Robbie Williams has clarified a widely discussed incident during the World Cup Final opening ceremony where a white substance appeared to fall from his nostril. The singer stated that the substance was a Nicorette mint that fell from his mouth while he was speaking to pundits. Williams performed at the ceremony before the match, which was attended by billions worldwide.
Following the viral clip, Williams posted an "apology" on Instagram, humorously explaining the situation. He later confirmed the item was a Nicorette mint, telling fans, "People think I was off my nut. I wasn't." He noted that his "fake apology" post had garnered over 27 million views, with the "MintGate" phenomenon reaching an estimated 51 million people. Williams admitted he hadn't read many comments, which contributed to his ability to find the situation amusing.
The singer also acknowledged comparisons drawn between his World Cup performance outfit and the tracksuit worn by the character Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri in the HBO series The Sopranos. He described the associated memes as "magnificent."
Williams shared these clarifications as he and his wife, Ayda Field, posted a series of family photos documenting their week. The images included moments from a beach outing with their four children—Teddy, Charlie, Coco, and Beau—and their golden retriever. Williams was also seen shirtless in his garden, showcasing his tattoos.
Williams remarked that for someone who often feels on the verge of disaster, he was proud his nervousness wasn't visible during the live interview, apart from the incident with the mint. He humorously added, "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 his statement by reflecting on the nature of public life, stating, "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." Williams is also reportedly a leading contender to headline Glastonbury, following his announced 2027 UK and Ireland tour dates.