Former football star David Beckham avoided direct questions about his strained relationship with his eldest son during his first public appearance since Brooklyn Beckham criticized his parents on Instagram. Speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box on January 20, Beckham emphasized that children have the right to make mistakes as part of the learning process, without directly addressing the family dispute.

Appearing on the program on the evening of January 20 (U.S. time), Beckham discussed the impact of social media on children’s mental health. He said:

“We talk a lot about the negatives—especially what children are exposed to today—and it can be very dangerous.”
As a UNICEF ambassador, Beckham noted that he uses platforms like Instagram to help raise awareness about issues affecting children worldwide.

When asked about parenting and guiding children, he remarked:

“My kids have made mistakes, but children are allowed to make mistakes. That’s how they learn. That’s what I try to teach them. Sometimes, you have to let them make those mistakes.”
The comments were widely interpreted as an indirect reference to Brooklyn Beckham, who had posted a critical statement about his parents just a day earlier, on January 19.

In Instagram Stories that were later deleted, Brooklyn Beckham accused his parents of attempting to control his life, spreading “countless lies” to the media, and deliberately trying to sabotage his marriage. He stated that he had no intention of reconciling and said he wished only to live peacefully with his wife, actress Nicola Peltz. Brooklyn also reportedly sent a legal notice requesting that his parents communicate with him solely through lawyers.