Robbie Williams has responded to online claims that a white object seen during a World Cup television interview was cocaine, according to NME.
The moment happened shortly after Williams performed at the tournament’s closing ceremony at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 19. He then appeared on German broadcaster MagentaTV’s post-match coverage, where a small white object seemed to fall from his mouth onto his microphone before he picked it up and brushed it onto his forehead.
Clips of the interview spread quickly online, with some social media users suggesting the object had fallen from his nose and was cocaine. Williams addressed the speculation in an Instagram video posted July 20, joking, “It was deeply unprofessional and people worried about me. But it’s OK, because I had several more!”
He then showed two circular mints in his mouth and laughed, with the post captioned, “Just woke up and feeling…. Mint.” Williams has spoken publicly about his past struggles with alcohol and drugs, and earlier this month told El País that he has not drunk alcohol in 25 years.
At the World Cup ceremony, Williams performed “Desire” with Laura Pausini and Nicole Scherzinger. He is FIFA’s official Music Ambassador and has recently released a new version of the song featuring both singers.
