Robbie Williams gives devastating update on parents' 'precarious' health
At a recent concert, the Angels singer – son of Peter and Janet Williams – revealed that his mother had been battling dementia and no longer knew who he was.
The 51-year-old also said that his dad had been diagnosed with Parkinson's and was unable to leave the house.
Now, Robbie has admitted his parents' health is 'precarious' and he juggles caring for them with his pop star duties.
Taking to his Instagram Story, he wrote earnestly: 'Things at home with my parents? VERY precarious right now'.
'It's real world stuff that deeply affects me and my wife. And if my wife is affected, you can bet I am. So the maths are: Virus + ill parents + stadium tour'.
He continued: 'Every single moment of every single day is in preparation for those 2+ hours on stage. Outside of that? I have nothing'.
'There is nothing to offer. I don't mind stating to those around me, I need protecting. And in return I protect them', concluded Robbie.
Peter and Janet divorced in the 70s when he was just three years old, and his relationship with his entertainer father, who became known as Pete Conway, grew complicated.
However, the star has always been close with his parents, hailing his dad as one of the most 'influential' figures in his life as he supported him throughout his rise to stardom.
Meanwhile, Janet, 84, raised Robbie on her own after her marriage ended, playing a pivotal part in shaping him as a man and an artist.
Now, though, the tables have turned, and Robbie is looking after his family instead, having recently opened up about the upsetting impact of Janet's dementia.
Speaking to fans at a concert in Germany, the Rock DJ singer said: 'My mother has dementia, and she doesn't know who I am anymore.
'She doesn't know where she is anymore.'
He also spoke about his dad's health battles, as per The Sun.
'My dad has Parkinson's, and he can't leave the house,' Robbie shared.
'He used to sing with me every night on stage; he would come out, steal the show, and be charming and then wander backstage for a glass of red wine.
'Now he can't leave the house.'
Unfortunately, the health woes don't end there for Robbie's loved ones, as he said his wife Ayda Field's mother, Gwen, is also poorly.
Robbie, who has been married to the American actress since 2010, spoke highly of her, adding: 'My mother-in-law, who I absolutely worship and adore, has three illnesses.
'She's got lupus, Parkinson's, and cancer. She is the most courageous lady, and she is fighting, fighting, fighting.'
Lupus is a condition that affects the immune system, causing problems with the skin, joints, kidneys, and other organs. The likes of Selena Gomez and Bella Hadid have spoken openly about living with it.
Meanwhile, Parkinson's disease causes parts of the brain to become progressively damaged over many years.
Gwen has faced breast cancer before, but Ayda confirmed last year that her mother's cervical cancer had returned, which she noted was 'a really tough thing' for her to speak about while on Loose Women.
Family man Robbie, who has four children of his own, explained that it's taken a lot of adjusting for him to be the 'adult' now.
'It's a strange place to be, this place we find ourselves, 51 years old; it's very strange to be the grown-up,' he confessed. 'I'm not ready for it.'
Robbie has long spoken about adoration for his mum and dad, stating last December that he 'didn't know' how to cope with their declining health.
The ex-Take That member opened up to The Mirror about the tricky situation: 'The truth is that I'm very busy, and I'm not dealing with the situation as I should. I don't really know how to do it; it's an incredibly complicated thing.
'But I prefer not to go into details, you know, if I say something, they might read it, and then I would have to answer a lot of questions.'
'Let's put it this way: we are all human beings, with our difficulties, and I am trying to deal with mine,' Robbie concluded.
Robbie's late grandmother also had dementia, which was depicted in his biopic Better Man.
Asked last year what his parents thought of the film, Robbie told Hello! Magazine that he was in 'a different part of [his] life right now.'
It comes after he spent much of the Covid-19 pandemic panicking about his parents while he and Ayda isolated in Los Angeles, thousands of miles away.
At the time, Robbie called them 'daily' due to how 'vulnerable' they were.
Despite going through a tough time behind closed doors, the star has continued giving it his all on stage, putting everything aside to appear at the Club World Cup final last Sunday.
Ahead of the game at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey – in which Chelsea beat PSG to take home the trophy – he kicked off proceedings with an emotional performance of Desire alongside Laura Pausini.
He kept his eyes closed as he belted out the poignant final lyrics, embracing Laura while singing: 'To the ones we lost and the souls they saved.' More Trending
The 90s legend delighted the packed-out stadium at the beginning, setting high expectations for a star-studded halftime show.
In a huge shock, Coldplay were met with screams from the crowd in a surprise performance alongside Doja Cat, J Balvin, and Tems.
And in a further twist to normal performances like Robbie's – which are normally staged on the pitch – Global Citizen and Chris Martin crafted a special stage in the actual stands for the occasion.
J Balvin opened the set with Mi Gente, followed by Tems' Love Me JeJe and Doja singing Woman – Coldplay then took to the stage for a special rendition of A Sky Full of Stars with Emmanuel Kelly and their fellow performers.
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MORE: Robbie Williams releasing the album he actually wanted to after quitting Take That
MORE: 'Hidden treasure' music biopic finally arrives on Amazon Prime Video
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