Robbie Williams says being on Twitter would 'ruin his career'

Robbie Williams has vowed to stay away from Twitter (now known as X), worrying that it could go very wrong. In fact, he's convinced that he'll "ruin [his] career" if he returns to the site.

Williams took part in an interview with The Guardian alongside comedian Joe Lycett, discussing the 50-year-old singer's recent foray into art. The conversation turned to social media, with Lycett shocked at Williams apparently shunning Twitter.

"No, I’m not on Twitter. It would ruin my career," said Williams. "The last time I was on it, I did a tweet that said: 'I quite fancy getting into shoplifting. Has anyone got any good suggestions for shoplifting?'

"The person who runs Gail’s, the bakery, said: 'This is awful, this is a pop star who lives in a bubble. How dare he?' I saw the backlash, and I was like 'I don’t think Twitter is for me'. I got my fingers burned."

Williams went on to explain that he finds it difficult to express his brand of humour because there are limitations placed on people with his level of fame.

"I’m Robbie Williams, so I’m in a certain box. I’m in a pop star box, and if the pop star starts acting differently from the way a pop star should, then it causes confusion, which I like, but it might also get me cancelled," he said.

Williams added: "I don’t think the music world takes to silly very well. It’s either Barbie Girl, which we all get is silly, or it’s not understood or appreciated."

He pointed to his 2006 single Rudebox, which he thinks was treated unfairly despite being intended as a more absurd and funnier song than his usual output.

Watch: Music video for Rudebox

The star has spoken previously about his fear of being cancelled, having spent years operating on a quieter level than he did at the peak of his musical success.

Williams has embraced the art world over the last year or so with his comedic "inklings", posted on Instagram. This put him in touch with Lycett, who also often shares art on social media.

The former Take That singer is currently presenting an exhibition of works around mental health, entitled Robbie Williams: Pride and Self-Prejudice, at the Moco Museum in Amsterdam.

Williams is set to return the spotlight later this year with the release of the biopic movie Better Man, in which the star plays himself. The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey is behind the camera.

The cast also includes Jonno Davies as a younger version of Williams, with Steve Pemberton and Alison Steadman also due to appear.

Read more:

• Inside Robbie Williams' marriage to Ayda Field Williams and their life with the kids

• Is Robbie Williams’ daughter Teddy set for future showbiz career after Netflix cameo?

• Robbie Williams recalls paranoia of Geri Halliwell relationship