
Robbie Williams says fan photos can trigger anxiety and cause ‘discomfort'
Robbie Williams has opened up about the discomfort and anxiety he feels when interacting with strangers.
In a series of screenshots posted to Instagram on Thursday, the British singer shared his feelings on being approached for photos with fans while out in public.
'Every interaction – with strangers or even people I know well – fills me with discomfort,' admitted the former 'Take That' member. 'I mask it well. But social interaction still frightens me,' he said, adding that the fear kept him from going out for years.
Williams said he was writing his thoughts while on a domestic flight in the United States, having been approached three times by his fellow passengers.
'One of them handed me a lovely note… and then asked for a photo,' he said, adding that he wrote back explaining he had been 'up since 4:30 a.m., had two hours' sleep, and wrangled four kids through the airport.'
'I explained that if they came and took a photo with me, my anxiety would spike - because then the whole cabin would start wondering who I am.'
After the first request, another fan asked for a photo and Williams responded with a similar note. '(I) said that when we land, I'll be trying to shepherd four children… I just hoped the note might be enough.'
As he was writing the second note, a third passenger walked up to him and asked for a photo 'outright' – to which the singer said he obliged.
Though he sees it as being a 'service' to make others happy, Williams criticized the expectation that celebrities should be 'accessible 24/7' to the public.
'I reckon over 50% – probably much more – couldn't name one of my albums, let alone say they've bought a ticket to a show,' he added, saying it was 'off' to think that everyone who asks for a photo has had a hand in his success. 'They're no more fans of me than they are of the Leaning Tower of Pisa or Big Ben. They're fans of fame.'
Williams, however, didn't want to deter true fans from making their feelings known if they spot him in public.
'If we cross paths in the wild and you are a fan of me, I want you to tell me. That means a lot,' wrote the 'Angels' singer. 'But here's an open question: do you think there should be a limit to how many people can access you in a day?'
Williams, whose biographical musical drama 'A Better Man' released last year, said he panics 'every time' a stranger approaches him, noting he can have 20 such daily interactions on average - and they're not always positive.
'What if I'm having a challenging mental health day – is it okay if I don't want that captured by a stranger?' he asked, adding that there might be some personal reasons why he's 'sad' and doesn't want to 'perform.'
The post was filled with sympathetic comments, including from other famous faces.
'This made me cry… thank you for being vulnerable and saying how you feel,' wrote Paris Hilton.
'Impeccably articulate on this. I've struggled terribly my whole career with the same,' commented singer Paloma Faith.
Earlier this month, Williams revealed that he had been diagnosed with scurvy, a vitamin deficiency. He also spoke about struggles with his mental health, including anxiety and depression.
Williams is set to kick off a tour in May that will take him to the United Kingdom, Ireland and Europe through the summer.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kate Middleton Refuses To 'Heel' To Dress Code Protocol With Latest Appearance
Kate Middleton Refuses To 'Heel' To Dress Code Protocol With Latest Appearance originally appeared on Parade. Kate Middleton was spotted staying fashionable on her latest royal outing with a pair of black stilettos — despite the dress code recommendations set forth by the museum she visited. Middleton, 43, visited the V&A East Storehouse in East London — a branch of the legendary British institution the Victoria and Albert museum — on June 10 and donned a gorgeous royal blue suit and complementing black heels… even though her footwear wasn't technically appropriate for the type of flooring the museum has. "We recommend wearing practical clothing and flat shoes," the V&A East Storehouse's website explains about their dress code. "The metal grid flooring is not suitable for stilettos or kitten heels." Clearly, Middleton wasn't pressed about the potential for tripping or slipping; She was more concerned about fashion, and we can't say we blame her because she looks gorgeous. This was her first royal outing since the half-term break with her three children — Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — and she looked to be in excellent spirits. That said, the iconic Princess of Wales has had a shoe snafu once in her tenure, back in 2018 when she got one of her heels stuck in a metal drain while visiting an addiction treatment center in Wickford, England. Plus, she was a whopping seven months pregnant at the time! Thankfully, her recent V&A visit wasn't a repeat of that day. In fact, it appeared to be a really enjoyable outing. 'She had a super energy. She was very energetic and focused. We last saw her about two years ago," V&A director Tristram Hunt told People following the visit." She retains this great passion and interest in creativity and making and design. It was wonderful to be able to host her.' He also added about her choice of footwear, 'She is a pro! She dealt with that!' Kate Middleton Refuses To 'Heel' To Dress Code Protocol With Latest Appearance first appeared on Parade on Jun 11, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Elizabeth Hurley Cast in 'Mischievous' Career-First Role and Fans Are Already 'Obsessed'
