David Beckham Opens Up About His Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Upcoming Netflix Documentary
David Beckham has opened up about the effects of his obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) on his family. The 47-year-old soccer star shared in an upcoming Netflix documentary that he stays up late into the night to meticulously clean various parts of his home after his family has gone to bed.
“I hate coming down in the morning, and there are cups and plates and, you know, bowls,” Beckham shared, according to the Guardian. “When everyone’s in bed, I go around, clean the candles, turn the lights on to the right setting, make sure everywhere is tidy.”
Beckham revealed that he is particularly bothered by lingering candle wax and takes care to clip it and clean the glass. “I know, it’s weird,” he acknowledged.
Despite the tiring nature of his compulsive cleaning, Beckham said he feels compelled to do it. “It’s a disorder that I have, and I feel like it’s something that I have to do,” he explained.
In the documentary, Beckham also wondered whether his wife, Victoria, appreciates the results of his OCD. “I clean it so well, I’m not sure it’s appreciated so much by my wife, in all honesty,” he shared with the Netflix cameras rolling.
Victoria, 49, later reassured her husband that his efforts were appreciated. “He’s just so perfect,” she told the production crew.
The couple, who have been married since 1999, have four children together: sons Brooklyn, 23, Romeo, 20, and Cruz, 17, as well as 11-year-old daughter Harper.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental health condition in which a person experiences intrusive thoughts or compulsions that they must act on. According to the International OCD Foundation, it affects about 1% of the population.
Beckham confirmed last summer on Instagram that he was partnering with Netflix on a documentary series about his life and career. “The series will feature unseen archive, untold stories as well as interviews with the people who have been a part of my journey,” he wrote.