Robbie Williams and his wife Ayda shared moments from a family weekend following his clarification of an incident during the World Cup final. Williams, 52, was interviewed live after performing at the opening ceremony, when viewers observed a white substance falling from his nostril onto a microphone.
Williams initially addressed the viral clip on social media Monday, humorously suggesting it was a mint. He later confirmed on Thursday that it was specifically a Nicorette mint, stating, "People think I was off my nut. I wasn't."
He further explained that the incident, which he termed "MintGate," garnered significant online attention, with his "fake apology" post reaching 27 million views and the overall topic reaching 51 million people. Williams noted the meme comparisons to Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri from "The Sopranos" were "magnificent."
Despite the online discussion, Williams has focused on family time. He and Ayda shared glimpses of their weekend on social media, including a stroll holding their children's hands and a photo of themselves in a vineyard. Williams sported a white blazer, while Ayda wore a black maxi dress.
In addition to addressing the World Cup incident, Williams has been in the news regarding potential future performances. He is considered a leading contender to headline Glastonbury, following his announcement of a 2027 UK and Ireland tour, which includes dates in Limerick and Lytham St Annes.
Williams' public statements about the World Cup incident indicated he found humor in the situation, attributing it to his inherent "weird" tendencies when on a global stage and his nervous disposition. He concluded his remarks by stating, "I am inevitable."