Elizabeth Hurley has landed a head-turning new gig! Marking her return to TV screens—her last TV show appearances included Runaways and The Royals from 2015 through 2019—the 59-year-old actress has been cast as 'The Deceseased,' a dead, glamorous benefactor in a gripping new series. Appearing in The Inheritance, which will air on the UK's Channel 4, it also marks her foray into a competition series that's described as very high-stakes. Per the synopsis, 'Thirteen strangers are summoned to a grand stately home. They are there to compete for part of the fortune left in the will of The Deceased.' It teases that 'winning the money won't be easy' as 'The Deceased had a wicked sense of humor and has designed a mischievous game to ensure only the best players can get their hands on her inheritance.' The executor and trusted legal counsel for Hurley's character, who will be keeping a "watchful eye," will be played by lawyer and British TV personality Robert Rinder. Contestants will have to work as a team to complete The Deceased's final request, including 'a series of devilishly difficult assignments that will demand they are clever, collaborative and cunning,' however, the twist is that only one player can claim the money gained in each request. Hurley released a statement calling it a 'thrill to be part of this clever game.' And fans shouldn't be surprised that the model will bring her A-game, noting, 'It all takes place on her huge estate in the English countryside, and she dresses to the nines in every scene.' Fans can also expect it to be as gripping and have the same allure as The Traitors, considering it hails from the same team, Studio Lambert. Steven Handley, Channel 4's Head of Reality & Entertainment, described the upcoming 12-episode show as "part Knives Out, part Succession", previously teasing the inclusion of "British icon" now revealed to be Hurley. 'The Inheritance isn't just a battle of strategy, alliances, and inevitable betrayals - it's a cocktail of drama, jeopardy, and outright mischief that Reality fans love. I can't wait to see how our players handle the challenges, the twists, and a few sneaky surprises, Handley revealed, per Deadline. Immediately following the reveal, fans took to the comments with reactions such as, "This looks insane 😍" "Hooked already ❤️ can't wait to see" "Obsessed already" and "This sounds very hardly wait to see it !!! ❤️🙌🔥😍🌟💞👌." 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Becky G, Ivan Cornejo, Maná lead Latinx musicians' response to the ongoing L.A. ICE raids
A number of Latinx musicians have expressed their solidarity and support for immigrant communities via social media in the wake of immigration raids that have resulted in the arrest of 330 people in Southern California and the Central Coast. In a lengthy Instagram video posted Saturday, TV personality and two-time Grammy-nominated singer Chiquis held back tears as she addressed the raids and reminded her fans to 'treat people like you want to be treated.' 'United we stand, divided we fall apart, you guys,' she said. 'If all humans would to get together and be kinder and hold each other's hands and push people a little bit more in a positive way, uplift people, we would be so powerful.' Música Mexicana artist Ivan Cornejo shared in an Instagram post Tuesday that his father had been granted amnesty by the Reagan administration during the '80s. He punctuated his post by sharing the information for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and added that he'll continue to raise funds for CHIRLA throughout his tour. 'Words cannot express the sorrow that I feel for my community,' the "Estas Dañada" singer, a native of Riverside, said. 'I see my mom, my dad and myself in many of you. I am speechless at the inhumanity that is affecting our Mexican and Hispanic communities.' Read more: 330 immigrants detained in Southern California and Central Coast; Bass blasts ongoing raids 'The people being attacked today are not 'illegal aliens,' they are human beings with RIGHTS,' pop star Becky G said Tuesday in an Instagram post that paid tribute to her immigrant grandparents. 'We must understand that an attack on them is an attack on OUR DEMOCRACY and an attack on what this country was made to stand for.' Read more: All of L.A. is not a 'war zone.' We separate facts from spin and disinformation amid immigration raids The "Otro Capitulo" singer also shared information about what to do if confronted by immigration agents, and listed several advocacy organizations to support. Los Aptos, a first-generation música Mexicana act band from Indiana, posted a segment of their interview with YouTube podcaster Pepe Garza describing their origins, and called for 'a system that is untouchable no matter what a— is in office.' In the same post, Los Aptos provided information on what to do if ICE knocks on your door and an infographic with the rights a person has if they are arrested. Fuerza Regida, one of the most streamed Latin music acts, offered their 'love and strength' to the Latinx community in an Instagram post Tuesday. 'We've been deeply moved by the events of this past week,' the band wrote in the statement. 'These are our people, our fans, the very communities that inspire our music.' Fher Olvera, the lead singer of legendary rock en español band Maná, posted a video on the group's official Instagram on Wednesday expressing his support for the immigrant community in L.A., and asked protesters to remain peaceful. Read more: ICE raids across L.A. spark backlash; Trump officials vow to continue operations 'That's how you are going to win,' Olvera said in Spanish. Eight-time platinum artist Junior H also chimed in Wednesday, sharing a photo captioned with "No one is illegal in stolen land." The "Rockstar" singer also shared a post from his fashion brand, Sad Boyz Clothing, announcing that a portion of its sales would be donated to "help cover the legal fees for families impacted by ICE Raids." "It's a small gesture, but one we believe matters— because when one of us hurts, we all do," read the company's statement. The normally tight-lipped Texas band Grupo Frontera also chimed in, writing in an Instagram Story on Wednesday that they 'send strength and resilience to our migrant community.' 'We stand with you. As immigrants, we understand the pain, uncertainty and fear that many are experiencing,' the group said. 'It hurts to see our people go through this and that's why we want to speak out. We support you and we will never stop fighting for our community.' Get our Latinx Files newsletter for stories that capture the complexity of our communities. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.