I recently worked on a creative social piece for Booking.com. The idea was to find an ambassador that pokes fun at the idea ‘it doesn’t take a genius to be a Genius’ (b.coms loyalty program). I immediately thought of Brooklyn Beckham and pitched him basically an opportunity to ‘clap back’. Long story short he loved it and was great to work with. He has his parents sense of humour and is actually a lot more aware than he comes across!
I remember chortling at What I See then thinking, “I’m laughing at a kid whose abilities have been overstated by every adult in his life.” This piece exactly explains why I felt bad for laughing.
Ooooh…this is a good piece. I absolutely agree with you, he cannot win. I do sometimes feel sorry for him because of exactly that, and the fact that - as you say - he can’t help it, it’s not his fault. Where I come unstuck in my empathy for him however (rightly or wrongly) is that I spent half of last year launching a brand of spice blends. I did everything myself: recipe testing for months on end, sourcing suppliers, designing labels that I then sat into the night sticking onto the jars. Hand grating nutmeg and blending whole chipotles. Then it came to early mornings setting up then standing on market stalls selling them. Anyway, shortly before launching at my first market, when I was exhausted and losing my goddamn mind wondering why the hell I ever started this thing, I was in London walking past Wholefoods on High Street Ken and I was taken aback to see an entire window of this behemoth, expensive store dedicated to his hot sauce. God I was mad. And even though I KNOW it’s not his fault, I was mad. I’m less mad now but I’m disappointed even though I know that’s how the world works. I still have a full time job and give my evenings and weekends to try to get this thing off the ground but someone with no chef training but pots of inherited wealth just storms a massive store like Wholefoods and he (speculative) probably never even set foot in the kitchen that made his sauce. Gah. C’est la vie.
Thank you for reading. It’s true that it’s not his fault that he’s in a position of visible celebrity, but he is complicit in taking all these offers and trying on different careers. They can’t all be passion projects, surely?
I hear ya, and I don’t disagree. I suppose this is where my ‘kind side’ comes in. I read a lot (maybe all?) of other the comments on your post - someone said he “looks like he’d be happy changing tyres married to Debby” and someone else noted that he’s been paraded since birth - even groomed for a spectacular life in the spotlight perhaps? - so that would never have been an option. I can’t imagine anyone his age, in that position not going for these chances, especially when being pushed by his ambitious parents who seem like they want to create a dynasty…?
I’m still disgruntled about the hot sauce but maybe it’s just jealousy? What really, REALLY riled me was that his parents are beat pals with Gordon Ramsay so let’s say the food is the one that’s the true passion project, why embarrass yourself on the world stage when you have a Michelin starred chef on speed dial that you could learn from - that really pissed me off. He would have garnered so much respect if he’d earned his stripes in one of Ramsay’s restaurants. And he’d been a fantastic chef for it. AND! He could still have driven his Maserati around town and drink Dom Perignon on the one night a week he’d have off! I think that’s where my sympathy ends… I like this debate! 🤩
I suppose such is the allure of the elder Beckhams that no job he'd have taken would ever have treated him like a 'regular' person. I guess sometimes there just isn't an answer!
Interesting. I know Jamie Oliver has never shyed away from using his children as lifestyle props but his elder daughter is training to be a nurse. So there is hope.
Your kind compassion has spurred me on to do better, Justin…ha-ha! No, sincerely. This is a very kind piece that has given me serious pause for thought…sorta.
But yes; you’re absolutely right about the poor boy’s plight, and he should probably just be left alone…but he will keep on ignoring those’Danger! Landmines!’ signs. And landmines being landmines, well, they’ll just keep on explodin’!
Oh! And I love your stylish, but never less than substantive, writing. Bravo!
THIS is brilliant!! I really don't understand what people want from him. And the truth is, sometimes it's bloody hard to decide what you want to do. Obviously not on the same level as I came from a poorer background but I wanted to be a teacher, I then changed my mind and decided the hospitality industry was good for me, before I went to college, whilst working in a bank, and found that actually journalism was pretty cool. I tried a dozen things in between. He's just trying these things out in the open and like one of your other commenters said, even if he finds something he's good at, he won't be left in peace to get on with it because people will still bring his parents up. I'm so bored with all bashing "nepo-babies".
