Robbie Williams has just put a new word on certain peculiarities that have always accompanied him. During a recent meeting with his audience in London, the former Take That member revealed he had been diagnosed with autism. “I have ADHD and I just found out that I also have a little bit of autism, which I love because it explains so much,” the singer said, according to comments reported by NME and “Metro”.
True to his humor, Robbie Williams even claims to have found a new “jor card” in this diagnosis: when he adopts strange behavior, he jokes, he can now respond: “Sorry, I’m autistic.”
An ability to concentrate completely
The singer also described how his ADHD affects his daily life. He explains that he is able to concentrate “1000%” on something he is passionate about, while having the greatest difficulty focusing his attention on the rest. “Ask my kids,” he jokes.
What currently occupies him is the creation of images and humorous content. An activity which allows him, he says, to distract his brain from his anxieties. Because Robbie Williams also describes living with intrusive thoughts that are sometimes particularly invasive.
He cites a recent experience in a plane. Sitting on board, he suddenly wondered what would happen if he had telekinetic powers and his thoughts could cause the plane to crash. For him, it is therefore better to occupy his mind with creation rather than letting it fuel this type of anxious scenarios.
Troubles mentioned for several years
Robbie Williams has long spoken publicly about his mental health, including bouts of anxiety and depression. Last year, he also spoke about what he called an “inner Tourette’s,” a phrase he used to describe his intrusive thoughts.
From 2024, during the promotion of his biopic Better Manthe singer had also suggested that he could be on the autism spectrum. He then explained that his neurodivergence could prevent him from perceiving certain social conventions and lead him to say things whose effect he only realized by seeing the reaction of his interlocutor.
