Robbie Williams: Photo requests cause 'discomfort'

Robbie Williams, the well-known pop star, has recently opened up about the discomfort he experiences when approached by fans for photos and autographs. In a heartfelt post on Instagram, he shared that while he can often hide his feelings, he feels a sense of fear when strangers come up to him. The 51-year-old singer revealed that he turned down several requests for photos during a recent flight, but he also expressed gratitude towards those who identify themselves as genuine fans. He stated, 'This isn't a complaint, it's context. ' During his domestic flight across the United States, one fan handed him a lovely note and then asked for a photo. In response, Williams decided to write a note back to the fan, explaining his situation. He mentioned that he had been awake since 4:30 AM, had only two hours of sleep, and was managing four children at the airport. He said, 'I've got bags under my eyes and I'm dealing with anxiety. ' He explained that if someone took a photo with him, it would heighten his anxiety because then everyone on the plane would start to wonder who he was. Another fan approached him for a photo, and he wrote a similar note on the back of his plane ticket. While he was in the middle of writing that note, another passenger came up and directly asked for a photo. Williams decided to oblige, viewing it as 'being of service' to his fans. He expressed that if it brought happiness to someone, he would do his best to accommodate their request. However, he also felt that there should be some boundaries in place. Williams pointed out an 'unspoken law' that celebrities should always be available to fans, as if they were the mayor of a wonderful town. He disagreed with this notion, stating that he believes more than half of the people who approach him might not even be able to name one of his albums. Nevertheless, he expressed that if someone is a true fan, he would love to hear from them because it means a lot to him. He said, 'I'll make time. I've got gratitude for that. ' He then raised the question of whether there should be a limit on how many people can approach celebrities in a single day. Williams shared that every interaction with strangers, or even acquaintances, fills him with discomfort. He admitted, 'I mask it well. But social interaction still frightens me. ' He reiterated that he is not complaining about the attention that comes with his fame, stating, 'I'm not moaning. This is a problem I'd rather have than not. ' He encouraged fans to feel free to ask for photos but also emphasized the importance of allowing celebrities to have their personal space. Robbie Williams first gained fame as a member of the boy band Take That in the early 1990s before embarking on a successful solo career, producing hits like Angels, Millennium, and She's The One. He has openly discussed his struggles with mental health, including depression and substance abuse, during his 30s. His life story, including his rise, fall, and comeback, was recently depicted in a film where he is humorously portrayed by a chimpanzee. Williams described the film as 'the greatest hits of my trauma for the TikTok generation. ' In the comments section of his Instagram post, many fans praised him for his honesty and openness. One user wrote, 'Everyone is entitled to their boundaries,' while another commented, 'No human is entitled access to another human, famous or not. ' They believe that celebrities should start normalizing the act of saying no to fans when they feel uncomfortable.