Last year, Victoria turned 50 and said she now doesn’t care for being in the public eye as much.

She told the magazine: ‘You have to go through those times to make you, ultimately, who you are.

We’ve managed to maintain a level of secrecy that suits us at the moment, as this is our preferred approach for living.

Back then, it seemed exciting to stroll along Bond Street with paparazzi hot on my heels – an experience I knew was coming, and I’d choose my outfits accordingly. However, I no longer crave that kind of attention anymore.

As someone who’s devoted a significant portion of my life to this endeavor, I find myself reflecting on the past and present. While I may have embarked on this journey during my formative years, the complexity and pace of modern life have left me feeling overwhelmed. With multiple children to care for and numerous responsibilities to manage, it’s become increasingly challenging to maintain the same level of dedication as before.

‘I woke up at 50, and I gave a s**t less.’

The December/January issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK is on sale now. 

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2024-11-06 12:20