Robbie Williams performed in Sydney for New Year's Eve, where he blamed an audience member for an on-stage mistake.
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ABC broadcasted the show, which was many people's first introduction to the 50-year-old UK megastar. Although his performance was good enough, it did contain an exchange with an audience member that was only lightly playful.
He began to sing "Me and My Monkey," a 2002 track, although he jumped in way too early. "Check me, check me," he said before diving into the lyrics. Just before awkwardly stopping as the band continued to play.
Williams shot an audience member an accusatory raised-eyebrows look as he pointed at them. "You made me come in the wrong place," he blamed.
"Can you stop doing the lyrics for the song?" he asked, "then I don't get it wrong." Robbie, it's your song. You shouldn't be getting it wrong anyway.
"Now, okay?" he said, instructing them of when to chime in. He then continued singing. Or, rather, started over.
The New York Post shared the jarring clip. Look, Robbie Williams is loved and very famous outside the US, but that is pretty embarrassing. It would have been better had he just owned his mistake, instead of asking an audience member not to sing along at a performance.
Robbie Williams Plugs Film In Government-Funded Performance
His awkward blunder aside, many weren't pleased with ABC broadcasting Robbie Williams' performance, especially thanks to his shameless plug in the middle of the government-funded coverage.
The singer's biopic, Better Man, has been met by the internet with mixed emotions. A biopic on Williams' life is fine enough, but he's played by a CGI Chimp for some reason. Many are, to the surprise of themselves, praising the movie, although others aren't convinced.
During his New Year's Eve performance, Williams rhythmically announced, "so go watch my movie, it's full of drugs and sex, I've got my own biopic, I'm not even dead."
To promote yourself in a performance funded by taxpayer money is a bold move.
With the self-promotion and having a go at an audience member, Robbie Williams has had a bit of a mare this New Year's Eve.
"Did my tax dollars pay for this lazy Robbie Williams set? What the f--k. PR for a movie during a set as well?!" one complained on X.
"Robbie Williams on @ABCTV is a new low for this country. Our tax dollars down the f--king drain watching this washed up clown," said another upset viewer.
