David Beckham has gained millions of fans across different parts of the world for his talent as a football player. But beyond his professional career as a soccer player, David is adored for being a devoted husband and father. Apart from giving his wife and children all the love in the world, he has also proven himself as someone who would do everything to protect his children.

David, a famous British soccer player, has been happily married to his wife Victoria (nee Adams) of the girl group Spice Girls for almost two and a half decades now. Since then, they have been gifted with four children: their eldest, Brooklyn Joseph, followed by Romeo James, Cruz David, and their only daughter Harper Seven Beckham.

David has spoken out to defend his choice to kiss his 11-year-old daughter, Harper, on the lips after facing criticisms from some of the fans. The former Manchester United star first addressed the issue after receiving a strong backlash when he posted an image of the kiss on social media.

On July 1, 2017, the father dealt with the criticisms head-on during a Facebook Live interview. He explained that he loves to kiss his daughter on the lips because that is how he and his wife take pride in showing their affection for their children. While some parents may disagree, the way people show affection to their kids can vary from culture to culture and parent to parent. Read on to learn more about the kissing controversy and how David responded to all of the criticism.

David and Victoria met during a soccer match in 1997. She was the pop superstar known as Posh Spice of the British girl group Spice Girls. He, on the other hand, played for one of the most popular soccer teams in Europe.

After dating for a year, the pair got engaged and then welcomed their first child, Brooklyn, who was born in 1999. After Brooklyn, David and Victoria married and had sons Romeo in 2002 and Cruz in 2005. Six years after their youngest was born, David and Victoria welcomed Harper, their only daughter.

While David loves all of his children equally, fans can attest that he is very protective, particularly of his only daughter. When his only daughter came into their lives, he couldn’t hide the fact that he was over the moon about her arrival.

As if it isn’t obvious enough that Harper is a daddy’s girl, his lovely daughter surprised him with matching hoodies from one of his favorite shows – “Friends.”

“Happy Sunday … How You Doin ? @friends. Harper Seven knows how much I love ‘Friends’ so surprised me with my hoodie this morning,” David said.

In June 2022, they flew to Italy to spend time together and have some father-daughter bonding. He uploaded a video of him and Harper enjoying some gelato together at nine in the morning, proving that he occasionally spoils his daughter from time to time.

“Ssssssshhhhhhh don’t tell mummy 9 AM Gelato,” he wrote in the caption of his post. “Sorry mummy @victoriabeckham ❤️ creating special memories with #HarperSeven,” he added.

In the midst of this kissing controversy, David, known for his successful football career and his status as a style icon, has become a symbol of modern fatherhood.

In June 2017, David uploaded a photo of him kissing then 5-year-old Harper on the lips on Instagram, which generated over 1.7 million reactions. In November 2018, David again posted another photo of his affectionate gesture toward Harper, which received over 2.1 million likes.

One of the harshest public criticism David received was from television personality Piers Morgan, who called the sportsman’s behavior “creepy.”

“It’s very sweet but why would a father kiss his daughter on the lips? Don’t get it – creepy. Weird. Then you post that for the world – You posted that for the world, why? … Weird, Weird, weird, it’s just weird,” he said.

However, riled-up fans defended David and said there was nothing wrong with the way he showed his affection.

“There is no stronger bond than the love a parent feels for their children, and kissing on the lips is just an expression of that love,” one fan remarked, while another user said, “People who see something beyond innocent affection in David’s picture would need to take a long look at themselves. They are weird, not this picture.”

David told Thai TV host Woody Milintachinda in a live interview that he does get a lot of criticism for these kisses. But he’s not apologizing for it and hasn’t even attempted to stop posting the photos because it’s his way of showing love to all four Beckham kids.

“I’m very affectionate with the kids. It’s how I was brought up and Victoria, and it’s how we are with our children,” David explained. “We want to show our kids love and we protect them, look after them, and support them, and you know, we’re very affectionate with them.”

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David added in the live interview that he shows his affection for his kids by kissing them all on the lips, save for one child.

“I kiss all my kids on the lips. Brooklyn, maybe not. Brooklyn’s 18, he might find that a little bit strange,” he said.

Despite this, the father and son remain affectionate physically, as proven by a heart-melting clip in which Brooklyn surprised David on his birthday. The two embraced each other for a long time as David kissed him on the head with his eyes closed.

“Obviously, Victoria and I had Brooklyn at a very young age,” he told The Father Hood. “But I always wanted that, because I wanted my kids to live through my career with me – through the highs and obviously a couple of lows along the way. I always wanted that.”

In July 2016, Victoria was also criticized for the photo of her kissing Harper on the lips. Some of the followers pointed out in the comments that it could be unhygienic and may send a wrong message about boundaries. However, there were also fans who understood that it’s the norm in some families and cultures, and they applauded the Beckhams for the way they are raising their children.

In October 2020, Victoria uploaded another photo of her husband and daughter kissing. Somehow, after sharing these tender moments with their followers, the negative reactions seemed to have tempered off.

As the debate on this topic continues, it remains evident that parenting styles and displays of affection vary among individuals and cultures. The Beckham family’s choice to show affection through lip kisses may not be universally accepted, but it reflects their personal values and the love they have for their children.

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While critics question the appropriateness of kissing children on the lips, David Beckham and his wife stand by their belief that this is the best way to show their love for their kids. Do you agree with the Beckham parents? Do you know someone who can relate to this story? Tell us all about it!