Robbie Williams reveals he once ‘slashed his wrists’ in a bid to end his life and didn’t sleep for 144 HOURS during battle with drink and drugs
Robbie Williams has revealed he once ‘slit his wrists’ in an attempt to end his life in a candid discussion about the pressures of fame and his battle with drink and drugs.
The former Take That singer, 49, who is set to release a brand new Netflix documentary charting his rollercoaster career, hit back at celebrities who were mocked for opening up about their mental health struggles and made suggestions that they only do it in an attempt to make the subject ‘sexy’.
He told The mirror: ‘There’s nothing sexy about taking a knife and slitting your own wrists like I did. We have to be careful what we say and how we say it.”
To clarify this point, he said, “I’m talking about slitting my own wrists. The reason I say this is to qualify people: people, whether they’re in MAFS (Married At First Sight) or the new Martin Scorsese movie.”
‘We have to be careful about what we accuse people of. You think that so-and-so is demanding attention by saying they have autism. It’s not okay’.
Revelation: Robbie Williams, 49, has revealed he once ‘slit his wrists’ in an attempt to end his life in a candid discussion about the pressures of fame and his battle with drink and drugs
Dark times: The former Take That singer hit back at celebrities who were mocked for opening up about their mental health problems and made suggestions that they only do so in a bid to make the subject ‘sexy’ (pictured in 1996)
He later shared with The sun about his much-publicized battle with addiction and recalled being on the road for six days.
He told the publication that despite vomiting “black bile,” he continued his binge of cocaine and vodka, only to later realize how close he was to death.
Admitting: ‘I thought I could snort the most, swallow the most pills, drink the most and I thought that was a superpower at the time.
‘I didn’t know this was my fast track to death. You feel like you are indestructible, I didn’t feel like I was going to die. Only afterwards do I realize that I was close.
He added: ‘I stayed awake for six days. I was with someone who had deals with the dealers and it was a six-day job, and it went very quickly.”
Robbie reflected on his mental health struggles again in the latest trailer for his upcoming Netflix docuseries.
Ahead of the release of the four-part show on November 8, which will combine never-before-seen footage of Robbie with new interviews.
The series coincides with the 25th anniversary of his solo career and provides an intimate look at his never-before-seen personal archive spanning 30 years.
Shocking: He later opened up about his highly publicized battle with addiction and recalled swimming for six days
Scary: He said that despite vomiting ‘black bile’ he continued his binge of cocaine and vodka, only to later realize how close he was to death (pictured in 1997)
In the new trailer, he started reflecting on his journey and career before opening up about how things started to get tough, resulting in a “nervous mental breakdown for thousands of people.”
Robbie – who shares Teddy, 10, Charlie, eight, Coco, four, and Beau, three, with wife Ayda – mused: ‘It’s amazing what’s happened in my life. But the past has a hold on me.
‘Something has to give. You should only do this at the pearly white gate with St. Peter, while you look back on your life.’
He added that he was thrust into the spotlight at a young age: ‘When I joined Take That at 16 it was crazy. I was the center of the pop culture world.
‘I felt like I was giving away more and more of myself, to the point where you no longer recognize yourself.
‘When you’re in the spotlight, you can’t trust anyone. I had a nervous breakdown in front of thousands of people.
Icon: Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of his solo career, Robbie’s upcoming Netflix series will provide an intimate look at his never-before-seen 30-year personal archive
‘What would have destroyed me has also made me successful. Touch the fire, push when it says ‘pull’ and see if I can live. I don’t know how easy it is for people to get to know me.’
Robbie has been very open about his ongoing battle with mental illness and his history of depression and anxiety. And when his fame reached an all-time high, the pop star hit rock bottom.
From 2006 to 2009, Williams battled agoraphobia. Social anxiety disorder left him housebound for three years.
He has previously revealed he went to rehab in 2007 after using speed, acid, heroin, cocaine and ‘heartbreaking’ amounts of prescription drugs.
For support, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org