Robbie Williams has seemingly uncovered the secret to anonymity: AFL merchandise.
In a series of comical videos shared to his Instagram, the Angels icon endeavoured to prove that it would be less likely for him to be recognised in public if he wore his customised Carlton FC jersey (despite it having “ROBBIE” brandished on the back) during a walk through London.
Live Review: Robbie Williams @ AAMI Park, Melbourne
The experiment had some mixed results: in the second of two videos he posted from the streets of London, a restaurant worker immediately recognised and greeted him, but quickly flagged that she knew to be on the lookout from an earlier post. A family then stops him for a selfie, leading to a chain reaction of people asking for their own photos.
Williams had better success when he acted more inconspicuously: in the first video he posted, the singer sat nonchalantly on a public bench, watching as dozens of passersby walked along without noticing his presence. One man does appear to serve him a glance as he crosses Williams, but doesn’t stop to interrogate him – instead the pair exchange casual nods of acknowledgement.
Williams has long been a vocal Carlton supporter, as well an AFL fan in general – he even provided the live entertainment at the 2022 AFL Grand Final, performing an epic seven-song set that included a cameo from Delta Goodrem.
Meanwhile, Williams last toured Australia in 2023, delivering a series of career-defining stadium shows alongside his headlining performance at the Adelaide 500. Reviewing the Melbourne stop of Williams’ jaunt, Michael Prebeg wrote for TheMusic.com.au: “He takes us on a 33-year musical odyssey featuring the highest highs and the lowest lows, the sex, the drugs, the scandal, and the paparazzi.”
The tour was not without its headlines, though – a fan in her 70s suffered a serious fall at the Sydney concert, leading her to eventual death in hospital.
