I was wrong to defend Brooklyn Beckham... Parents are shamed for saying this about 'no contact' children. Now I agree: AMANDA GOFF

As a columnist, I get things wrong sometimes.

Not often, I like to think, but it happens. And when it does, I have no problem admitting it. I know I ruffle feathers; I've been accused of being too judgemental, outspoken and, on occasion, downright rude.

I've had the predictable trolling from Abbie Chatfield's woke, leftie barmy army, banshee howling from Constance Hall's gaggle of fawning mums, and death threats from Spanian's fan club of teenage eshays. 

One even sent me a DM to tell me he would 'smash my teeth to the back of my head' if he ever saw me in the street. Charming, aren't they, these young 'uns? It's fine, I've always wanted a nice set of veneers...

Luckily, I'm tough, I'm resilient, and my job isn't to be liked; but rather, to call things exactly as I see them. 

I have no time for hypocrisy, victimhood, or people who hold others to account but spare themselves. Which brings me to Brooklyn Beckham.

I'll admit it: I got this one wrong. Very wrong. 

When it was revealed that Brooklyn had made the decision to become estranged from the rest of the Beckham family, I was Team Brooklyn all the way.

You can see what I had to say here. 

I argued that growing up under the heavily curated and PR-managed Beckham brand would have been bloody hard, and I was pleased that he had broken free.

At the time, I thought the 27-year-old - married to billionaire Nicola Peltz, 31 - was doing exactly what every therapist recommends: set boundaries, protect your peace, and distance yourself from family if the relationship turns toxic or threatens you and your partner.

And it was clearly deeply toxic: Victoria hijacking Brooklyn and Nicola's first dance at their wedding, the last-minute drama over Nicola wearing one of Victoria's dresses, frosty glares, cold shoulders caught on camera, and so much more.

It was clear to us all that not all was well in the Beckham/Peltz camp.

When Brooklyn cut ties publicly, stating, 'All we want is peace, privacy and happiness for us and our future family', I cheered him on. This wasn't Prince Harry and the insufferable Meghan Markle doing the Oprah tell-all – not even close.

I thought - at the time - that Brooklyn and Nicola were dignified, honest and respectful. I believed then they were - to quote the under-35s' favourite phrase - 'choosing peace'.

Blood ties or not, families can be toxic, and many say leaving difficult parents is both heartbreaking and a massive relief. I know this firsthand, having navigated a complicated relationship with my own family growing up.

But here's the thing - Brooklyn has crossed the line.

His latest Instagram post unsettled me; he has shifted from a respectful distance from his family to what looks like outright cruelty.

And in doing so, he has proved right the suspicions of so many parents who wonder if their adult child's silence is less about 'peace' and more about pure, simple nastiness. 

I know these suspicions well.

Parents longing to hear back from their adult children shared their stories with me after I wrote my last column about Brooklyn. They weren't all villains, they said. They wanted to make things right - but they felt like they had no opportunity to clear the air.

If you haven't seen it, Brooklyn filmed a DoorDash ad (yes, really) lounging on his sofa with the World Cup on TV, smugly holding his FIFA tickets and saying, 'You're probably wondering why I'm watching the FIFA World Cup at home… It's a long story.' He then tosses the tickets aside with an arrogant smirk.

Then a cryptic message pops up on the screen: 'It's complicated. More soon.' 

Oh, God. Brooklyn, really? 

My question to this brat is, 'Why now?' You hardly need the money. Even if you were cut off from every dollar in the bank of Brand Beckham - which, given their desperate attempts to reconcile, seems unlikely - your wife is wealthier still.

You'll never want for a thing, despite your embarrassing lack of talent for all the opportunities handed to you on a silver platter. 

Why rub salt in your family's wounds for the world to see? All for the sake of a DoorDash commercial?

Judging by comments from your 16 million followers - 'Still profiting from the Beckham name', 'Got the gig because he's Beckham's son yet shades his father in the ad' - I'm clearly not alone in finding this in poor taste.

Can I point out the obvious? You're still flaunting that $480,000 Patek Philippe Nautilus from your father - who, unlike you, played in three World Cups. You're cashing in on being a Beckham, and the stack of unopened letters on the table - an obvious dig at your refusal to engage with your family - is just cruel. 

Here's a bit of advice: I'd sack your PR team yesterday - if you still have one. Better yet, draft in a crisis team. Any sympathy the public had for you has evaporated in an instant. And for what? A few hundred grand?

There's one real - completely innocent - victim in all this: Brooklyn's 14-year-old sister, Harper. She was papped visiting his Beverly Hills home last week to deliver a handwritten note, but was reportedly 'crestfallen' when he wasn't home - or simply didn't answer the door.

Brooklyn's camp accused his parents of using Harper as a 'pawn', implying that it was a staged photo op. The Beckhams hit back, saying Harper was just a heartbroken young girl who missed her brother. 

Look, family dynamics are complex. I know this well. I rarely talk about my family rift because I respect their privacy and don't want to rip open deeply personal wounds in public. While I am an open book, my parents remain out of bounds. The media has respected that thankfully, and so have I.

There is a vast difference between stepping away quietly and publicly humiliating the people who once – and absolutely do – still love you.

I used to think Brooklyn was protecting his peace and his wife. Now, I'm convinced he is weaponising his silence. 

Family estrangement is painful and sad. I know that better than most. The love never dies - my family is always on my mind - but separation is healthier for us all.

Brooklyn, if you want to walk away - as you clearly have - do it with dignity and kindness. That was what won us over. Now you've backtracked and done the unforgivable. But why? You don't need the money, the fame or the clout.

A few months ago, you were an inspiration to so many adult children of toxic parents. Now you look like a desperate nepo-baby who rejects his baby sister out of spite.

And Brooklyn, that's just not cool.