The popular fashion designer has rarely put a foot wrong in her 23-year showbiz career – and yet in recent weeks Victoria Beckham has faced an outpouring of public criticism about her financial and business decisions, with her reportedly claiming it’s been the “worst time” of her life.
Initially, it was reported she had tried to save face by reversing the controversial decision to use taxpayers’ money to furlough 30 staff at her struggling fashion label.
Yet days later, Posh, 45, risked fresh fury amid claims she and husband David – who are worth a combined £335million – had used a £10million loan to buy their Miami penthouse, despite having the finances to buy the property outright, with fans questioning the super-wealthy couple’s decision to acquire the loan, while at the same time choosing to use taxpayers’ money to pay Victoria’s staff.
One critic commented online, “So [the Beckhams] can afford to take out a £10m loan with 2.5 interest rate for yet another stupidly show-off mansion, yet can’t afford a loan or payments for staff... who probably have a fraction of their wealth and struggle to pay rent?!!!” while another added, “If you can’t pay staff, don’t buy a £10m mansion that you can’t afford, simple.”
Following a week-long social-media silence from Posh – who had been posting regular updates about her lockdown life with David and their three youngest children, Romeo, 17, Cruz, 15 and Harper, eight, from their Cotswolds home – the designer returned to Instagram last week to reveal how she’d been helping the vulnerable while in isolation.
And insiders say Posh – who was said to have felt victimised amid the fall-out from the furlough drama, which drew criticism from celebs including Piers Morgan and Ricky Gervais, is determined to use her charitable work, alongside ‘everyday’ snippets of family life, to win over fans again and remind everyone of all the good work they do.
Sharing the clip on her Instagram story, the mum of four wrote alongside it, “Like so many volunteers, we have been supporting the elderly in our community with care packages.” She also highlighted the work David had been doing, with links to videos of him helping Age UK by making friendly phone calls to people self-isolating at home.
She and David also shared a string of never-before-seen family snaps and clips, including Harper taking her first steps, and a sweet video of David playing teqball with Romeo, as well as a gushing tribute to David on his 45th birthday.
And insiders say the usually private star – who’s also been promoting her label’s latest collection – is trying to salvage both her own and Brand Beckham’s reputation by proving they’re still a solid family unit.
The source says, “While Vic always posts a snap or two in honour of David’s birthday, it’s clear she went a bit over the top this year. Vic was really upset by all the recent negativity aimed at her – she knows the one thing she can control right now is how she portrays herself through her social media platforms, and she’s determined to change public perceptions and give an insight into the real her.
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“She’s using her Instagram to remind fans they’re still the same solid, close family everybody loved. She’s also still continuing to show off their charitable work and really promote those charities and organisations closest to her heart, like Age UK and the NHS. She hopes fans remember that while they may have made some ill-advised errors recently, they always have good intentions at the forefront of everything they do.”
The Beckhams have faced their fair share of criticism over the years. David received a huge backlash when he was sent off during the 1998 World cup for kicking out at Argentina’s Diego Simeone. An effigy of David was hung outside a pub and he received death threats. He later spoke about it being ‘a really difficult time’ to live through as a family and went on to praise his wife’s support.
Check out: where are the 2006 WAGS now?
The UK Wags - where are they now?
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1 of 9Victoria Beckham
One half of the indestructible Beckham brand, Victoria was the original Queen WAG in 2006. At the time Victoria had been married to David for seven years and had just given birth to her third boy, Cruz. She had also just launched her denim line, dvb Style and walked the catwalk for Roberto Cavalli. Over a decade later, she is a fully fledged and well respected fashion designer, with a fourth addition to her brood – the adorable Harper.
2 of 9Coleen Rooney
Coleen rose to fame as a WAG at just 20 years old. Coleen and Wayne are married and they celebrated their ten-year anniversary in 2018. However, Wayne's repeated cheating has strained the relationship over the years. They have four children together, Kai, Klay, Kit and Cass. Since 2006 Coleen has released a fitness DVD, been a style advisor for Littlewoods and even had a column with us in Closer magazine.
