Beckham's ease with his image represents a major shift in attitudes from 15 years ago, when Jason Donovan sued the Face for libel over a gay rumour. He won the case and an award of £200,000, but emerged appearing catastrophically homophobic. Having alienated a large section of his fanbase, his career never truly recovered.
He should have shrugged and moved on, but his case against the magazine was not that it called him gay; it was that it called him a liar. That he was supposedly lying about his sexuality wasn't really the point, and certainly it's unfair to suggest that he came off as homophobic during the case.
It should also be remembered that he cut a deal with The Face which allowed it to keep it publishing - he was seeking an apology rather than vengeance.
The irony, of course, is that the brief mention of his name in an article about outing would, by now, have been forgotten; the legal action just ensures that nobody can write an article about the closet without throwing in a reference.
Another thing - suing the face was never Donovan's idea. It was down to his manager, a man called Richard East. Jason's career never recovered, but East went on to be a producer of Mamma Mia, for what its worth.
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