Robbie Williams has addressed the widely discussed incident where a white substance appeared to fall from his nostril during a live interview following the World Cup Final. The singer, who performed at the opening ceremony, explained the substance was a Nicorette mint.
During the interview, a white item was seen falling from Williams' nose and onto his microphone. He quickly removed it and placed it on his forehead. The moment quickly went viral on social media.
Williams initially responded with a lighthearted "apology" video on Instagram, where he joked that it was a mint. He has since confirmed it was specifically a Nicorette mint, clarifying his actions in a social media post.
"People think I was off my nut. I wasn't," Williams stated, adding that the "fake apology" video has garnered over 27 million views, with the entire "MintGate" incident reaching an estimated 51 million people. He noted that he found the situation genuinely funny, largely by avoiding excessive online comments.
Williams also commented on comparisons between his sequined blue Adidas tracksuit worn during the performance and an outfit worn by the character Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri in "The Sopranos." He embraced the comparisons, stating that "The Paulie Walnuts memes have been magnificent."
He added that it "wouldn't feel right if I appeared on the world stage and absolutely nothing weird happened." Williams, who described his nervous system as being "permanently convinced we’re moments away from disaster," expressed pride that his anxiety was not outwardly visible, apart from the mint incident.
Williams is reportedly a leading contender to headline Glastonbury in 2027, following his announcement of a UK and Ireland tour for that year. He is scheduled to perform in Limerick, Ireland, and at Lytham Festival in Lancashire.
In his initial social media response, Williams had joked, "Just woke up and feeling…. Mint." He then humorously revealed multiple mints in his mouth, pretending to be serious as he apologized for being "deeply unprofessional."