Robbie Williams: "First gay club that I went to, I was safe, I was welcomed and I was loved"

Robbie Williams has shared his reflections on his experiences in gay clubs during the 1990s, describing the visits as “instantly life-changing.” The singer, who rose to fame in 1991 as a member of the boyband Take That alongside Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald, recounted how these early encounters greatly shaped his perspective and allyship within the LGBTQ+ community.

Take That’s first significant public engagements included tours of UK gay clubs, during which Robbie Williams began to forge a connection with gay audiences. Over the years, he has appeared on the cover of Attitude magazine four times, establishing a record for a heterosexual male artist and reinforcing his support for the LGBTQ+ community.

In an interview with The Advocate, Robbie recounted his upbringing in a northern English town during the 70s and 80s, where societal norms often rendered homosexuality a target for bullying. He stated, “You learn that being a homosexual is a shameful thing and there’s nothing you should aspire to,” reflecting on the stigma of that era. Despite this, he found himself faced with a contradiction: “I see the [gay] characters and the people on the TV, and they seem like really nice people and they’re making me feel happy. This is confusing.”

Robbie further explained how entering Take That at the age of 16 allowed him to experience a different environment. “We do gay clubs for the first 18 months. And what I can say is this, where I’m from, we do kindness and violence really well, and you don’t know which one you’re going to get. So, you’re never safe because you’re surrounded by psychos.” However, his first experience in a gay club was profoundly different: “First gay club that I went to, I was safe, I was welcomed, and not only was I welcomed, I was loved and appreciated, and yeah, it was instantly life-changing, life-affirming, and I’m very grateful. Still am.”

Robbie Williams is also the subject of the biopic Better Man, showcasing his journey in music and personal growth. His career includes notable contributions to Take That’s discography with hits like ‘It Only Takes a Minute’, ‘Could It Be Magic’, and ‘The Flood’, as well as successful solo tracks like ‘Millennium’ and ‘She’s the One’.

Source: Noah Wire Services