Years before he accused his famous parents of controlling his life, Brooklyn Beckham was reportedly so homesick that he abandoned his New York dreams just one year into photography school.
The dramatic contrast has resurfaced this week after Brooklyn unleashed an explosive online statement, claiming that David Beckham and Victoria Beckham had “controlled” him for his entire life.
But insiders say the reality eight years ago painted a very different picture.
Back in September 2017, a then-19-year-old Brooklyn enrolled on a four-year photography course at the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York’s Greenwich Village. Yet after just one year, he deferred his studies, returned to the UK, and moved back in with his family.
Sources speaking at the time said the decision was driven by loneliness rather than rebellion. “It sounds as if he was truly homesick and was feeling lonely out there,” one insider explained. Another added that Brooklyn “adores his family” and that “in the end it was the pull of home that swung it.”
Victoria, they said, was “absolutely delighted” at the prospect of having her eldest son back under the same roof, with the source describing it as “a dream come true” for the fashion designer.
Brooklyn had moved to New York following the release of his controversial photography book What I See, a glossy collection of more than 300 images capturing everything from luxury holidays to A-list parties. The book was widely mocked for its blurry images and child-like captions, with critics dismissing it as a vanity project.
Sales reflected the backlash. Despite the hype, the £17 book reportedly sold just around 3,800 copies in its first few months, and Brooklyn quietly stepped away from photography soon after, later reinventing himself as an aspiring chef and food influencer.
Yet in a twist worthy of tabloid legend, What I See has suddenly become a collector’s item. Following Brooklyn’s latest family row, copies of the book have surged in value, with some listings on eBay approaching £300 — nearly 20 times its original price.
One signed edition was advertised as “opened only to be signed” at a Los Angeles event in 2017, while another seller gushed that the book offered a “unique insight into the celebrity lifestyle” and was now a “sought-after” item.
The renewed interest comes amid an intensifying family feud, sparked by Brooklyn’s claim that his parents even attempted to pressure him into signing away the rights to his own name — an allegation that sources close to the Beckhams have strongly disputed.
Insiders say Victoria has been left “devastated” by the public nature of the accusations, as the once-close bond between mother and son appears to have fractured beyond repair.
For many observers, the irony is hard to ignore: a young man who once couldn’t bear to be away from his parents now accusing them of having held him too close for too long.
