Robbie Williams has disclosed that he has been diagnosed with a form of autism, which he says helps explain his idiosyncratic behavior. The 52-year-old Take That singer, who previously revealed he has ADHD, shared the news during a recent Q&A, describing the condition as a 'get-out-of-jail-free card' in strange situations.
Williams, who also experiences intrusive thoughts, said: 'I have ADHD and I just found out I have a bit of autism as well, which I actually f****** love because it explains so much. It is my get-out-of-jail-free card now, and all the weird s*** that I do I just say, “Sorry, I’m autistic.”'
Creative Coping and Intrusive Thoughts
At the autumn/winter launch of his clothing brand Hopeium at Flannels, attended by the Daily Mail, Williams explained that he has 'trained his brain to be creative' to block out thoughts that could make it 'panic and scared'. He described himself as 'completely and utterly obsessed with creating images and making funny things'.
Sharing an example of how his mind works, he said: 'This is how crazy I am, recently, I was sitting on a plane, and I thought: “What if I can have telekinesis and my intrusive thoughts tell the plane to crash itself.” So that’s the kind of level of insanity that I’m dealing with. It’s best to train my brain to do something better than worrying about having supernatural powers and crashing a plane.'
Understanding Autism and Related Conditions
According to the NHS website, 'autism is a difference in how your brain develops that affects how you see and experience the world. It is often called a type of neurodivergence.' This latest disclosure follows his October revelation about having 'inside Tourette's' syndrome, which he linked to his intrusive thoughts.
In a podcast last October, Williams said: 'I’ve just realised that I have Tourette’s, but they don’t come out. They are intrusive thoughts that happen, I was just walking down the road the other day, and I realised that these intrusive thoughts are inside Tourette’s. It just doesn’t come out.'
Impact on Live Performances and Public Incidents
His neurological conditions have made live performances challenging. Williams told the podcast that he has a 'complicated relationship' with touring, saying: 'People say: “Oh, you’re going on tour? You must be really, really excited.” Not really. I’m terrified. I mask, like I’m an Olympian at masking.'
Last month, he made headlines after a live performance at the World Cup final, when a mysterious white object fell out of his mouth during an interview, later revealed as a piece of gum. Reflecting on the viral moment, he said: 'To have a Nicorette fall out of my mouth during a live interview… and then stick to my forehead… is the most me thing I’ve ever done.' He added: 'It wouldn’t feel right if I appeared on the world stage and absolutely nothing weird happened.'
