Pals say Posh Spice is the driving force behind the decision to separate her and David's businesses
They sparked fears over the state of their marriage late last year when it was claimed that David Beckham was planning to part ways with his business partner of 23 years, Simon Fuller – also Posh’s long-term manager and the brains behind Brand Beckham and The Spice Girls.
But as insiders revealed last week that the professional split was still going full-steam ahead – with David reportedly willing to fork out around £65 million to buy Simon out of DB Ventures and the couple’s umbrella company, Brand Beckham Holdings – insiders claim it’s Posh who is spearheading the shock move.
CHECK OUT From Kavana to the Victoria Beckham 'dog' spat: Katie Price’s showbiz feuds
From Kavana to Victoria Beckham: Katie Priceu2019s showbiz feuds - Closer (slider)
1 of 11Katie Price showbiz feud
2 of 11Katie Price VS Victoria Beckham
This is one of our favourites. Picture the scene: Victoria Beckham (then Queen WAG, not top fashion designer), at Manchester United, surrounded by a group of Gucci-clad wives and girlfriends – singing Who Let The Dogs Out as Katie Price walked through the lounge.Speaking on her Fubar radio show in 2014, Katie explained: "All it is is that years ago she sang the song in the Manchester United lounge and there's where it started from. "And in a nightclub David held my hand behind her back, it was in my book. It was years ago."She has since thrown shade at Posh Spice's son Cruz Beckham.
3 of 11Katie Price VS Kerry Katona
After meeting in the I'm a Celebrity jungle in 2004, Katie and Kerry quickly became besties – and Kezza was even bridesmaid at Kate's wedding to Peter Andre.But they fell out in 2007, when Katie publicly disapproved of Kerry's relationship with Mark Croft, labelling her 'a druggie' and him a 'bully'.But they made up in 2014, and Kerry even asked Katie to be a bridesmaid at her wedding to George Kay.
4 of 11Katie Price VS Kelly Brook
Katie briefly dated Kelly's ex-boyfriend Danny Cipriani, but ended things when she caught him in bed with another woman.But model Kelly was NOT impressed when Katie sold the story in 2013. She tweeted: :@MissKatiePrice Your [sic] doing a kiss&tell on Danny?? Haha that's hilarious. You dated for 5mins and was one of many at the time. Desperate."They've never resolved things, and fell out again in 2014 when Katie branded Kelly a 'heifer'.
5 of 11Katie Price VS Katie Hopkins
Before coming face-to-face in the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2015, motormouth Hopkins angered the Pricey by slamming her youngest daughter's name.Referencing Pricey's husband Kieran's affairs, she tweeted: "BUNNY? Makes sense, given your dad was going at it like a rabbit will all of mum's mates."They did not resolve things in the house, and shortly after winning the show Pricey said: "She's a disgusting human being. She really is."
6 of 11Katie Price VS Peaches Geldof
In November 2012, Katie commented negatively on a photo of the late Peaches Geldof's son Astala, then six-months, playing with their dog Parper.Writing in her column for The Sun, Katie said: "An animal is an animal and that means she they can turn on you at any point. All new mums should also remember that dogs can easily get jealous of new babies."But Peaches hit back. She tweeted: "Funny that Katie Price aka 'Jordan' lol thinks that I shouldn't allow my gentle, sweet golden retriever dog near his best friend, my son. Could say the same thing to her about letting some of the multitude of 'boyfriends' she has near her kids [sic]."
7 of 11Katie Price VS Havana
Poor Katie. She went into the Celebrity Big Brother house to make friends – and it looked like she did. She and 90s pop star Kavana teamed up for his new music video following their exit, but he later made the mistake of talking about her in an interview.Discussing the budding pop star, Kav told The Sun: "We've decided to to a duet. I mean, God bless her, she can't really sing, can she? But I've said to her that I'll get her in the studio and make it sound good."Unsurprisingly, Katie was NOT impressed with his catty comments. She said: "I did a favour for @kavana_official by appearing in his music video as a favour when he asked by NEVER discussed going a duet with his and this is something that will NEVER happen as infact I'm in the studio recording my own tracks solo [sic]."
