‘Inappropriate’: David Beckham’s Photo with Daughter Harper, 12, Causes Big Stir 6 Other Celebrity Controversies Involving Kids

• David Beckham’s recent affectionate photo with his 12-year-old daughter Harper has sparked widespread debate online.
• The controversy surrounding the soccer legend follows 5 other incidents where celebrities received backlash for their parenting choices.

In the age of social media, every post can quickly become a topic of public scrutiny. Thus, celebrities often find themselves at the center of heated discussions about what is considered acceptable behavior as a parent.

From David Beckham and other stars’ questionable public displays of affection towards their children to kisses that have led to concerns about safety and underwater smooches deemed “weird,” each of these celebrity incidents has ignited fierce debates and polarized opinions.

In 2016, actress Hilary Duff turned to Instagram to share a heartfelt moment with her. The post featured a photo of Duff giving her son, Luca, a peck on the lips while they enjoyed a day at Disneyland.

“Happiest happiest happiest happiest happiest happiest happiest happiest place on earth! We love you @disneyland 🙌🏻❤️🙌🏻❤️🙌🏻❤️🙌🏻❤️🙌🏻❤️🙌🏻❤️🙌🏻❤️🙌🏻,” Duff captioned the photo.

The seemingly innocent picture quickly became a point of contention, with many online users criticizing the affectionate gesture. “Causing PAIN, and possible infection, to an infant for no purpose other than fashion IS child abuse,” one person commented in part.

Duff was also called “disgusting” by some commenters who found the kiss inappropriate. “I can’t see this pic the same no more,” another social media user typed while a third simply stated, “Sick.”

Reflecting on the incident, Duff shared, “I’ve seen stuff on the nternet a couple of years back when we were at Disneyland and I posted a picture of Luca and me kissing on the lips. People were like, ‘That’s disgusting.'”

In response to the mom-shaming, Duff stood her ground, stating, “For anyone commenting that a kiss on the lips with my four-year-old is ‘inappropriate’ go ahead and click a quick unfollow with your warped minds and judgment.”

Duff emphasized the importance of considering other people’s perspectives and advised people to focus on themselves rather than on external judgments. The actress mentioned that people often have extreme opinions and suggested it’s best to ignore them and find humor in the situation.

The American singer also shared that she has faced criticism for giving her six-year-old son piggyback rides. Nevertheless, Duff stressed the significance of making decisions that are best for one’s own family.

In December 2018, actress Gabrielle Union shared a touching moment with her newborn daughter on Instagram. The clip showed Union kissing her infant daughter on the mouth, accompanied by the caption, “Kissing Game. She’s got my ❤ on a string. @kaaviajames 💋💋💋.”

However, the post quickly garnered backlash from some social media users. Critics were quick to express their disapproval, with comments such as “That’s not a right.”

Another social media user shared, “Dats how u make babies sick their immune system ain’t built that strong. That’s cute but let’s b real (sic).” Despite the negative reactions, many fans came to Union’s defense.

Supportive comments included, “Kiss her every day, show that mommy love, she came out of your business, so it’s your business where you kiss her!” Another person typed, “You keep showing that love mommy 😍😍😍.”

Union later addressed the criticism in a follow-up Instagram post. The actress wrote in part, “Hey guys, I appreciate all the concern about kisses on the mouth and labored breathing. I am blessed enough to have a nurse here with us while at work.”

“Kaav is healthy and I don’t even touch her without washing and sanitizing myself and everything and everyone that comes into contact with her. If you think I waited this long and went thru all this to put my baby in harm’s way…you got another thing coming (sic),” Union’s response continued.

In August 2023, Coco Austin shared a heartwarming moment with her daughter during a fun-filled pool day. The star posted a video clip of her and Chanel sharing a kiss underwater, showcasing a playful and affectionate moment between mother and daughter.

Austin captioned the clip, “Having fun with my Samsung phone, it actually takes great video underwater. Chanel just loves kissing her mama, doesn’t she? She is adorable. She is my obsession #motherdaughterlove #mermaids.”

Despite the sweet intent behind the video, it received mixed reactions online. Some users expressed discomfort, with one person commenting, “This weirded me out.” Another person shared, “This is getting weird,” to which another responded, “Getting? It’s been weird.”

The backlash occurred just two days after Austin faced criticism for posting two images on Instagram wearing a pink, blue, and purple bikini. In one of the photos, the television personality posed with her legs open.

Critics voiced their opinions on her pose, with one person commenting, “You’re a mother now, grow up,” while another added, “What a poor, disgusting example she is for her child.”

In early June 2024, David Beckham was photographed sharing a tender moment with his daughter Harper while attending an Inter Miami match against St. Louis in Fort Lauderdale.

As the club co-owner, Beckham seemed hopeful that having his youngest child by his side would bring good fortune to the team. Despite their efforts, the game ended in a draw.

