Robbie Williams hits back at ex-Take That manager’s drug claims in boy band documentary: ‘I don’t like you’

ROBBIE Williams has slammed former manager Nigel Martin Smith over claims he makes about the star’s drug use in new documentary Boybands Forever.

The BBC documentary highlights life at the height of the 1990s boy band era, with former pop stars opening up about the ups and downs of their fame at such a young age.

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Among those interviewed are Robbie – who rose to fame in Take That alongside Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald – and Nigel Martin-Smith, the band’s manager at the time.

In a lengthy open letter posted to Instagram today, Robbie addresses Nigel and some of the claims he has made in his interviews.

Among them, he accuses Robbie of exaggerating his alcohol and drug abuse, with the manager downplaying any role he may have played in the group’s personal problems.

Robbie bluntly tells Nigel in the letter that he “loves him” for what he helped him achieve, but “didn’t like him” – urging the manager to take some responsibility for what happened to the members.

“I was both terrified and excited to share a screen with you again, excited to see where we both are on this journey, and terrified in case old emotions were triggered and I was still in a place of anger, pain or fear,” Robbie wrote.

“When it happened, it seems like time has done its work, and I think the wisdom it brings has taken the mop to a few nooks and crannies here and there. I don’t think every corner has been bleached.’

Robbie then uses direct quotes that Nigel made during the chat, addressing them one by one.

“If you follow the story closely, you can’t help but see a pattern emerge. Boys join the boy band. The band becomes huge. Boys get sick,” Robbie continued.

“Some have been fortunate enough to have undergone a series of self-examinations that have helped them overcome their experiences. Some have never quite managed to untangle the mess of the wreckage of the past.”

“I am not breaking anyone’s anonymity by sharing the side effects of boy band dysphoria that only affect us boys,” he said. “Everyone has recorded this publicly.

“Howard – contemplated suicide when the band stopped. Mark – addiction, alcoholism and rehab. Gaz – bulimia. Me – I think it’s well documented. And Jason – whatever effect that had on him is so painful that he can’t one day can be part of it.”

To Nigel’s claim in the document that Robbie “blamed him for his drug use and acting like an aw****r”, the singer responded: “I will also remind you that the person acting like aw**** ***r acted 16 when he joined the band and was 21 when he left. That was the last time I saw you.

“I hope I have more grace and understanding if one of my own four children at such a vulnerable age behaves in the same way.”

This story is currently being updated

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