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David Beckham kisses his daughter. So what?

David Beckham
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Written by Tim Barnes-Clay

David Beckham kisses his daughter on the lips and the Internet’s head explodes. Again. 

A brief moment of fatherly affection between David Beckham and his five-year-old daughter, Harper, has caused a schism on the web.

Beckham posted a photo on Instagram last Thursday with the caption, “Kiss for Daddy”. In it, father and daughter are kissing each other on the lips while on holiday in Tanzania. Almost a week later, the photo has 1.8 million likes.

Opinion split on David Beckham

Most of the Instagram commenters thought the picture was sweet. But a handful of detractors weren’t so impressed.

One comment says, “You people are sick for defending this. The truth will come out… this may have been acceptable in the 1990s, but times have changed, and we won’t stand for it any longer. Children’s innocence must be preserved.” Another said, “Parents and kids don’t make out!”

In David Beckham’s corner, others have defended his actions. One person said, “Do not ever be scared to kiss your daddy. I am almost 30 and still kiss my dad and my papaw on the lips. Its sad that people don’t understand. This is beautiful. I hope when she is my age she still does this and isn’t scared of what people will think. #ignoranceisablindheart.”

Déjà vu

This is nothing new for the David Beckham. Last year his wife, Victoria Beckham, stirred up a similar controversy by posting a photo of herself kissing Harper on the lips.

Really though, what’s all the fuss about?

One psychologist commented, “Absolutely it’s OK. “You’ve got to think about culture. You know there are cultures in our world where it’s very appropriate,” he said. “That’s obviously something that’s in their family, where that’s their cultural belief that it’s OK to do that.”

We agree. Carry on showing your affection to all your children, David. It’s how a dad should be.