Beckham hits back at tabloid over parenting criticism

David Beckham hit back at an article in the Daily Mail criticising him and wife Victoria for allowing daughter Harper to use a pacifier at the age of four.

Former Manchester United star and England international David Beckham has angrily hit back at a recent article published by British tabloid the Daily Mail, which criticised him and wife Victoria for allowing their daughter Harper to use a pacifier even at the age of four.

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The article featured a parenting expert who criticised the footballer and the fashion designer for allowing Harper to suck on a pacifier, suggesting the little girl may grow up with 'speech or dental issues' if she continues to use one.

An outraged Beckham, 40, took to his Instagram account on Monday to respond, posting a screenshot of the article and asked, "Why do people feel they have the right to criticise a parent about their own children without having any facts??"

He went on to suggest his only daughter was sucking on the pacifier because she was feeling unwell, "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 criticise think twice about what you say about other people's children because actually you have no right to criticise me as a parent."

By Tuesday, the footballer's Instagram post had received about 5,84,000 likes and 19,000 comments, with many expressing support for his stand.