8 of 11Katie Price VS Kimberley Crew
When Katie sent a cryptic tweet on Joe Hart and Kimberly Crew's wedding day in July, it was assumed she was suggesting she and Joe had history.Katie teased: "All Harts go out to the married couple is he going to tell her the truth about us? [sic]."Joe and Kimberly have never publicly commented on the rumours, but a source told The Sun at the time: "Kim couldn't care less. She thinks Katie is a clueless bimbo. "She has no concerns about Joe's loyalty and told friends, 'In her dreams! She probably wishes she could get her hands on him!'"
9 of 11Katie Price VS Alicia Douvall
Katie came up against another former frenemy in the CBB house in 2015: Alicia Douvall. Although the two former glamour girls appeared to make up during their time on the show, Alicia hit out after being the first evicted.She told Star magazine: "[Katie] was looking at my body and making comments. There was a twitch of jealousy. Katie is a very clever girl and it was a strategic move to save Katie H [from nomination]."It was revealed in the house that Katie and Alicia both dated Dwight Yorke, the father of Katie's eldest son Harvey.But Alicia added: "It wasn't only Dwight. There are other exes we've shared. We were direct rivals when we were both modelling. She once tried to beat me up in a night club when she was pregnant!"
10 of 11Katie Price VS Jodie Marsh
Probably Katie's most infamous feud – she and Jodie Marsh have never hidden their feelings about each other.When Jodie first emerged on the glamour modelling scene Katie accused her of 'copying her'.In 2015, over a decade after their feud originally erupted, Jodie angered Katie again by insisting she's 'the one who's famous for having loads of kids with different dads'.Katie took to Twitter to hit back, writing: "Don't knock mothers like me, there's lots of us. Didn't you go out with my exes names written all over your body, marking them out of ten after you shagged them (classy)? Well, you've shagged nearly all my leftovers and not one of them wanted you (gutted)."
11 of 11Katie Price VS Chris Hughes
We will NEVER forget Katie Price and Love Island star Chris Hughes' 2017 drama. It all began after Katie denied sending Chris any flirty messages after he said he was ignoring her.Things took a turn for the worse when Chris posted text messages she had sent him but it wasn't long before she hinted she has over 50 screenshots of private messages he sent her.Just when we thought things couldn't get any more juicier The Sun then verified that Chris HAD sent the mum-of-five private messages (even though he originally denied ever doing so). Pricey then went one step further and flashed one of those secret messages.Eek!
The couple – who are set to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in July – have faced a wave of scrutiny over their marriage in recent months, and pals say Posh believes they have no choice but to separate business from their personal lives.
A source reveals, “Victoria was initially worried when David suggested he and Simon should go their separate ways, as she feared it could be awkward. She also knew it would raise a lot of eyebrows, with people assuming this signaled trouble in their marriage.
“But the reality is that in the months since the idea was first mooted, Vic has not only warmed to the prospect, but actively pushed for it. She’s now of a mind that their marriage should be kept separate from their business lives and that they’re better off apart. She’s all for anything that avoids unnecessary stress.
“It’s been a hard decision, but after months of intense scrutiny over the state of her and David’s relationship, she feels untangling their professional lives can only have a positive effect and ease some of the tension that arises from time to time.”
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David, 43, and Posh, 44 – who have Brooklyn, 20, Romeo, 16, Cruz, 14, and Harper, seven – signed Simon as manager of their brand in 2003, and the pop mogul is responsible for taking David to the USA to play for LA Galaxy in 2007, increasing his fame and wealth.
But sources claimed last week that David – who has several lucrative sponsorship deals to his name, owns his own Miami soccer team, and recently splashed out on a London pub with pal Guy Ritchie – is keen to run his company, which made a profit of £23.2 million in 2017, on his own.
The move follows continued fears for the Beckham’s relationship, with the couple forced to deny their marriage was in trouble last July, amid false Twitter rumours. And despite their attempt to brush off rift claims, David raised eyebrows again in October when he described marriage as “hard work”.
The source says, “Vic and David made a big name for themselves as Brand Beckham. But since she started her fashion empire and he focused on his business following his retirement from football, they haven’t needed each other to achieve success. They’ve become successful as individuals.
"Plus, their marriage has faced so much negativity that Vic almost feels Brand Beckham has become a target. David has told her in the past to not overshare their family life on social media, so she thinks keeping their marriage separate from their business might be the best thing.
“Vic doesn’t want there to be any hard feelings, and is trying to help everyone come to a fair agreement that won’t affect her relationship with Simon – or spark new tensions between her and David.”
Read even more about the Beckhams in this week's Closer magazine - out now.