Robbie Williams: Reckoning with former Take That manager

Robbie Williams (50) takes a position on the statements of former Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith in a multi-page letter. He had previously spoken about his former protégé and his addiction problems. “I was equal parts scared and excited to share a screen with you again,” Williams addresses Martin-Smith directly in the Nov. 17 post.

Martin-Smith said in the documentary, among other things, that Robbie Williams was “smart and quite clever” in blaming his drug use on the fact that he was “in this band where he couldn’t have girlfriends or he couldn’t go out. ‘That evil jerk.’ It’s Nigel’s fault that I’m acting like a wanker.'” The musician didn’t let that go. “My drug use was never your fault. My reaction to the twisted world that surrounded me is entirely my own,” emphasizes Williams. He would have developed the same illness as a taxi driver, but because of his success he would have had the financial means for it more quickly.

Robbie Williams goes on to describe how boy band members often go through a similar pattern and end up in a crisis after their success. He cites his former bandmates as examples, including Gary Barlow’s (53) struggle with an eating disorder and Mark Owen’s (52) alcohol abuse. During his boy band career, he often acted “mean, callous and unfriendly” and apologized to his ex-manager for this.

During this time, however, Martin-Smith did not take good care of his protégé, who was only 16 years old when Take That achieved its breakthrough. “You haven’t exactly excelled at managing people, and instead of a stern word and a raised finger, an arm around the shoulder and a kind word would have been the best tactic,” said Williams. He wants to be more lenient with his own children when they are at such a “vulnerable age.”

It’s okay that the manager didn’t understand the extent of his addiction at the time. Today, however, the Brit wants to self-reflect and clearly “distance” from your version of my truth. […] “I don’t think it’s okay that my trauma at the time is presented as a fantasy or a way to ingratiate myself with a gullible public,” he clarifies.

Nevertheless, Robbie Williams repeatedly emphasizes in his statement how grateful he is to his former manager and how instrumental he was in his success. “I don’t blame you for my addiction and I’m not mad at you. I want you to experience joy and peace. […] You have done so much good and changed so many lives.” Nevertheless, he is happy to have been with the same management for 30 years now. “You would have had the brain to direct my solo career, but unfortunately not the heart,” said Williams .

Robbie Williams, along with Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jason Orange (54) and Howard Donald (56), became world famous in 1990 with Take That. In 1995 he left the group due to internal tensions and personal problems. During his time in the band and in the years that followed, he struggled with drug and alcohol problems, which he now deals with openly. Williams was last admitted to a rehabilitation center in 2007.