3 of 9Cheryl
How could we forget Cheryl as a WAG? Back then, 23-year-old Cheryl was a popstar in Girls Aloud who had just married Ashley Cole. Nowadays, Cheryl is a household name and a worldwide celebrity in her own right. After splitting from Ashley in 2010, she had a successful (well, successful-ish) solo career, was a judge on The X Factor and was the face of beauty brand L'Oreal. She married Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini in 2016 but they divorced three months later. Most recently, Cheryl separated from One Direction singer, Liam Payne, who she has a baby son called Bearwith.
4 of 9Abbey Clancy
Abbey first grabbed our attention in 2006 as one of the finalists in Britain's Next Top Model. She began dating Peter Crouch that same year and the pair are now married with three kids Sophia Ruby, Liberty Rose and baby Johnny. Lingerie model Abbey went on to win Strictly Come Dancing in 2013 and she returned to Britain's Next Top Model as the show's presenter. Not bad work, eh?
5 of 9Danielle Lloyd
Danielle Lloyd was dating footballer Teddy Sheringham when she gained her WAG status. At the time, her title as Miss Great Britain was a controversial matter and she was later stripped of it. Fast forward to now and Danielle has appeared on TV shows such as Celebrity Big Brother, Total Wipeout, The Weakest Link and even Come Dine With Me. She has three sons, Archie, Harry and George with her now ex-husband Jamie O'Hara. Danielle gave birth to a fourth child with her husband Michael O'Neill, Ronnie, in 2017.
6 of 9Elen Rivas
Elen Rivas was engaged to Frank Lampard at the time of the 2006 World Cup, and was a permanent fixture in the WAG circle. After splitting from Frank after a seven-year relationship, she dated Peter Andre, appeared on Dancing On Ice and now looks after her two daughters Luna and Isla while working as a model. Frank has since married TV presenter Christine Bleakley and they've welcomed their daughter Patricia into the world.
7 of 9Louise Owen
Despite being married to one of the most famous footballers at the time, Louise Owen wasn't your stereotype WAG. She has always managed to keep her distance from the limelight. Her passion is rescuing race horses and she currently lives in Wales with her husband Michael and their four children, Gemma, James, Jessica and Emily.
8 of 9Carly Zucker
Now known as Carly Cole after marrying midfielder Joe Cole in Chelsea in 2009, Carly loved to party during the 2006 World Cup (we know the feeling). She then spent two weeks in the jungle during I'm A Celeb in 2009 before being the third to be booted out. Carly and Joe have had three children, Ruby, Harrison and Max together.
9 of 9Alex Curran
Former nail technician Alex Curran began dating Liverpool player Steven Gerrard in 2002. She was one of the leading figures in the 2006 WAG squad. The pair married in 2007 and they have had four children together, Lexie, Lio, Lord, Lilly-Ella. Fashion lover Alex has released a perfume, fronted a Lipsy campaign and written a weekly shopping column for a national newspaper.
More recently, the couple were dealt a devastating blow over a series of leaked emails. They faced a backlash over the 2017 scandal, dubbed ‘Beckileaks’, in which messages between him and his advisors appeared to suggest he exploited his charity work as part of an effort to gain a knighthood.
Now sources say that the recent spate of damaging stories has left Posh fearing someone may have a personal grudge against her.
A source says, “Vic was really panicked when the details about their penthouse loan were revealed. She called an emergency meeting with David and their closest staff members, as she worries somebody is out to badmouth them.
“Every decision they have ever made has been with the best intentions. They would never set out to hurt anyone or abuse their positions. Her staff mean everything to her and she would be devastated if they thought otherwise.”
The source adds, “Vic has always been careful about who she trusts, so to feel that someone is trying to paint her in a bad light and generate a whole load of negativity is understandably upsetting. She just hopes that by being more upfront about their lives and work it will have a more positive effect.”
Read even more celeb stories in this week's Closer magazine - out now.
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