Kamal Ghorui
Brooklyn Beckham has taken another public step that appears to underline the ongoing rupture with his parents, after covering up a tattoo dedicated to his father, David Beckham. Photographed in Los Angeles alongside his wife, Nicola Peltz, the 26-year-old was seen with the word “Dad” erased from an anchor tattoo on his right arm, replaced by three nondescript shapes. The tattoo had previously featured the words “Dad” and “Love you Bust,” “Buster” being David Beckham’s long-standing nickname for his eldest son. A source told The Sun: “Brooklyn’s had laser treatment on the writing. He wanted it gone.” The same source added: “There is so much hurt and pain on his side, it would not be genuine to keep such a tribute on his body.”
The alteration involves covering the word “Dad” on his anchor tattoo with three nondescript shapes/ Instagram
While the word “Dad” has been removed, the phrase “Love you Bust” remains faintly visible, though noticeably faded.
Tattoos and the wider family fallout
The alteration is likely to be interpreted as the latest escalation in Brooklyn’s estrangement from his family, including his mother Victoria Beckham, brothers Romeo and Cruz, and sister Harper. In a series of damning posts last month, Brooklyn made it well known that he has no intention of reconciling with them, accusing his parents of leaking negative stories about him and his wife Nicola Peltz, 31. The cover-up follows an earlier decision to obscure a chest tattoo dedicated to Victoria. That inking, which read “mama’s boy” and dated back to 2018, was replaced last year with a floral design thought to reference Nicola Peltz’s bridal bouquet. At the time, the change prompted speculation about tensions within the family, speculation that Brooklyn later addressed directly.
Brooklyn’s “mama’s boy” chest tattoo, dedicated to Victoria Beckham and inked in 2018, was later covered with a floral design/ Image: X
In a statement shared last month, he said he had “never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life” and accused his parents of multiple failings, including claims of “bribery” and of telling his wife that “she’s not family”. One allegation centred on Victoria allegedly hijacking Brooklyn and Nicola’s first dance at their April 2022 wedding with what he described as “inappropriate” behaviour.
A contrast with David Beckham’s response
While Brooklyn removes tributes, David Beckham has continued to display his own. This week, the former England captain posted a photograph that clearly showed the “‘Buster” tattoo on his neck, inked in 2015 in honour of his son.
David Beckham posted a photo showing his “Buster” neck tattoo, dedicated to his eldest son Brooklyn, originally inked in 2015/ Image: Instagram
A source said the contrast has not gone unnoticed: “To see Brooklyn covering up Victoria’s tattoo, and now the one he had for his dad, will sting. It seems very cruel and will add salt to the wounds.” Brooklyn, who has more than 100 tattoos, many of them dedicated to Nicola Peltz, including a depiction of her eyes on the back of his neck, has described body art as his preferred way of expressing love and loyalty. For those close to the Beckhams, the decision to erase familial tributes, rather than add to them, has become one of the clearest visual signals yet of how far the rift has travelled.
