Brooklyn Beckham with his father David Beckham. Photo / Karwai Tang / WireImage
Brooklyn Beckham with his father David Beckham. Photo / Karwai Tang / WireImage
Brooklyn Beckham appears to be further distancing himself from his family, with new photos showing he has covered up a tattoo dedicated to his father.
The images, released today by the Sun, show a tattoo of an anchor on Brooklyn’s right upper arm that has been altered to conceal theword “DAD”, which had been written across a ribbon wrapped around the anchor.
“He wanted it gone,” a source told the publication, claiming the embattled influencer had the ink removed by laser treatment.
The lettering appears to have been replaced by three shapes, which some online users have likened to a starfish and life preservers.
The apparent change comes amid renewed speculation about tensions between Brooklyn, 25, and his parents, David and Victoria Beckham.
Brooklyn Beckham's tattoo as it was before the word "Dad" was covered up.
Brooklyn Beckham's anchor tattoo, with the word "Dad" covered up.
In a series of Instagram posts two weeks ago, Brooklyn alleged his sports club owner and fashion designer parents were controlling and had sabotaged his relationship and wedding to heiress Nicola Peltz.
A source close to Brooklyn told the Sun: “There is so much hurt and pain on his side, it would not be genuine to keep such a tribute on his body.”
The words “Love you Bust” – short for Buster, David’s longtime nickname for his eldest son – had previously been tattooed in sprawling cursive letters beneath the anchor, but now appear faded, according to the Daily Mail.
David, 50, had a “Buster” neck tattoo done in 2015 in honour of Brooklyn, which was visible as recently as last week.
“To see Brooklyn covering up Victoria’s tattoo, and now the one he had for his dad, will sting,” a source told the Sun.
“It seems very cruel and will add salt to the wounds.”
Brooklyn has reportedly removed other family-themed tattoos in recent years, including a chest tattoo reading “mama’s boy”.
David Beckham, Victoria, Nicola Peltz and Brooklyn Beckham. Photo / Instagram
The online chef said his parents’ obsession with keeping up appearances left him with “overwhelming anxiety”, which has “disappeared” since he cut them off.
“Brand Beckham comes first,” he said, commenting that his family prioritised “public promotion and endorsements above all else”.
He continued, expressing his desire for “peace, privacy and happiness for us and our future family”.
Nicola Peltz wore Valentino Haute Couture to marry Brooklyn Beckham at her family home in Palm Beach, Florida. Photo / British Vogue
Social media reaction to the updated tattoo was mixed.
“Leave the kid alone – No one truly knows what his family life was. One day he will be a parent – and he will get it!” wrote one Facebook user.
“He’s going to regret not working this out one day, very sad”, said another.
A third commented “Life’s too short, I think they all need to grow up”.
David Beckham addressed Brooklyn’s posts in a Q+A session days later, saying: “Children are allowed to make mistakes, that’s how they learn... you have to sometimes let them make those mistakes as well.”
