Brooklyn Beckham should take a leaf out of my book – my famous mum and footballer dad don’t speak to me & I’ve never been happier
MIA Winward was “heartbroken” when she was first cut off by her former Premier League footballer dad and her ex-Emmerdale actress mum over their fury at her selling X-rated content on OnlyFans.
And as news broke this week that David and Victoria Beckham were feuding with their son Brooklyn, the trauma of the family fall out all came flooding back to Mia – and she has some sage words of advice for the Beckhams‘ eldest son.
Mia, 19, has vowed to never even send her parents, David Dunn and Sammy Winward, as much as a text message ever again – after they said they were turning their backs on her forever.
And now Mia – who claims her mum Sammy is jealous of her – says Brooklyn, who recently snubbed his dad’s 50th birthday party over his younger brother Romeo’s new romance with his ex, Kim Turnball, should blow the final whistle on his relationship with his parents.
She says: “At the end of the day, Brooklyn is losing his parents in the midst of his family fallout. It’s going to be hard for him – and I understand how angry he must be – I’ve been there.
“When I first fell out with my famous mum and dad, I was angry at the fact that they could fall out with me to that extent.”
Mia previously revealed her Emmerdale star mum Sammy had cut ties with her over her career choice.
She told us: “She said some pretty mean things when we did last speak, it was awful.
“But I absolutely love my mum, I love all of my family but none of them speak to me now.”
And Mia claimed dad David is so against her racy job he branded her a “w***e”.
She added: “I tried to reconnect with my dad and he called me a w***e on the phone.”
Mia’s own experience means she can understand what Brooklyn is going through.
She said: “I don’t see how any parent could ever cut off their own child – parents are supposed to parent.”
Mia has insisted Sammy is “jealous” of her success and the money she’s earning after she raked in £100,000 in just one month.
She said: “I think she’s got some animosity towards me. I think she is maybe just jealous about me doing so well and so quickly.
“I think that’s what my parents issue is really. They think I’ve done it off their backs, but actually, behind the scenes, it takes a lot more work than just being their daughter.”
Mia now thinks Brooklyn needs to think hard about reconnecting with his parents, continuing: “I don’t know why they have fallen out, but I think Brooklyn should just have a think about whether his parents actually add to his life.
“I had to be that selfish.
“I had to think: ‘Right, ‘Do my parents fit into my life?’ Rather than, ‘Can I fit into my parents’ lives?’
“Because it’s my life at the end of the day – and it’s Brooklyn’s life too.
“As kids, we shouldn’t have to sacrifice who we are to please our folks -or be scared of upsetting them. My parents didn’t like what I do – but is it really so bad they would stop talking to me? I cannot understand it.
“Like I’ve had to, Brooklyn should focus on himself now. If things change in the future, so be it.”
Mia claimed she initially tried to fix things with her parents but was met with silence.
She said: “I’m completely fully cut off and they want any sort of contact, which is really big shame because I thought I’d be the bigger person in the whole situation.”
And Mia is now leaving it to Sammy and David to reach out, adding: “I wouldn’t personally regain contact with mine – I won’t be sending any texts any time soon.
Uncomfortable feeling
Speculating over what could have caused the Beckham feud, she continued: “I truly cannot understand what could have happened that mean Brooklyn doesn’t want to go to any family events. It’s really sad.
“Even I would be sad if I missed my dad’s 50th birthday. It’s a big thing.
“But at the same time, if that experience was going to make him and Nicola unhappy or uncomfortable – or if people were going to gang up on them, I understand why it’s a hard no.
“My advice to Brooklyn is: Your life if your own – don’t ever put yourself in a situation where you’re going to feel uncomfortable.
“Just because it’s your family it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice yourself.
“Blood isn’t family. Your true family are those who stay by your side through thick and thin.
“If there’s a situation that’s getting you down, pulling you back, not letting you grow completely to your full potential, then you should step away from it.
I’ve not spoken to them in a year now.
Mia Winward
“I’ve not spoken to my parents in a year now.
“But it’s good for me – I’m having a very fulfilling life with loads of amazing people around me.
“If Brooklyn’s family is that for him, then that’s amazing: he should reconcile with them.
“But if it’s not then he should move on, and live his own life to the fullest – he’s got his name and a huge platform. He can use it like I did.
Under the microscope
“With a family that is in the spotlight, you do get backlash if you do absolutely anything.
“My mum always told me that being in the spotlight is not good, that it’s detrimental to your health.
“But everyone I’ve met in the industry, I love.
“My mum made me think of fame as such a negative space that when I did go out into the whole social world, I thought, ‘There’s so many upsides to this.’
“I quickly realised I could start my own business, make my own money – and all I needed was an Instagram account.
I can make my own business. I can make my own money by myself through an Instagram that all I need is followers for.
“My mum did photoshoots when I was a baby, but throughout my life I wasn’t allowed to be shown on socials.
“I wasn’t allowed to be photographed until I was about 15 or 16 years old.
“So, obviously from that, you get excited and then you see everything that you can do and you’re like, obviously I’m going to do that so I can be independent.
“It gave me a new found sense of freedom.
“So if Brooklyn wants the pressure off, then cutting ties is one way to do it.
“I can’t control my parents’ reaction to my job – and they can’t control me anymore.
“I’m fulfilled now. I’ve got my little puppy and I’m happy. Brooklyn could be, too.