Inside Brooklyn and Nicola's Minds From 'Victimhood and Power Play to PR Spin'

The origin of this new estrangement seems almost implausible. According to reports that emerged this weekend from the US Sun, the trigger was a simple “like” from Victoria Beckham on a post by her son Brooklyn, 26.

via: The Mirror

Mere days before Christmas, the feud inside House Beckham has taken another dramatic turn, with Brooklyn Beckham reportedly blocking all his family on social media.

Earlier this month, it seemed as though reconciliation could be on the cards, with a sweet festive stocking for Brooklyn featuring in mum-of-four Victoria's Instagram story. However, in recent days, it was reported that 26-year-old Brooklyn has unfollowed his famous parents, with them unfollowing him in return.

Brooklyn's younger brother Cruz, 20, hit back, insiting: "NOT TRUE. My mum and dad would never unfollow their son... Let's get the facts right. They woke up blocked... as did I."

It was later claimed by a 'friend' of the pair that they they wake up dreading what the rest of the Beckham clan may have been posting about overnight, finding such updates "anxiety inducing". They told the Mail Online: "It would be really in the holiday spirit if the Beckhams could just back off and leave them alone for now. The Beckhams started these 'blocking' game stories earlier this year and they keep going. Whether someone follows someone else on Insta or any other platform shouldn't be and isn't a story. It's a sad situation, but nothing has changed here.

"Nicola and Brooklyn haven't been commenting. They just want peace. It would be best for everyone for them [the Beckhams] to stop contacting, commenting and briefing because it's not accomplishing anything."

And it's understood they aren't best pleased about Cruz making his opinions known about the situation. The pal added: "They have requested that the Beckhams back off. They just want to be left alone. The Instagram stuff is just a media play – it feels like more manipulation, more gaslighting. It just drives Brooklyn and Nicola further away. They get upset by the speculation. They are trying to take the high road which is not to react at all and to just live their lives."

The apparent briefing has left fans confused, but a PR expert has now revealed the strategy behind it, explaining how to language used is designed to 'flip the power dynamic' and give the Beckhams no choice but to stay silent.

Commenting on the narrative given by the unnamed source, PR guru Mayah Riaz told the Mirror: "This absolutely reads like a briefing. The irony here is hard to ignore. When a source uses emotionally loaded language like 'manipulation' and 'gaslighting', that is not accidental or neutral. That is narrative shaping. It positions Brooklyn and Nicola not just as hurt, but as victims of something darker and more deliberate. That is a very specific PR choice.

"The hidden spin is victimhood with credibility. By framing themselves as being gaslit, they are attempting to flip the power dynamic. The Beckhams are globally powerful, wealthy, media savvy and historically very controlled in how they brief. Casting Brooklyn and Nicola as the ones being psychologically worn down reframes the story away from family disagreement and towards emotional harm. In PR terms, it moves them from 'difficult children' to 'people protecting their mental health'."

She continued: "Saying they want to be left alone while briefing that they are being manipulated is not contradictory in PR logic, even if it is in human logic. The message is not 'we are silent', it is 'we are justified in our silence'. This type of briefing exists to explain why they are not engaging directly. It gives them moral high ground without them having to speak themselves.

"The choice of the word 'gaslighting' is particularly telling. It is a very online, very therapy language term that resonates with younger audiences. It is designed to land with Gen Z and millennial readers who understand boundaries, toxicity and emotional control narratives. That suggests this is not just about family, it is about aligning their personal brand with a modern values set.

"As for motive, I do not think this is about escalating the feud. It is about drawing a line in the sand and controlling future interpretation. If more stories emerge, this framing is already in place. Anything the Beckhams say or do next can be filtered through this lens of 'pressure' or 'manipulation'. That is powerful positioning.

"The confusion with this is because this is emotional PR, not corporate PR. It is reactive, protective and slightly messy. It feels less like a long term master plan and more like a couple who feel overwhelmed but also understand that silence without context allows other people to define you. In short, this is not about winning the public argument today. It is about protecting their narrative for tomorrow.”

The Mirror has previously reached out to Brooklyn Beckham's representatives for comment.