Topics: Robbie Williams, TV And Film, Documentaries, Celebrity, BBC
Robbie Williams has shared a statement following the release of a documentary in which he spoke about life during Take That.
A new BBC Two documentary highlighted what life was really like for the members of 90s boybands such as Take That and East 17 at the peak of their fame.
It gave fans an insight as to often how little protection and guidance they had as teenagers trying to navigate a new whirlwind life.
The documentary explored the rivalry between the two bands in the 90s, and also the tensions within the bands.
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Former Take That member Robbie featured in the film, reflecting on his crazy life and challenges he dealt with as a result of being in the band.
Take That's former manager Nigel Martin-Smith, who Robbie has a complicated relationship with, also gave an interview for the documentary.
Following the film airing, Robbie released a heartfelt statement on Instagram, confronting points that Nigel made in his interview.
He explained to fans that writing this letter was a way of 'healing' for him.
The star began saying: "Hey Nige, hope all is good in your world and life is being kind to you.
"I was equal parts terrified and excited to be sharing a screen with you again."
The singer firstly addressed one note that Nigel made in the documentary.
The former manager claimed: "He's smart, is Robbie and it's quite clever, you know."
In his statement, Williams quoted Nigel, writing: "'I did drugs because I was in this band where I couldn't have girlfriends or I couldn't go out.
"'That evil t***, Nigel, it's his fault that l'm behaving like a wanker'."
Robbie responded claiming that his drug-taking was never Nigel's fault, and that medicating was his response to the 'warped world' that surrounded him.
He added: "If you are following the story closely you can't help but notice a pattern emerge. Boys join a boy band.
"The band becomes huge. Boys get sick. Some never quite manage to untangle the mess of the wreckage of the past."
Addressing Robbie's issues with drugs and alcohol, the former manager also said in the documentary: "The lads said he was getting drunk and partying, and I think he was doing drugs of some sort.
"Only what lads of his age do on a night out on a Saturday. It was no big deal. I would have known if it was that bad."
Robbie replied, claiming that it was okay for Nigel not to have known how bad his addiction was, but didn't agree with denying his 'lived experience'.
The singer said: "In modern parlance, to deny someone's lived experience these days is called gaslighting.
"It is not okay for me that my trauma at the time is being represented as a figment of my imagination or a tool to ingratiate myself with a gullible general public."
Robbie ended the lengthy letter telling fans that Nigel was responsible for the joy that Take That brought, and is not angry with him.
Viewers of the documentary noted how sad it was to watch.
One X user, who shared an extract of the documentary, tweeted: "This clip from #boybandsforever was particularly hard hitting. Robbie lays out how he struggled within the industry and how he was not given support when he really needed it. His ex manager is heard dismissing this. "