The nepobaby thing is definitely a huge problem, but in Brooklyn’s case, he had celebrity thrust upon him from a young age, and it was even encouraged by his parents. He was never going to have a normal life, so all he’s qualified for are the kind of ‘famous person but not dazzlingly talented’ jobs he’s had (not a criticism). Thanks for reading!
Interesting read. Celebrity kids can’t win sometimes and yet I am reminded that Springsteen’s youngest son is a New Jersey firefighter. So it depends how much celebrity you bring home with you I guess.
I suppose Springsteen has seldom been of interest to the tabloids in the first place – aside from the odd alleged infidelity – but he's certainly never courted them either. I know 'I blame the parents' is a cliché but David and Victoria have played a big part in Brooklyn's apparent thirst for the spotlight. I guess he doesn't know any different so figures he… might as well? Has being an ordinary person ever been proposed to him by anyone?
You're bang on when you say he can't win. Even if he was genuinely really good at something and making a living from that he'd be getting the old 'he only got to where he is because of who his parents are'. There's nothing he could do that would be ok with people; they hate him for being born into a life of privilege, which he had no say in!
If your kid is not a junky, and is basically a nice guy, then you have done your job. Brooklyn seems like he would have been happy as a tyre fitter in Essex, married to Deb.
It’s too much attention on an unexceptional person. The dissonance between what he has to offer the world and how attentively the world waits for his every decision is enough to drive anyone mad. But some different parenting decisions could have allowed him a life away from the cameras, to discover who he actually is. The poor kid never got the chance to find out. And shame on every brand and publisher offering him money for his insubstantial wares.
He's so wilfully unexceptional, it's almost an art project. I wonder, though, does the world actually wait with bated breath for his take on anything, or is it lazy commissioning? I suspect any heat around Brooklyn or his celebrity is generated only by the media's continuing fascination with his parents, especially given David and Victoria hardly talk to the press anymore, yet Brooklyn is only too willing to go on a talk show, or do umpteen Q&As – even though he was v little to say.
Yes, he's like their emissary now. For what she had to work with and what she's turned it into, I kind of like Victoria. For everything he is and everything he stands for, I absolutely loathe her husband. It's like being good at football gets you a free pass to just ignoring everything apart from the next fanny you're chasing.
“a helpful, yet condemning, advisory sticker had it been developed down at Prontaprint in the nineties” - ha, haven’t thought about these in years. I may revisit the joy of getting a roll of film developed and the ‘surprise’ of how the photos have turned out. If film can be purchased without requiring a loan…
To be the eldest kid of two of the most famous people on the planet and not end up in a sad state like many other celebrity kids, but instead play at being a photographer and chef and whatever else comes next is a miracle! Yes we may cringe a little (/lot) but who cares. He’s making the best of it! Fab piece 🤍
The ability to try out these creative careers until he’s no longer amused by them is a huge privilege – the Rankin internship! – and I’m never sure he properly acknowledges that, but the media give him the airtime, and for someone who’s been famous since he was a literal embryo, he’s remarkably well-adjusted. And he has to do *something*. Thanks for reading!
oh god, immense privilege! and he could absolutely be doing better things with his time but alas. What I would give to be a fly on the wall during the Rankin internship. what did he make of the elephant?!
I’m assuming Rankin was too embarrassed to say and Brooklyn has never known embarrassment and thought it was amazing. Their entire PR team must spend their whole day saying “yes, you’re great”
I recently worked on a creative social piece for Booking.com. The idea was to find an ambassador that pokes fun at the idea ‘it doesn’t take a genius to be a Genius’ (b.coms loyalty program). I immediately thought of Brooklyn Beckham and pitched him basically an opportunity to ‘clap back’. Long story short he loved it and was great to work with. He has his parents sense of humour and is actually a lot more aware than he comes across!
Ah that's sweet! However, please stop giving this child money, hahaha.
Pahah, fair
I remember chortling at What I See then thinking, “I’m laughing at a kid whose abilities have been overstated by every adult in his life.” This piece exactly explains why I felt bad for laughing.
yeah, it's too easy!
