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Posh & Becks: Happy or Rocky?
A sham or not a sham--that is the question.
Lawyers for David and Victoria Beckham appeared in London court Monday for a pretrial hearing on a libel complaint filed last year over a British tabloid article questioning the legitimacy of their marriage.
Britain's reigning supercouple took News of the World to task for a Sept. 12, 2004 article titled "Posh & Becks on the Rocks," which alleged the duo's union was a "cynical and hypocritical" lie maintained for financial gain.
Details of both sides' claims came to light in Monday's hearing, where newspaper owners sought the disclosure of several private documents from the soccer star, including cell phone records.
The tab alleges the documents will show sexually graphic text messages sent to three women who claim they had affairs with the Real Madrid player: former assistant Rebecca Loos, beautician Danielle Heath and Spanish supermodel Esther Canadas.
The father of three has consistently denied being unfaithful--which the Beckham's lawyer elaborated on in court.
"The case being put against us is that we are promoting a false image of ourselves as a happily married couple," Hugh Tomlinson said on behalf of his clients. "We do not deny that we promote ourselves as a happily married couple. We say it because it is true."
News of the World, however, sees things differently.
The tab alleges the couple is staying together simply to preserve the enormous power of "Brand Beckham."
"Because their substantial fortunes depend upon their public perception, they have been cynically and hypocritically trying--for financial reasons--to convince the public that they continue to enjoy a happy marriage whereas the true position is that their marriage has been rocked and seriously damaged by [David Beckham's] infidelity and betrayal [of Victoria] leading to inevitable tensions and rows between them."
In addition to the phone records, the British tab is also seeking access to the Beckhams' various contracts and travel itineraries. The paper claims that certain terms of the contracts are the driving force in the couple remaining married.
For example, the News of the World points to a $5 million deal signed in 2002 with the Japanese company Hakuhodo, which gave the company the right to terminate the contract in the event of divorce.
But Tomlinson fought having the contracts admitted, claiming that the majority of the soccer star's sponsorship deals were dependent on his notoriety as an athlete, and that being part of a "happily married couple" was irrelevant.
The newspaper also seeks details of Victoria's travels when her husband first moved to Spain, claiming the missus spent just 32 out of 82 nights with her hubby. Its lawyers allege that this time apart indicates a rocky state of marriage.
The judge will rule on the disclosure of documents at a later date. The trial is scheduled to kick off Dec. 5 in London and last two weeks.
Based on recent history, the Beckhams should be confident.
Earlier this year, they accepted "substantial" damages and a public apology from another U.K. tabloid, The People, after it alleged David Beckham placed several hate calls to former nanny turned tabloid leak Abbie Gibson.
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