Robbie Williams has again commented on an incident during a live interview at the World Cup Final where a white substance appeared to fall from his nostril. The singer, who performed during the opening ceremony, later engaged in a conversation with pundits when the substance was visible near a microphone before he removed it and placed it on his forehead.
Williams initially addressed the viral clip on social media the following day, posting a video he described as a "fake apology" and claiming it was a mint that fell from his mouth. He has since revealed this video has amassed over 27 million views, with the entire "MintGate" situation reaching an estimated 51 million people.
Confirming the item was a Nicorette mint, Williams stated on Thursday that speculation about his sobriety was unfounded. "People think I was off my nut. I wasn't," he said. He humorously remarked on the event, calling it "peak me" for a Nicorette to fall out during a live interview and then adhere to his forehead. He added that he was unaware of the mint's presence until the next day.
Williams also acknowledged comparisons made by fans between his sequined blue Adidas tracksuit worn during his World Cup performance and the attire of the character Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri from the HBO series The Sopranos. "The Paulie Walnuts memes have been magnificent," he commented.
He reflected on the global attention, noting that with approximately 1.5 billion people watching the event, it felt appropriate for "nothing weird" to happen, but that the mint incident was "very on brand."
Williams stated he has managed to avoid reading most comments, which has helped him find the situation genuinely amusing. He also humorously referred to the speculation, saying, "These amateurs think I wouldn’t have crushed that powder until it was as fine as Bahamian sand? Please. I’m not new."
He concluded by saying, "And now the internet has another thing it’ll be 100% certain happened. ‘Remember when Robbie was off his nut at the World Cup?’ I wasn’t. I’m not. And I haven’t been for a very long time. But that’s showbusiness. And so it goes."
In other news, Williams is reportedly a leading contender to headline Glastonbury. He has announced a 2027 UK and Ireland tour, with dates scheduled in Limerick and Lytham St Annes. Bookmakers have placed him at even-money odds to headline the festival, placing him closely behind Harry Styles, who is the current favorite.