Posh’s heartache over cruel backlash
Victoria Beckham is feeling more alone than ever as she faces public taunts following her OBE honour
She should have been on top of the world last week after being given an OBE for her services to the fashion industry and charity work.
But behind her strained smiles outside Buckingham Palace, pals reveal Victoria Beckham’s award – voted for by the Honours Committee – followed a turbulent few weeks that pals worry have left her feeling more vulnerable than ever.
And while she celebrated her OBE by going for dinner with family and friends, including Tana Ramsey and Mel C, sources say she was secretly shaken by a public backlash over the gong, which appears to have been brewing since a scandal broke earlier this year over husband David’s bid for a knighthood.
The Beckhams’ image suffered a huge blow when David, 41, had emails hacked and personal messages – where he allegedly slated the Honours Committee and vented his frustration over not getting a knighthood – were leaked to the press.
CRITICISM
And pals say Posh, 43 – mum to Brooklyn, 18, Romeo, 14, Cruz, 12, and Harper, five – feels she’s the one suffering following the scandal. Critics lined up to pour cold water on her award, with comments like: “Most undeserved OBE ever,” while another wrote: “A sad day for any former OBE recipient. She has cheapened the distinction in an instant. What a huge mistake.” Another added: “She must be fuming that David’s email leak
❛she’s scared she’ll lose everything she’s worked so hard to build up❜
has ruined her big moment. I’m surprised he’s even got the nerve to show up. Must all be very awkward.”
A source says: “When she suffers any kind of backlash, Victoria seems to take it very personally and it can really get to her. She’s panicking – she feels that her image could be beginning to crumble and she’ll not have her career or social circle any more. She feels hated; she’s scared she’ll lose everything she’s worked so hard to build up.
“Constantly being slated has left her feeling worried that this negativity won’t go away. Her family and friends are rallying around, but it has really soured the experience and has made Victoria feel isolated and under attack.
“Of course she was delighted with her OBE, but she’s still upset that there’s so much bitterness directed at her and it’s very upsetting when, actually, the award was well-deserved.”
TOUGH TIMES
The source adds: “In some ways, she feels she’s the one who’s at risk of losing everything over the leaked emails, and not David. She feels as if it’s her business and brand that have suffered the most.”
The attacks followed an already difficult few weeks for Posh. Earlier this month, she launched her first high-street collection with US brand Target, but fans were unimpressed. The website crashed on the first day and some style critics dubbed it “ugly”, “cheap” and “gross.”
EMOTIONAL
On top of that, as Closer previously reported, Posh is feeling emotional over Brooklyn’s plans to move to New York for university later this year, as they are very close and he’s a key support figure for her when David is working abroad.
The teenager faced a backlash of his own last week when he was seen covering his face with a copy of his autobiography after Posh’s celebratory dinner. One social media user wrote: “I thought we’d seen it all with this family, then the eldest kid tops it all by hiding his face behind a copy of a book he’s got coming out. Have they got no shame?!”
Meanwhile, in an interview published last week, the mumof-four revealed she doesn’t have a large social circle, saying: “I’m very close to my sister and a friend I went to school with, and then three or four others. I don’t have a lot of friends.”
The source adds: “Victoria puts herself under extreme pressure. She’s a perfectionist, so it’s heart-breaking when things don’t go to plan. Despite being thrilled about the OBE, right now it seems as if everything is in free fall. David has been her rock and has urged her to ignore the critics. It’s been a tough time for them both, but she knows she has the support of those who are important to her.”