Ooooh…this is a good piece. I absolutely agree with you, he cannot win. I do sometimes feel sorry for him because of exactly that, and the fact that - as you say - he can’t help it, it’s not his fault. Where I come unstuck in my empathy for him however (rightly or wrongly) is that I spent half of last year launching a brand of spice blends. I did everything myself: recipe testing for months on end, sourcing suppliers, designing labels that I then sat into the night sticking onto the jars. Hand grating nutmeg and blending whole chipotles. Then it came to early mornings setting up then standing on market stalls selling them. Anyway, shortly before launching at my first market, when I was exhausted and losing my goddamn mind wondering why the hell I ever started this thing, I was in London walking past Wholefoods on High Street Ken and I was taken aback to see an entire window of this behemoth, expensive store dedicated to his hot sauce. God I was mad. And even though I KNOW it’s not his fault, I was mad. I’m less mad now but I’m disappointed even though I know that’s how the world works. I still have a full time job and give my evenings and weekends to try to get this thing off the ground but someone with no chef training but pots of inherited wealth just storms a massive store like Wholefoods and he (speculative) probably never even set foot in the kitchen that made his sauce. Gah. C’est la vie.
Thank you for reading. It’s true that it’s not his fault that he’s in a position of visible celebrity, but he is complicit in taking all these offers and trying on different careers. They can’t all be passion projects, surely?
I hear ya, and I don’t disagree. I suppose this is where my ‘kind side’ comes in. I read a lot (maybe all?) of other the comments on your post - someone said he “looks like he’d be happy changing tyres married to Debby” and someone else noted that he’s been paraded since birth - even groomed for a spectacular life in the spotlight perhaps? - so that would never have been an option. I can’t imagine anyone his age, in that position not going for these chances, especially when being pushed by his ambitious parents who seem like they want to create a dynasty…?
I’m still disgruntled about the hot sauce but maybe it’s just jealousy? What really, REALLY riled me was that his parents are beat pals with Gordon Ramsay so let’s say the food is the one that’s the true passion project, why embarrass yourself on the world stage when you have a Michelin starred chef on speed dial that you could learn from - that really pissed me off. He would have garnered so much respect if he’d earned his stripes in one of Ramsay’s restaurants. And he’d been a fantastic chef for it. AND! He could still have driven his Maserati around town and drink Dom Perignon on the one night a week he’d have off! I think that’s where my sympathy ends… I like this debate! 🤩
I suppose such is the allure of the elder Beckhams that no job he'd have taken would ever have treated him like a 'regular' person. I guess sometimes there just isn't an answer!
Interesting. I know Jamie Oliver has never shyed away from using his children as lifestyle props but his elder daughter is training to be a nurse. So there is hope.
And that should be *shied*
Your kind compassion has spurred me on to do better, Justin…ha-ha! No, sincerely. This is a very kind piece that has given me serious pause for thought…sorta.
But yes; you’re absolutely right about the poor boy’s plight, and he should probably just be left alone…but he will keep on ignoring those’Danger! Landmines!’ signs. And landmines being landmines, well, they’ll just keep on explodin’!
Oh! And I love your stylish, but never less than substantive, writing. Bravo!
Thank you!
THIS is brilliant!! I really don't understand what people want from him. And the truth is, sometimes it's bloody hard to decide what you want to do. Obviously not on the same level as I came from a poorer background but I wanted to be a teacher, I then changed my mind and decided the hospitality industry was good for me, before I went to college, whilst working in a bank, and found that actually journalism was pretty cool. I tried a dozen things in between. He's just trying these things out in the open and like one of your other commenters said, even if he finds something he's good at, he won't be left in peace to get on with it because people will still bring his parents up. I'm so bored with all bashing "nepo-babies".
The nepobaby thing is definitely a huge problem, but in Brooklyn’s case, he had celebrity thrust upon him from a young age, and it was even encouraged by his parents. He was never going to have a normal life, so all he’s qualified for are the kind of ‘famous person but not dazzlingly talented’ jobs he’s had (not a criticism). Thanks for reading!
