She appeared to shrug off her family tension last Friday as Victoria Beckham made her stunning debut at Paris Fashion Week.
All eyes were on the 48-year-old designer as she launched her latest collection at one of the world’s biggest style events.
And while Posh enjoyed the kudos surrounding her prestigious brand’s first ever show in the French capital, insiders say it was tainted by the ongoing feud between her and her son, Brooklyn, 23, and new daughter-in-law, model Nicola Peltz, 27, who were also in Paris for the week’s festivities.
After months of reported estrangement, tensions were said to have reached boiling point last week when it was claimed the couple hadn’t even been told that Victoria was doing a show in Paris.
Sources say it was uncertain the couple would be there to support the mum-of-four amid the ongoing drama which flared up over Nicola and Brooklyn’s wedding – the dress (Nicola said last month she went with another designer after Posh didn’t return her calls), the planning (which Posh was said to be left out of), and the first dance (which Posh allegedly hijacked for a mum and son whirl around the dance floor).
The source says, “Things are still strained between Vic and Nicola and while she very much wanted them to be there, she also knew that their presence could make the atmosphere difficult, which of course none of them wanted.
“It’s been a heartbreaking time for Vic and while she’s been doing her best to focus on the Paris show, which has been a huge deal for her, it’s understandably been tainted by the family drama in the background which has been causing so much stress and sadness.”
“She’s worked extremely hard to come back from her 2020 furlough backlash which took an emotional toll on her – and her reputation.”
Victoria was said to have hit “rock bottom” after she was criticised for using Government funds to furlough staff at her label during the pandemic, despite her vast family wealth. She quickly reversed the decision.
Months later, both she and her husband David, 47, came under fire for jetting to Miami with their three younger children – Romeo, 20, Cruz, 17, and Harper, 11 – while the rest of the country had been plunged into a second lockdown and been banned from travelling abroad.
While many thought these incidents could bring down “Brand Beckham”, the designer has been going all-out to turn things around.
And insiders tell Closer how her former Spice Girls bandmate, Emma Bunton, 46, reached out to Posh to see if there was support and advice she could offer to her close friend Holly Willoughby, 41, whose own reputation continued to take a beating last week as “queuegate” refused to go away.
Last week, more than 70,000 people signed a petition calling for the presenter and her co-host, Phillip Schofield, to be axed from This Morning for “skipping the queue”to see the Queen lying-in-state.
In the latest twist, it was revealed they didn’t have their names down on the media list – but the details of people in their production team.
And to make matters worse, it was reported a woman in a wheelchair was moved aside to make way for the presenting duo.
As the scandal grew, pals say Holly’s good friend Emma – who’s been supporting her behind the scenes – suggested Posh step-in to advise her given she has first-hand experience of what it’s like to be under negative public scrutiny.
Ironically, Posh’s husband, David, was used as an example of celebrities queuing like any other member of the public, having stood in line for more than 13 hours to pay his respects to the late monarch.
The source says, “Posh felt really sorry for Holly and while she understands the public fury, she knows only too well what it’s like to be made the villain in a story that has arguably been dramatised, but one that was also beyond her control.
“When Emma reached out to ask if she’d pass on any advice and support to Holly, she didn’t think twice – reportedly calling her personally to insist that it would blow over and, if anything, she needed to keep her head high and try not to get sucked into all the trolling and nastiness.
“She also gave Holly the names of crisis PR experts she’s worked with and passed on some helpful advice about how to handle it all – insisting that, above all, her mental wellbeing and that of her kids and husband needed to come first and foremost.
“Holly really appreciated Posh calling and offering her words of advice and support.
“It’s clearly been an extremely emotional and upsetting time for her and she knows Posh has got her own drama to deal with, so it meant a lot.
“She feels so thankful to have an incredible support network of friends like Emma around her as well as her husband Dan and her three kids. She’s really hoping that this will blow over sooner rather than later and that she can regain her crown as the nation’s sweetheart.”
