David and Victoria Beckham are fighting back against claims their 25-year marriage is nothing more than a “distant business relationship”.
This comes after the release of an explosive new book by former BBC journalist Tom Bower.
In The House Of Beckham: Money, Sex And Power, the writer paints a very unflattering portrait of the couple. He alleges that years ago they cut a deal to stay together to save their money-making family brand.
FAMILY UNDER FIRE
An insider says, “The claims are absolutely devastating – David atoning for his alleged cheating by funding her money-pit fashion house, her chain-smoking over Rebecca Loos in Madrid.
“David and Victoria are used to ridiculous stories about them. But what will hurt most are the claims of their separate lives and almost divorcing.
“It’s true they did almost split. So this does affect the kids now as they’re old enough to read and understand it. And they all remember what was a very dark time for their marriage.”
The book claims that as recently as 2016 the couple were living separate lives and headed for divorce, with their separate publicists allegedly leaking negative stories about the other. The situation was starting to affect David’s reputation and his Miami project, so he apparently “cut a deal” with his estranged wife.
“His status and survival would have been washed away without Victoria’s determination to maintain the illusion of a happy family,” reveals the book, adding that he agreed to fund her fashion business in return.
DAVID AND VICTORIA: PLAYING THE BLAME GAME
Friends insist this wasn’t “a deal” but a genuine attempt at patching up some problems in their marriage. “They were blame-gaming each other for their failure in the US. And their return to the UK was a bit of humble pie,” says a pal.
“When David started pouring everything into this Miami project, they were living an ocean apart for some time. But they’ve worked through marriage problems before.”
Perhaps it was no coincidence that Victoria would appear in Vanity Fair and Vogue, gushing about David that year. And the couple would seal their reunion by renewing their wedding vows the following year.
STAYING TOGETHER FOR THE BRAND
In an interview with Desert Island Discs, David spoke about marrying Victoria for the second time: “People have talked about, ‘Do we stay together because it’s a brand?’
“Of course not. We stay together because we love each other. Because we have four amazing children. Do you go through tough times? Of course. That’s part of relationships. It’s part of marriages.”
Friends say the couple are proud to have gone through tough times. “It’s hard being reminded of some of the worst times in their lives. But it’s also made them all, kids included, treasure what they’ve achieved.”
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