According to Instagram and media statements by Williams, the incident occurred on German TV channel Magenta Sport after he performed at the closing ceremony.
World Cup Closing Ceremony Performance and On-Screen Gaffe
Williams performed alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow during the 2018 FIFA World Cup final closing ceremony on July 19, 2018. While speaking during the broadcast, a small white object slipped from his mouth and onto his microphone. Williams picked the item up and touched it to his head, where it momentarily adhered to his skin. The clip circulated widely on social media platforms, prompting online speculation regarding the nature of the object.
Robbie Williams Denies Substance Claims
Addressing the viral clip on Instagram, Williams stated that the object was a Nicorette lozenge. According to the singer, he remarked to his co-performers Scherzinger and Pausini backstage, “No one died and I didn’t cause an international incident. We did it!” Commenting on the public reaction, Williams said, “Now the internet has another thing it’ll be 100 per cent certain happened. ‘Remember when Robbie was off his nut at the World Cup?’ I wasn’t. I’m not. And I haven’t been for a very long time.” He added that it wouldn’t feel right if he appeared on the world stage and “absolutely nothing weird happened.”
Pundit Reactions to the Tournament Finale
The closing ceremony preceded the World Cup final match between France and Croatia. Former England forward Wayne Rooney, working as a pundit for the BBC alongside Joe Hart and Micah Richards at the New York New Jersey Stadium studio setup, shared his assessment of the entertainment when presenter Gabby Logan asked for his highlights. According to the BBC broadcast, Rooney stated, “I’ll be honest, mine was when it finished. I like a lot of them artists but I thought it was crap.” FIFA extended the interval preceding the match beyond the standard duration to accommodate the performance lineup.
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