Rebecca Loos revisits the events surrounding her alleged affair with soccer icon David Beckham, addressing his public denial, how it affected her life, and why she’s speaking out again now.
Two decades have passed since Rebecca Loos, once David Beckham’s personal assistant, claimed she had a “torrid affair” with the football star while he was and is still married to Victoria Beckham. Now, she’s once again in the spotlight, explaining why she felt compelled to share her side of the story.
Loos first made headlines in 2004 when she publicly alleged the affair, claiming she had no choice but to out herself as the “other woman.” At the time, Beckham dismissed the claims, calling them “ludicrous.” The denial, Loos says, made her feel like she was being called a liar.
Although the anger had gradually given way to resignation, Beckham made what she called “an own goal” by indirectly referencing that time in his life on camera. She said his decision to bring up the ordeal once more gave her a chance to strike back.
In 2003, Loos worked as Beckham’s personal assistant following his move to Spain to play for Real Madrid. She now says that was a decision she would rethink if given the chance. According to her, their connection was undeniable.
“The chemistry between David and I was so strong that everyone was aware,” she said. “People weren’t happy, obviously, because I was being very unprofessional — and he’s a married man.” Loos explained how she found Beckham irresistible as he was charming and attentive.
“Just look in his eyes and the way he looks at you, and it’s quite hard not to. He’s got a certain charismatic power about him,” she said. “He’s very good-looking and I think he can easily get what he wants and he knows it.”
She said his attention toward her changed when Beckham’s wife wasn’t around, recalling the first time he made a move. According to Loos, Beckham invited her to his hotel room after a night at a nightclub. Though hesitant, she eventually agreed.
The next morning, she remembered waking up and taking a shower in a bathroom she believed Beckham’s wife used. “It didn’t feel very right,” she said, “but at the same time, I had this big smile on my face.” She returned home, where her mother suspected something had happened and cautioned her to be careful.
Despite knowing it was wrong, Loos admitted, “It was wrong but at the same time I was, you know, hooked.” Although time has blurred some details, Loos says she has kept text messages from Beckham. “The are pretty intimate—we had a pretty intimate relationship,” she explained.
At the time, she was infatuated with him, but that changed when she saw him flirting with other women, including at Ronaldo’s birthday party. That was when she realized she had been “massively played.” Her private relationship with Beckham turned into an international media storm after photos of them together were leaked.
A call from News of the World alerted her that the images would make the front page. Loos panicked and tried to contact Beckham’s mother for guidance. As the press took hold of the story, the coverage became relentless.
Loos found herself in a media circus, while Beckham maintained his silence. Visits to see Beckham before his matches started to feel transactional. “It left me feeling cheap and used,” she stated, though she acknowledged that feelings for him still lingered at the time.
When asked why she chose to go public, Loos said she wanted to take control of the narrative and make Beckham feel the same pain she experienced. His continued denial drove her to speak out repeatedly.
Beckham revisited the affair allegations in his Netflix series, referencing the strain it put on his marriage. The documentary’s release reignited criticism toward Loos, but she challenged the double standard in how the public treated her versus Beckham.
“There were loads of horrible stories. There were horrible stories about me. There were horrible stories about his wife, Victoria. There were never horrible stories about him,” she said. “He was ‘Golden Balls.’ He was ‘the man.’ Pat him on the back. ‘Good for you.’ Nothing changed in his life, but it was all Victoria’s fault. My fault. All the blame was on us.”
Loos said she felt guilt for how her actions affected Beckham’s wife and children. “Yes, I did. Of course, I did. I think we just live in a very unfair world,” she stated. Reflecting on the personal toll the scandal took, Loos shared that she struggled with loneliness and emotional pain.
“It was hard, and when I was down, I was very, very down and very lonely,” she recalled. At the time, she explained, people weren’t as open about mental health. “You didn’t feel you could just say to someone, ‘Hey, I need to talk.’ It was something you battled with,” she added.
She said the emotional strain had lasting effects. “I went up against England’s favorite son,” she said. “It was a harsh environment to go up against.”
When asked if her strength helped her through, she responded, “Some of it seeped through and got to me. And that… that has taken time to recover from.”