Beckham feud spotlights a growing culture of no-contact family boundaries

Emma Brockes uses the Beckham rift to explore how ‘no contact’ and related terms (NC, VLC, LC) have become codified tools for adult children to redefine family boundaries, a trend amplified by online support groups and social media. While critics argue this is too casual and harmful, data suggest estrangement is increasingly common (about a quarter of Americans and Britons’ families). The piece also highlights coping tactics like grey rocking and points to parallel cases (the Peltz wedding saga, Doormat Mom) to show how public attention has normalized discussing and managing painful family rifts.