Robbie Williams is opening up like never before. The 51-year-old singer revealed that he’s been diagnosed with Tourette syndrome during an appearance on the I’m ADHD! No You’re Not podcast, hosted by Paul Whitehouse and Dr. Mine Conkbayir.
“I’ve just realized that I have Tourette’s, but [the tics] don’t come out,” Robbie shared. “They are intrusive thoughts that happen. I was just walking down the road the other day and I realized that these intrusive thoughts are inside Tourettes.”
He explained that while performing for stadiums full of fans might seem like the ultimate distraction, it hasn’t silenced the challenges he faces. “Not only that, you would think that a stadium full of people professing their love to you would work [as a distraction], but whatever it is, inside me, cannot hear it. I cannot take it in.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder involving repetitive movements or sounds (tics) that can’t be easily controlled. While there’s no cure, treatments are available to help manage symptoms.
During the same conversation, Robbie also opened up about traits of autism he believes he has, though he has not been formally diagnosed. “It turns out I’m not [autistic], but I’ve got autistic traits,” he said. “And it’s around, social stuff, it’s about interaction.”
He went on to share how much of his life has been shaped by discomfort. “When I’m in bed, that’s my comfort zone. Anywhere outside of that bed is my discomfort zone,” he admitted. “It’s getting better. It was awful, horrendous through my 20s, bad through my 30s, my 40s started to get better and I’m on an upward curve, but I’m still uncomfortable in my skin.”
The pop star has been candid about his health struggles before, including revealing earlier this year that he developed scurvy after extreme dieting. Now, with this Tourette diagnosis, he’s continuing to peel back the curtain on the mental and physical battles behind the fame.
“Much like I have sought out medication to fix it, I’m constantly still looking for the reason and the whys,” Robbie added.
