David Beckham Reflects on His Iconic 2000 Buzz Cut: ‘Never Did It to Create Attention’
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"I said to [my hair stylist], ‘I’m gonna cut my hair’ and he was like, ‘Are you sure? You really want to do that?,’ ” Beckham recalls in his new Netflix doc
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David Beckham is getting candid about one of his most buzzed about hair changes.
The Netflix docuseries Beckham delved into several parts of the former soccer player’s life — including the dramatic story of what happened behind the scenes when he got a buzz cut in 2000.
“I had a hairdresser at the time called Tyler. I said to him, ‘I’m gonna cut my hair’ and he was like, ‘Are you sure? You really want to do that?,’ ” Beckham explained in the third episode of the docuseries.
He said his Manchester United Coach Sir Alex Ferguson confronted him about the change ahead of their match against Leicester City in March 2000. “And [Ferguson] said, ‘David take the cap off.’ And I said, ‘No.’”
“Stubbornness,” Ferguson recalled. “And then I said, ‘Oh well.’”
When Beckham debuted his new buzz cut on the field during the game, the commenters noted, “the blonde locks have gone” and “the sight of the skinhead will take a bit of getting used to.”
Shaun Botterill /Allsport
David Beckham of Manchester United in action during the FA Carling Premiership match against Leeds United at Old Trafford in Manchester, England.Though the former soccer player noted: “I never did it to create attention. I’m not that person.”
Despite his intentions, the new hairdo — along with his continued success on the field — drew lots of attention from his fans across the U.K. Hundreds of fans wanted to see his new look for the first time and footage showed them standing in long lines for an autograph.
Related: Victoria Beckham on the 'Hardest Period' in Her Marriage to David: 'The Most Unhappy I've Ever Been'
“When David Beckham shaved his head, I honestly thought a member of my family had died. Because my phone went off.” said James Clarke, a Manchester paparazzi. “The panic in people’s voices that this… We haven’t got it documented yet.”
He noted that it became a huge pop culture moment in the U.K., as other men and even his young fans were hoping to become just like him.
“Literally kids, ‘I want to be David Beckham, I want to shave my head. And schools were having to write in, ‘No shaving of heads,’ “ Clarke said.
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Victoria Beckham, 49, recalled in the docuseries that her husband shaving his head was a moment where he “starts going from a boy to a man.”
“And it's only natural that you’ll start flexing your muscles right? And don’t all kids rebel against their parents?,” she said, alluding to Sir Alex’s role as Beckham’s secondary father figure.
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The full docuseries goes over the legendary athlete’s story, which is broken into four parts and told through varying perspectives. It also includes interviews with his parents, former teammates and Ferguson.
“He was so open,” said director Fisher Stevens about Beckham. “He's like, ‘I'm ready. I want to tell my story before someone else does.’ And then I started doing research and I was like, ‘Jesus, this guy's life is nuts. Nuts.’ I had no idea.”
Beckham is now streaming on Netflix.
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