Robbie Williams responds to viral clip after speculation over white object and drugs

Robbie Williams has poked fun at a now-viral live television interview after online speculation about whether a white object that appeared to fall from his nostril was linked to drug use.

Williams, 52, was speaking during coverage of the Fifa World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, having just performed at the tournament’s closing ceremony alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Italian singer Laura Pausini.

During his post-performance interview, a small white object dropped on to the microphone. Unfazed, Williams brushed it away and continued speaking.

Speculation then intensified after Williams accidentally transferred the object to his forehead while attempting to flick it away, leaving it stuck there for the remainder of the interview.

The incident quickly fuelled online rumours, with some social media users suggesting the substance was cocaine.

Williams addressed the chatter with a tongue-in-cheek Instagram video. Lying in bed, he jokingly apologised for the incident, telling his fans the little white object was simply a mint.

“I’d just like to apologise for the object that fell on to the microphone yesterday, it was deeply unprofessional,” Williams said.

Referring to suggestions he was using drugs, Williams made light of the situation.

“People worried about me, but, it’s okay because I had several more,” before sticking out his tongue to reveal two mints.

Williams has been open with his sobriety journey and just celebrated being off alcohol for 25 years, according to People.

He captioned the clip: “Just woke up and feeling…. Mint.”

Williams has long been open about his history with addiction. The former Take That star entered rehab in 1995 after leaving the boy band and again in 2007 while seeking treatment for prescription drug dependency.

He has spoken candidly over the years about the darker periods of his life and the impact addiction had on his wellbeing.

In a 2022 interview with the Irish Times, Williams said he had gotten completely hooked on drugs.

“I was a fully fledged, fully blown, self-medicating addict,” Williams said.

In his 2017 memoir Reveal, he also wrote about the experience and how he got sober.

“I went to some very, very dark places. The ability to care is taken away in the addiction. That’s why so many people die from addiction.”

Spain went on to defeat Argentina 1-0 in the final.

Williams will be in New Zealand this November for his the BRITPOP World Tour, performing at Eden Park.