David Beckham demonstrated his talent to the footballing world when he struck a beautiful curling free kick against Columbia in the 1998 World Cup. It contributed to England's success, qualifying them from the first stage of the tournament. The second stage was a one-game knockout against Argentina. After 45 minutes of football, England were level 2-2 against their biggest international rivals. In the 47th minute, after being brought down by Diego Simeone, Beckham (rather gently) kicked out at his opponent. The consequences were disastrous. The referee sent him off, leaving England to fend against one of the greatest footballing nations with one less man on the field.
England lost the match and David Beckham subsequently become one of the most hated figures in England. Beckham responded on the field where he gave the best performance of his career for Manchester United and very quickly become known as one of the best footballers to play the game. This international fame was aided by his relationship to Victoria Adams. A woman who herself who had become internationally recognised whilst singing for the pop group; the Spice Girls.
When Beckham was asked about his early interactions with her, he stated that he had first seen her on television and was beguiled by her. When he had finally met her, she apparently told him that he had a 'nice ass'.
Love had blossomed.
As the relationship escalated (which included the birth of a child) along with Beckham's notoriety on the football pitch, in May 1999, he and his Man Utd team mates won the UEFA Champions League - the biggest trophy in club football - along with two other major cups. Beckham's career was at an all time high. Two months later, he married Victoria. The marriage caused a media frenzy, even interesting sections of the US media. Beckham's genuine power in the football world and the world in general had increased greatly. His capability for influencing the game at an international level, particularly to a female audience, had never before been seen in the land of football. From World Cup loser to international superstar, David Beckham had become a franchise unto himself.
In 2003 Beckham signed for the Spanish football club; Real Madrid. His wife Victoria at the time returned to England in order to re-launch her music career. Beckaham, for various reasons and because he couldn't speak Spanish, had been assigned a personal assistant by the name of Rebecca Loos. In April 2004, it was alleged that he had been having an affair with her. Many of these allegations occur with the major celebrity marriages, however, this one was unique as Loos claimed that she had recieved text messsages which had been sent from his phone. More importantly, she was still in possession of them. Although Beckham denied the claims and still does so today, Loos released her story to the British press. She was interviewed by Sky, where she took out her phone and showed the messages to the reporter.
There was no turning back from this, the nation had made up it's mind. However, this is David Beckham we're talking about. Media Juggernaut, global superstar and England hero. The public and the press were not simply going to give up on their idol and instantaneous paper-seller and so the British press concocted the most male bias story since feminism walked the planet. Apparently, the whole thing was Victoria's fault. Since she had gone back to England temporarily to launch her singing career, she clearly 'wasn't there' for him when he needed her. It would only be natural then for Mr Beckham, mere man that he is, to look for the first girl he could find and give himself a jolly good time.
The public were satisfied by this explanation and were completely sympathetic in their understanding. Beckham could go on being the hero that he was, whilst Victoria was criticised for being a bad wife. The world very quickly went back to the way it was, Victoria quit her singing and got back into bed, Beckham increased his stardom after signing for an American soccer team and even after the back of such a scandal, is now solely famous for being a good husband and father.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aceBbc8s7s
Moral of the story here? Garner enough respect in your social circle and people will find some way of siding with you regardless of whatever you do.