David Beckham slammed the Daily Mail for publishing an article criticizing his 4-year-old daughter’s use of a pacifier.
The Daily Mail‘s Aug. 9 article featured several photos of Beckham’s daughter Harper over the years and interviewed people saying it wasn’t good for her to still use a pacifier (or “dummy”).
It was headlined: “Why does Harper, four, still use a dummy? Experts warn David and Victoria Beckham’s little girl may end up with ‘speech or dental issues’ if she continues to use one.”
“At four years old, Harper Beckham is well beyond the age that most health experts would advise giving a child a dummy,” the Mail said. The newspaper contacted more than one “parenting expert” speculating on why the girl used a pacifier and saying it could be bad for her speech or teeth. The Mail also quoted from tweeters commenting on the pacifier use.
In an Instagram post, Beckham included a screenshot of the article and wrote:
“Why do people feel they have the right to criticize a parent about their own children without having any facts ?? Everybody who has children knows that when they aren’t feeling well or have a fever you do what comforts them best and most of the time it’s a pacifier so those who criticize think twice about what you say about other people’s children because actually you have no right to criticize me as a parent.”
iMediaEthics has written to the Mail for comment.
Hat Tip: The Guardian