Robbie Williams opens up on his mental health struggles and biggest career regret

4 Nov 2023

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Robbie Williams revealed his past struggles with mental health and self-inflicted harm in an honest conversation before the release of a documentary that explores his life.

Robbie Williams stars in a four-part series named after himself where he reflects on clips from decades past, sharing insights on his journey to becoming a successful musician. He talks about how his battle with depression and addiction caused significant challenges along the way. Clips from the early 1990s through the 2010s are included, giving a comprehensive view of his rise to stardom.

As individuals, most of us dislike viewing pictures of ourselves and listening to our own voice. However, when coupled with observing one's own battle with mental illness, breakdowns, alcoholism, depression, and agoraphobia, it creates an unbearable and tormenting situation where you are compelled to witness a slow-motion train wreck. These were the sentiments shared by the artist with The Independent. Despite the grim situation, he humorously remarked, "I'm not worried - things are going to turn out okay for me."

The making of the documentary was very difficult for Williams, who is now 49 years old. He even said that it was a traumatic experience for him and he hopes that viewers will feel the same way. To prepare himself for filming in his own bedroom, the singer created a new song with the words "Trauma watch, trauma watch, come and watch me have a trauma watch."

During the 1990s, Williams from Stoke-on-Trent started a successful solo career after leaving Take That, a boyband. He accomplished something that would be considered the ultimate achievement for any musician: breaking records and matching chart records previously held by famous musicians such as Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones. However, he was dealing with personal struggles, and the things that should have remained private were made public because the tabloids saw him as a popular figure. As a result, his personal problems were displayed on the front pages of the newspapers.

According to Williams, the psychology behind receiving a great gift while also being broken is not easily understood by others. In the past, mental health was discussed in a confusing manner, with many people thinking that a simple nudge or encouragement would solve the issue, as they feared losing money if the person couldn't perform. Williams believes that the proper response should have been to support the person in getting better, even if it meant taking a break from work. Despite this, he has personally experienced the difficulty of this situation and believes that it has added depth and richness to his life.

There was a part left out of the documentary where Williams revealed he had cut his own wrists. When asked if he reached out to Lewis Capaldi after the singer postponed his shows due to Tourette's tics at Glastonbury 2023, Williams confirmed he did.

. It was a dark moment in my life when I resorted to self-harm and cut my own wrists. There's nothing attractive or admirable about such practices.

It's not glamorous to grab a blade and cut your own wrists, but that's exactly what I did. I recall back in the 90s when I attempted to share my struggles with others, they would mock and ridicule me, urging me to just toughen up. Unfortunately, this only served to further alienate me. It's worth remembering that even celebrities are human beings and not immune to these types of difficulties.

Williams was questioned about his earlier statements regarding self-injury. In response, he explained to the journalists that he made those remarks to emphasize that individuals should not be judged based on their participation in reality TV shows or being cast in high-profile movies. It is important to consider how we speak about people's mental health struggles. He added that he has abstained from alcohol for 24 years and hasn't used drugs for around 10 years. He stated that those decisions were made because of the intense suffering that addiction and substance abuse can cause.

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The documentary focuses on the damaged connections that Williams had with important people from various parts of his life. This includes his previous colleague in Take That, Gary Barlow, his former girlfriend Geri Halliwell, and songwriter Guy Chambers, with whom he worked with before their separation in 2002. I inquire if he talked to any of them beforehand, during, or after filming.

Robbie Williams tells the story of his life in a fresh documentary on Netflix.

He answered that he didn't do it because he didn't have to legally. But he admitted that he had to have some difficult conversations when it comes to the biopic Better Man, which will be directed by Michael Gracey, the director of The Greatest Showman. He felt uncomfortable during these conversations, and he revealed that there were many unpleasant people involved in the production of the biopic. However, he claimed to be the only jerk left in the project.

Regarding things that he wishes he could change, there is a specific one that constantly occupies Williams' thoughts - the criticized tune "Rudebox", which served as the name of his controversial album in 2006.

In my opinion, the reason why that album received mixed reactions was because I was enjoying myself and not worrying about the industry aspect. I didn't take it too seriously and added a lot of humor. I believed that the audience would appreciate my genuine self. I should have released it later on and clarified that it was a lighthearted project. I never intended to be perceived as a grime musician, and we could have shared a laugh about it.

According to him, the most uncomfortable part of the documentary is when he tells the audience that they are about to hear "Rudebox" for the first time and he claims that it will be the most popular single since "Angels".

At the age of 16, individuals began recording me and haven't ceased doing so to this day - I am completely clueless as to why.

While creating the documentary, Williams has taken a deep look at his own fame. He noted that people began filming him when he was a mere 16-year-old, and they never stopped. He expressed confusion as to why they did this, as he never requested it. Despite being recognized as one of the country's top pop stars, Williams feels he is an entertainer who writes some songs, rather than a musician. He also thinks that if he were in his teenage years today, he would likely have become a content creator instead of a singer.

However, he is content and satisfied with what he has achieved, and fully comprehends the magnitude of his accomplishments. "My skills and the opportunities that came my way allowed me to accomplish something that might seem impossible, like stretching an elastic band from Stoke to Mars. Moreover, I hold the record for the most UK number one hits sold ever, surpassing legendary artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Elvis. I never expected any of this to happen and it amazes me just as much as anyone else."

Williams and Ayda Field have been in a contented marriage since 2010 and they share four children. One of their offspring, Teddy, who is 11 years old, makes an appearance in the film. Although Williams states that his mental well-being is thriving, he made the decision to decline giving the Netflix producers the emotional release they sought for the last episode.

Famous singer Robbie Williams is the focus of a Netflix film bearing his name.

In my opinion, the storyline was focused on me, and on the last day they spent five hours trying to extract that from me. I strongly disagreed with their interpretation as it did not reflect my true feelings. Over the past four weeks, I have been feeling good and enjoying my time, but we cannot predict what the future holds. While I am not formally diagnosed with bipolar disorder, my mental health can be fluctuating, similar to some of the characteristics of bipolar disorder. Some days are better than others, but overall, my mental health has improved significantly compared to the 90s and early 2000s.

The upcoming release of 'Robbie Williams' will be available to watch on Netflix starting from 8 November.

If you're feeling anxious and lonely, or finding it hard to manage, The Samaritans can help. You can confidentially talk to a person for free by dialing 116 123 (UK and ROI) or sending an email to [email protected]. Additionally, you can check the Samaritans website to locate the closest office.

If you need assistance, you can get in touch with these institutions: actiononaddiction.org.uk, mind.org.uk, nhs.uk/livewell/mentalhealth, and mentalhealth.org.uk.