LIKE MANY MEN of his generation, my father isn’t particularly demonstrative when it comes to physical affection.
It’s very rare he initiates a hug, he generally pretends to clam up when I insist on embracing him, and he tends to reserve quick kisses for the crown of my head.
Now, hearty handshakes, cringy high-fives and over-the-the-top fistbumps? Those he can do.
Since my childhood and right through to present day, my father has maintained this approach; it’s just how he rolls.
Not all fathers are as reserved in this regard however, and many follow their children’s lead when it comes to displays of affection, with bears hugs and big kisses to beat the band.
And, as David Beckham’s latest Instagram post has proven, this doesn’t actually sit well with a great many people.
Yesterday, the father-of-four shared a photo of himself and his seven-year-old daughter, Harper, sharing a peck on the lips.
The negative response from some corners meant that the upload ultimately made headlines, and sparked a debate on whether it’s an appropriate display of affection.
It’s not wrong to kiss your kids but it is wrong to do it on the lips!!! Lip kisses are for romantic partners not your parents.
Ppl in my country never kiss their parents on the lips. (sic)
I’d never kiss my kids or parents on the lips. That’s disgusting.
Unsurprisingly, Piers Morgan also wasted no time weighing in, dubbing it ‘creepy and weird’ on Good Morning Britain this morning.
On the other hand, we had celebrities like Frankie Bridge of The Saturdays and NFL quarterback, Tom Brady, questioning the furore.
Tom described the controversial peck as ‘so sweet’, while Frankie uploaded a boomerang shot of her and her son sharing a quick peck yesterday, and wrote:
I’ve always kissed my kids on the lips… and that will continue until they naturally don’t want to… just like it naturally happened with me and my parents and there’s and so on and so on. (sic)
Twitter, meanwhile, has been expressing disbelief over David’s Instagram critics.
Can’t believe the picture of David Beckham and his daughter has become controversial - he is her DAD and she is SEVEN. Wtf is wrong with this generation of people?!?!!! 😭
— sarah cairney. (@Blondieeeee_) November 27, 2018
I don’t get why David Beckham is getting slated for kissing his daughter. What’s the world coming to u can’t even kiss you’re own child. What u supposed to do high five them?! It’s a joke
— David Cotterill (@cotterill_david) November 27, 2018
Anyone offended by David Beckham kissing his daughter on the lips needs their head examining. Self righteous twats
— Raj Lyall Jokes,Vidoes and Banter (@lyallr) November 27, 2018
What are your thoughts? Do you think it’s weird for parents to kiss their children on the lips?