Ha no he def wasn't qualified to take the photo of that elephant :)
Interesting read. Celebrity kids can’t win sometimes and yet I am reminded that Springsteen’s youngest son is a New Jersey firefighter. So it depends how much celebrity you bring home with you I guess.
I suppose Springsteen has seldom been of interest to the tabloids in the first place – aside from the odd alleged infidelity – but he's certainly never courted them either. I know 'I blame the parents' is a cliché but David and Victoria have played a big part in Brooklyn's apparent thirst for the spotlight. I guess he doesn't know any different so figures he… might as well? Has being an ordinary person ever been proposed to him by anyone?
You're bang on when you say he can't win. Even if he was genuinely really good at something and making a living from that he'd be getting the old 'he only got to where he is because of who his parents are'. There's nothing he could do that would be ok with people; they hate him for being born into a life of privilege, which he had no say in!
I’m sorry but that Vogue video really made me laugh, especially ‘I love cheese, it’s like butter.’
I mean, whoever commissions these has to be taking the piss. It's like watching two toddlers trying to describe the concept of outer space.
They really are taking the piss. I can hear the guffawing in the edit suite.
Not laughing as hard as Brooklyn, I imagine, when he trousers the fee and celebrates with pickled onion Monster Munch
Haha! ‘I love pickled onion Monster Munch. I wonder if It’s made out of real monsters?’ *crash zoom on his wondering face*
Hahaha!
If your kid is not a junky, and is basically a nice guy, then you have done your job. Brooklyn seems like he would have been happy as a tyre fitter in Essex, married to Deb.
I think you could be right there.
It’s too much attention on an unexceptional person. The dissonance between what he has to offer the world and how attentively the world waits for his every decision is enough to drive anyone mad. But some different parenting decisions could have allowed him a life away from the cameras, to discover who he actually is. The poor kid never got the chance to find out. And shame on every brand and publisher offering him money for his insubstantial wares.
He's so wilfully unexceptional, it's almost an art project. I wonder, though, does the world actually wait with bated breath for his take on anything, or is it lazy commissioning? I suspect any heat around Brooklyn or his celebrity is generated only by the media's continuing fascination with his parents, especially given David and Victoria hardly talk to the press anymore, yet Brooklyn is only too willing to go on a talk show, or do umpteen Q&As – even though he was v little to say.
Yes, he's like their emissary now. For what she had to work with and what she's turned it into, I kind of like Victoria. For everything he is and everything he stands for, I absolutely loathe her husband. It's like being good at football gets you a free pass to just ignoring everything apart from the next fanny you're chasing.
I don't mind her so much, at least she can laugh at herself, but he leaves me utterly cold.
Excellent read, as always.
“a helpful, yet condemning, advisory sticker had it been developed down at Prontaprint in the nineties” - ha, haven’t thought about these in years. I may revisit the joy of getting a roll of film developed and the ‘surprise’ of how the photos have turned out. If film can be purchased without requiring a loan…
Always crushing to see a pic you were really looking forward to seeing has ended up a stickered, blurry mess.
To be the eldest kid of two of the most famous people on the planet and not end up in a sad state like many other celebrity kids, but instead play at being a photographer and chef and whatever else comes next is a miracle! Yes we may cringe a little (/lot) but who cares. He’s making the best of it! Fab piece 🤍
The ability to try out these creative careers until he’s no longer amused by them is a huge privilege – the Rankin internship! – and I’m never sure he properly acknowledges that, but the media give him the airtime, and for someone who’s been famous since he was a literal embryo, he’s remarkably well-adjusted. And he has to do *something*. Thanks for reading!
oh god, immense privilege! and he could absolutely be doing better things with his time but alas. What I would give to be a fly on the wall during the Rankin internship. what did he make of the elephant?!
I’m assuming Rankin was too embarrassed to say and Brooklyn has never known embarrassment and thought it was amazing. Their entire PR team must spend their whole day saying “yes, you’re great”
This is the sweetest piece! I love it. ❤️
Cheers for reading!
This is such a kind take. ♥️
(I’m still going to laugh a tiny bit about the elephant, though. Possibly every time I think about it for the rest of my life).
It is a pretty bad photo. Cheers for reading!