Robbie Williams, aged 51, has publicly disclosed for the first time that he has been living with Tourette’s syndrome. Mr. Williams described his symptoms as ‘intrusive,’ explaining that while physical outbursts are suppressed, the associated thoughts are overwhelming, to the extent that even performing before large audiences does not mitigate them.
In addition to his Tourette’s diagnosis, Mr. Williams has previously been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and has openly acknowledged a history of substance dependency, including alcohol and drugs, which necessitated multiple rehabilitative interventions beginning in the early 1990s.
During an appearance on the inaugural episode of Paul Whitehouse and Dr. Mine Conkbayir’s podcast I’m ADHD! No You’re Not, released on Thursday, Mr. Williams further revealed that he had recently undertaken an autism assessment. While the test did not result in a diagnosis, it identified certain autistic traits, including heightened anxiety when leaving the confines of his home environment.
Mr. Williams also acknowledged that, despite decades of performing to sold-out audiences both as a solo artist and as a member of Take That, he continues to experience significant anxiety regarding touring.
These disclosures follow the release of the Oscar-nominated biographical film Better Man, which dramatized Mr. Williams’s experiences with fame, addiction, and impostor syndrome, metaphorically represented by his character being depicted as a CGI chimpanzee.#newsafro_
