Had anyone really been thinking about Brooklyn Beckham before Monday night?

One minute the so-called celebrity chef was online recreating bog-standard chicken recipes; the next he was at the centre of the biggest celebrity scandal of 2026 so far, after sharing a six-slide Instagram story in which he accused his parents of controlling behaviour and claimed he had only become “anxiety-free” since distancing himself from them.

The irony of Brooklyn’s declaration is that it did not read like someone truly free from anxiety. To me it read like someone desperate to be relevant, validated and vindicated.

This is not to say his feelings are not genuine, they very likely are. Growing up in the seismic shadow of Posh and Becks would be disorientating for anyone. Fame distorts family life, blurring the lines between love and expectation, support and control.

TV review: The BBC’s Lynley is crime drama for viewers stuck in the 1980s

BBC’s The One Show prepares to celebrate 20th anniversary

But it also confers extraordinary........

© The Irish News