Last Summer, David Beckham announced he was partnering with Netflix to put together a documentary series on his life and career. I get a little tired of some things Beckham, but not David’s career and the impact he had on the sport, so this is something I’m inclined to watch. A recent article in The Guardian covering his new series discussed David’s OCD, which I didn’t know he had. The series detailed David staying up after the family goes to bed to clean up after everyone. He doesn’t just fluff the pillows and make sure the sink’s empty, but specifically cleans the candle wax, which is his particular bête noire.
David Beckham is opening up about the “tiring” ways his obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects his family.
In an upcoming Netflix documentary chronicling the soccer star’s career, the Guardian reported that Beckham, 47, said he stays up hours after his family sleeps to clean detailed parts of their home.
“The fact that when everyone’s in bed, I then go around, clean the candles, turn the lights on to the right setting, make sure everywhere is tidy. I hate coming down in the morning and there’s cups and plates and, you know, bowls,” Beckham said, per the outlet.
Beckham revealed that his “pet hate” is lingering candle wax. “I clip the candle wax, I clean the glass, that’s my pet hate, the smoke around the inside of a candle,” he shared. “I know, it’s weird.”
According to the Guardian, Beckham pondered whether or not his wife Victoria appreciates the results of his disorder.
“I clean it so well, I’m not sure it’s actually appreciated so much by my wife, in all honesty,” Beckham said as the Netflix cameras rolled.
“I clean it so well, I’m not sure it’s actually appreciated so much by my wife, in all honesty,” Beckham said as the Netflix cameras rolled.
The outlet reported that Victoria, 49, told the production crew that her husband is “appreciated” and “just so perfect” after the athlete shared his concern.
Beckham also said he “feels compelled” to do the tedious chores, despite how “tiring” they can be for him.
I find David’s admission interesting. I remember when Jerry Rice talked about his incredibly strict pre-game ritual. No one talked about OCD back then, we all just chalked it up to superstition. But given Rice’s discipline and his comments about fear-based decisions, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn he also had OCD. The discipline OCD demands lends itself to certain professions, like sports. It is, however, exhausting, like David said. Not just physically because the body can’t rest until everything has been seen to, but mentally because the mind won’t let go unless it knows everything is in order. I swear I’m not being shady but it would behoove David to downsize from his huge estate if he has to canvas it every night to make sure it’s tidied up. And maybe just leave the candles for birthdays? Candle wax is a b*tch.
I was a little surprised to read David didn’t think Victoria appreciated his efforts. I have OCD tendencies, so not as pronounced, but my issues mostly just affect me. Maybe Victoria wants David to come to bed sooner than he does, or he’s listless during the day because of his nocturnal cleaning. It wouldn’t be because he’s keeping the house in order, certainly. If anything that made him sexier in my mind. But I’m glad Victoria set the record straight. I’m sure David is not ‘perfect’, but he shouldn’t be dinged for his OCD.
ps – Victoria posted a shot of David emerging from a hot tub in just underwear, in case you’re interested.
Photo credit: Cover Images and Instagram
I have severe OCD and it’s a literally nightmare
My daughter has it, also. It drives me insane when people use the word in a casual way because, yes, it is a nightmare. I wish you success in overcoming yours
My brother has OCD, and I too, hate the casual use of it. I think he manages pretty well as a middle aged adult now, but as a child, teen, and young adult there often was no “mind won’t let go unless it knows everything is in order” because the goalposts for “in order” would keep moving and never be attainable.
@ Ameara, I’m so sorry that you suffer from OCD. I do hope that you are able to overcome this issue and that you achieve success. Wishing you comfort soon!
@ FHMom, I am immensely sorry for your daughter. I hope that she is able to recover from OCD.
I feel for anyone dealing with OCD. I’ve struggled with this my entire life. Most times, it’s manageable, but houseguests will tease me by shifting a carpet (savage’s) vase. But during the pandemic, it was out of control (eek)
Getting a weird face there David – time to stop whatever it is your doing.
To be fair, if my husband were sneaking around at night washing the smoke off candle holders and trimming the wax, I’m pretty sure I would not notice. Loading the dishwasher for sure would be appreciated (that’s my job apparently).
Does he dust? If so send him around my place. It’s the chore I despise. Also, I would have never thought to clean the smoke from the glass.
Oh that smoke is actually quite unpleasant to look at. I am always cleaning mine once I have used it. I don’t consider myself an OCD person but I cannot sleep with dirty dishes in the kitchen. I can’t stand a dirty kitchen in the morning but since I feel sick, I simply have to let that go.
I have discovered that being in a relationship with someone who is untidy is an ABSOLUTE deal-breaker for me because it affects me emotionally & psychologically where I start displaying the same tendencies David listed…it IS exhausting & one of the reasons I have decided to downsize to a studio apartment or one that is no bigger than 500 sq ft…oh…and to live on my own…LIFE has taught me that!
This makes so much sense to me. I am messy, and my ex-husband was (is) OCD. He would ask me, “Why are you doing this to me?” if I didn’t clean up, and I always told him the earth would not quit spinning if a dish was left on the counter. It’s a real deal-breaker on both sides.
I have OCD. It’s horrible and exhausting. I’m glad more people are raising awareness beyond, “I’m soooo OCD” (looking at you Khloe K).
I wish more people talked about the ways OCD can manifest that *aren’t* related to cleaning. I have OCD and a messy house. My OCD manifests in uncontrolled, obsessive thoughts and grocery shopping (of all things).
I was coming to say this. My SIL has very severe OCD/anxiety (crippling without the right medications) and while it does manifest as needing the house cleaned, its because she is obsessed with germs. My brother does all the cleaning bc my SIL can’t do it bc the germs freak her out. This is also means that when she is not doing well, she has issues leaving the house because she just sees germs everywhere. COVID was her worst nightmare, she barely left the house for a year. (she also is obsessed with someone wanting to kidnap/harm her or her children. Like when they’re home alone they’re not allowed to look out a window because someone might see that they’re home alone and kidnap them.)
I have diagnosed OCD too. I hear him about the candles. I went with battery powered candles because I got obsessed with cleaning candles.
I can’t wake up to a dirty home. It is a trigger.