Robbie Williams swore at the cameras during a TV broadcast of the World Cup opening ceremony in Russia.
The solo pop star and former member of Take That played up to the cameras on Thursday (14.06.18) with an offensive gesture.
But he didn’t pull his finger out elsewhere. Many fans were hoping that Williams would perform ‘Party Like A Russian’ at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium. Sadly, he didn’t have the (foot)balls.
"Lads, I did a swear on the telly!" pic.twitter.com/iOykImvL2D
— NME (@NME) June 14, 2018
NME’s Jordan Bassett criticised his beloved Robbie on the omission: “You missed an open goal, mate, and you know it. End of discussion.”
Twitter users also claimed that the ‘Angels’ singer is starting to look a bit like Morrissey.
Robbie Williams here, looking like a bad social club singer version of Morrissey pic.twitter.com/k4zoCpQ8n9
— Niall Cafferkey (@Nially_Caff) June 14, 2018
Or that he’s a little obsessed with the firebrand Mancurian.
Robbie Williams is your creepy uncle who is obsessed with Morrissey #WorldCupRussia2018 pic.twitter.com/2zIf38sQOt
— Helen Meriel Thomas (@IAmHelenThomas) June 14, 2018
Williams was also criticised for performing at the event opened by controversial Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The head of the global Magnitsky justice campaign, Bill Browder, wrote on Twitter in June: “There’s lots of ways to make money Robbie Williams, but selling your soul to a dictator shouldn’t be one of them.
“Shame on you. This message is on behalf of Sergei Magnitsky, Boris Nemtsov, Anna Politkovskaya, Natalia Estimirova, victims of MH17, 10,000 dead Ukrainian soldiers…”
There’s lots of ways to make money @robbiewilliams, but selling your soul to a dictator shouldn’t be one of them. Shame on you. This message is on behalf of Sergei Magnitsky, Boris Nemtsov, Anna Politkovskaya, Natalia Estimirova, victims of MH17, 10,000 dead Ukrainian soldiers… https://t.co/gnpKHoUxrD
— Bill Browder (@Billbrowder) June 12, 2018
Williams previously said of his appearance: “I’m so happy and excited to be going back to Russia for such a unique performance.