In 2003, Victoria Beckham found herself at the center of a storm of rumors and allegations regarding her husband David Beckham's fidelity. The revelations, as documented by Tom Bower in his new book "The House of Beckham: Money, Sex and Power," delve into the complexities of their relationship during David's tenure at Real Madrid and how the alleged scandal with his assistant, Rebecca Loos, impacted their lives.
The rumors of David Beckham’s infidelity with Rebecca Loos, who was his assistant at the time, first surfaced in 2003, shaking the foundation of the Beckham family. Despite David’s consistent denials of any wrongdoing, the allegations gained significant traction, especially after Rebecca chose to share her story with the tabloid News of the World. This decision thrust the Beckhams into an unwanted spotlight and had a profound effect on Victoria’s plans to relocate to Spain with her husband.
According to Bower's book, Victoria's transition to life in Madrid was anything but smooth. Despite the luxury and opulence that surrounded her, she found herself feeling isolated and unhappy. "Her life in Madrid was lonely and unhappy. Although she had everything money could buy, she was isolated. With few friends, she was unwilling to learn Spanish. Her diet, rigorous exercise, and chain-smoking reflected her anxieties," Bower writes, as quoted by The Mirror.
The impact of the scandal on the couple's relationship was further explored in the Netflix documentary "Beckham," released last year. In the documentary, David openly discusses the uncertainty and constant unease he felt as the scandalous allegations spread through the media. He emphasized their unwavering commitment to their family during that tumultuous time. "Every time that we woke up we felt there was something else ... we both felt at the time that we were not losing each other but drowning," David reflected.
Victoria, meanwhile, stayed in the UK with their sons Brooklyn and Romeo, who were attending school, while David was in Spain for work. This separation added to the strain on their relationship, leading to constant opposition between the couple. Victoria, in the documentary, revealed the emotional toll it took on her, as they were both under immense pressure to maintain a sense of normalcy for their family.
David candidly admitted, "I don't know how we got through it, in all honesty. Victoria is everything to me, to see her hurt was incredibly difficult, but we're fighters and at that time we needed to fight for each other, we needed to fight for our family. And what we had was worth fighting for." He further added, "There were some days that I would wake up and think, 'How am I going to go to work? How am I going to walk onto that training pitch? How am I going to look as if nothing's wrong?' I felt physically sick every day when I opened my eyes, 'How am I going to do this?'"
Ultimately, Victoria decided to relocate to Madrid to be closer to David, hoping that their physical proximity would help mend their relationship. They purchased a luxurious $3.2 million home in the Spanish city, where their son Cruz was later born. Despite these efforts, Victoria struggled with feelings of discontent and detachment from her life back in the UK, according to Bower’s account.
The scandal undeniably put a strain on their marriage, but it also highlighted their resilience and determination to protect their family. Their journey through this difficult period is a testament to their commitment to each other and their ability to endure in the face of public scrutiny and personal challenges.