Robbie Williams slams former Take That manager over explosive 'drug claims' | Celebrity News

Robbie Williams has hit back at his former manager Nigel Martin-Smith over claims about his drug addiction.

The responses came in response to Boybands Forever, a BBC documentary about the rise of ’90s boy bands, featuring interviews with both Robbie and Martin-Smith.

In the documentary, Martin-Smith discusses Robbie’s struggles with drugs and alcohol, but downplays his own role in the band’s problems. Take to InstagramRobbie accused his former manager of shifting the blame. While expressing his gratitude for the success he achieved under Martin-Smith’s management, Robbie didn’t hold back, writing: “I love you for what you did for me, but I didn’t like you,” and insisted urges Martin-Smith to take ownership of the band’s challenges.

“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 addresses Nigel’s comments from the documentary, breaking them down and responding to each one individually. “If you follow the story closely, you can’t help but notice a pattern emerging. Boys join the boy band. The band becomes huge. Boys get sick,” Robbie continued.

“Some have been fortunate enough to undergo 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 the boy band dysphoria that only affects us, guys,” 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.

Robbie acknowledges that his addiction was probably inevitable regardless of being in a boy band, and takes responsibility for his actions. He also admits that he was sometimes “mean, insensitive and unkind” to those around him in Take That.

However, Robbie expressed a wish that his former manager would show some humility, noting that Nigel had stated in the documentary that he did not want to be seen as “a big, nasty, evil b****d.”

He continued, “It’s okay to admit your shortcomings. No one will accuse you of not knowing or understanding the psychological impact of everything on everyone. We were outliers.

“Give a few points here and there, because no one will buy the version of perfection and upright behavior that is your current MO.” Robbie didn’t hesitate in his response, saying: “Nigel, I do love you, but unfortunately it’s also true that I don’t like you,” he wrote. “The two I’m going to look for are not mutually exclusive.”