Robbie Williams has apologised after a small white object fell from his mouth and onto his microphone during a live TV appearance at the World Cup final – a gaffe that came as the half‑time show featuring Madonna, BTS and Justin Bieber was branded “crap” by Wayne Rooney.
The 52‑year‑old singer was speaking to German channel Magenta Sport after performing alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini at the closing ceremony on Sunday. The object emerged, was picked up, held, and then rubbed onto his head, where it stuck to his forehead.
“Robbie Williams apologises after spitting mint on mic during World Cup final coverage, as Wayne Rooney calls half-time show 'crap'.”
“I’d just like to apologise for the object that fell on to the microphone yesterday. I was deeply unprofessional, and people worried about me,” Williams said in a social media video filmed lying in bed. “But it’s OK. Because I had several more,” he added, sticking out his tongue to reveal two circular mints.
“Just woke up and feeling…. Mint x,” he captioned the Instagram post.
The half‑time show itself – the first in World Cup history – ran 27 minutes and 22 seconds, the longest ever, drawing controversy because International Football Association Board rules allow players a maximum 15‑minute stoppage. Madonna performed Music, flanked by Brazilian legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho; K‑pop supergroup BTS made their comeback from a three‑year hiatus; Shakira and Burna Boy reunited; Justin Bieber played guitar; and Jennifer Hudson sang the national anthem before Spain beat Argentina to win the tournament.
Celebrities in the crowd included Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet, Beyonce and Jay‑Z, and Anya Taylor‑Joy. Muppets characters Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy also appeared.
But former England forward Wayne Rooney, working as a BBC pundit at the New York New Jersey Stadium alongside Joe Hart and Micah Richards, did not hold back. “I’ll be honest, mine was when it finished. I like a lot of them artists but I thought it was crap. It just didn’t get me going and I wanted the football to come back on. I like Burna Boy, I like Bieber, I like Shakira, but that was too flat.”
Richards called Rooney “miserable”, while presenter Gabby Logan added: “I’ll tell you what else you get on the BBC: honest reviews.”