Soccer legend Lionel Messi made MLS history by becoming the fastest player to achieve 25 goal contributions in a season. However, it wasn’t the outcome of the match that captured the attention of online users.

Instead, it was Beckham’s affectionate display towards his daughter. In the photos, Harper is seen standing in her father’s embrace as he wraps his arms around her waist.

This sparked a heated debate online, with some users criticizing the former soccer star’s actions. One commenter wrote in part, “As sweet and innocent as it may be, it’s no longer appropriate anymore. Harper looks like a young woman now. Like empty nest syndrome.”

Another added, “I find that picture a bit cringeworthy. Yes, put an arm on her shoulder, but that picture’s definitely OTT for me.” A third critic stated, “Cringeworthy pictures for goodness sake. She looks about 18. […] It looks totally inappropriate.”

On the other hand, many people came to Beckham’s defense, praising him for being a loving and expressive father. One supportive fan commented, “She’s very lucky to have such a loving father who’s not afraid to express his love towards her.” their comment continued:

“My father has never hugged me, complimented me, or shown any real interest in my life, and this has had an immense impact on my self-esteem, especially when I was a young woman. I’ve always envied women with loving fathers; to me, that’s one of the biggest blessings a girl can have.”

Another supporter said, “He’s a loving dad. Nice to see kids that are genuinely adored.” A third added, “She is 12 years old and a daddy’s girl. My father resented me from the day I was born and made no effort to hide the fact. So good to see their lovely interaction.”

This recent controversy follows an Instagram post Beckham shared in April 2024. The black and white photo featured the former soccer player and his daughter, who appeared to be sitting on her father’s lap.

“My little girl is growing up 🥹 MY boys get ready @brooklynpeltzbeckham @romeobeckham @cruzbeckham 🥊 @victoriabeckham good job mama 🤍,” the caption read.

The caption seemed to rub some social media users the wrong way, with one person commenting, “She is only 12 years old, only a child, so let her enjoy her childhood […].” Another user shared, “What a horrible thing to say, you should be ashamed of yourself.”

This isn’t the first time Beckham’s affectionate gestures have sparked controversy. In 2011, a photo of him kissing his then-five-year-old daughter on the lips during a beach outing led to a debate about boundaries in parenting.

Beckham defended his actions, explaining that he is “very affectionate” with his children because that’s how he was raised. Despite receiving mixed reactions, many fans supported him, with one stating, “A father having a bond with his child is nothing less than beautiful.”

In 2017, actress Olivia Wilde took to Instagram to share a tender moment with her son. The photo, captioned “Finding hope in this ❤,” showed Wilde kissing her son on the mouth while giving him a bath.

What was intended as a sweet display of affection quickly ignited a firestorm of controversy and critics were quick to voice their disapproval. “@oliviawilde you should not have this on here,” one person commented.

“I can’t even believe you kiss your son like this!!! 😩,” another social media user typed. A third shared, “Everyone finds it cute and sweet but on the other hand. Shouldn’t there be boundaries between a parent and child?”

However, many followers rushed to Wilde’s defense, praising her openness and loving display. One fan shared, “@oliviawilde Don’t let the harsh words keep you from living transparently. The relationship between a boy and his mama is special💜.”

“How sweet! I love that you give kisses!” another person commented. A third typed, “This is such a beautiful photo – how anyone could think this is wrong is beyond me. This is a picture of nothing but love. 💕”

In response to the backlash, Wilde addressed the controversy on Twitter, stating, “Homies we got bigger fish to fry. FOCUS UP. #itstheendoftheworldasweknowit”

In March 2014, actress Jessica Alba expressed her surprise upon learning that some parents do not kiss their children on the lips. “Really? Why?!” she questioned, adding, “It’s your baby. People allow dogs to lick at their mouths.”

Alba’s candid reaction highlighted her belief in the importance of affectionate gestures between parents and their children. Nearly a decade later, the actress continued to share her affectionate moments with her children on social media.

In 2023, she turned to Instagram to celebrate her son Hayes’ first day of kindergarten. The post featured three pictures, including one of Alba leaning in to kiss her son on the lips.

“Hayes’ first day of #kindergarten 🥹❤️ my handsome boy 😫💔😢… it’s just crazy how fast time has flown by. Still my baby,” the caption read.

While Alba is firm in her beliefs on showering her children with affection, the actrss also mentioned that she relies on her Mommy and Me group for parenting advice. “They’re some of my closest girlfriends,” she said, emphasizing the value of having a supportive network of fellow parents to turn to for guidance and support.

The controversies surrounding these well-known celebrities underscore the intense scrutiny that public figures face regarding their parenting choices. While some criticize these displays as excessive, others defend them as expressions of love.

Ultimately, these debates remind us of the importance of understanding and respecting different parenting styles, emphasizing that the bond between a parent and child is both unique and personal.