James Lawton: Beast of publicity bites back at Beckhams
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.There is always a danger when you help to make your own life public property. The Beckhams' publicity machine is a wonder of the celebrity age, producing a relentless appetite for every detail of their lives, and the commercial rewards have been astonishing.
This weekend the other shoe dropped when a tabloid published seven pages on an alleged late-night tryst between David Beckham and one of his staff.
Beckham, like any other young family man, can argue passionately for his rights to privacy, but the trouble is that when you encourage a beast, you can never be sure of where it will end, and there is no doubt that publicity, however it is first contrived, sooner or later becomes a beast.
The Beckhams have sold their wedding and key moments of their family life to the glossy magazines. They have starred in fly-on-the-wall documentaries of often brain-numbing banality, and all of it has no doubt been a major help in producing a great mound of endorsements.
Now maybe the Beckhams will finally confront a harsh truth. When you willingly play the celebrity game you take the best ... and brace yourself for the rest.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments