<\/p>\n
Robbie Williams has revealed that he was recently diagnosed with autism, saying the discovery has helped explain parts of himself that had puzzled him for years.<\/p>\n
The 52-year-old singer shared the news during an Aug. 13 Q&A at the Autumn\/Winter launch of his Hopeium clothing line at Flannels in London. Williams said he already knew he had ADHD and had now learned he had \u201ca bit of autism\u201d as well, adding that the diagnosis \u201cexplains so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
Williams joked that the diagnosis had become his \u201cget-out-of-jail-free card\u201d whenever he does something unusual. He also spoke more seriously about ADHD, intense periods of creative focus and the intrusive thoughts that can occupy his mind when it is not directed toward something else.<\/p>\n
During a podcast appearance in 2025, he said an online autism test had not classified him as autistic but had identified traits involving social situations and interaction. At the time, he said finding an explanation could help him understand why he had spent so much of his life feeling \u201cuncomfortable in my skin.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n<\/blockquote>\nWilliams discussed the new diagnosis while explaining how his mind works and how creativity has become one of the ways he directs his attention. \u201cI have ADHD and I just found out I have a bit of autism as well, which I actually f****** love because it explains so much,\u201d Williams said, according to People<\/a>.<\/p>\n
He then joked about how he has started using the diagnosis. \u201cIt is my get-out-of-jail-free card now, and all the weird s*** that I do I just say, \u2018Sorry, I\u2019m autistic,’\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He has previously spoken about ADHD, anxiety, depression, addiction and his difficulty absorbing positive attention even while performing for enormous crowds.<\/p>\n
Williams Uses Creative Work to Redirect Intrusive Thoughts<\/h2>\n
Williams said his ADHD can allow him to focus intensely on one subject while making it difficult to concentrate on almost everything else. \u201cWith the ADHD you can completely and utterly concentrate on something 1000% but with absolutely everything else, you just cannot do it. Ask my kids,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
His preferred focus is creative work, particularly developing images and ideas he finds funny. Williams said giving his mind that specific task prevents his creativity from turning instead toward fears and anxious possibilities. \u201cWhat I\u2019m completely and utterly obsessed with is creating images and making funny things,\u201d he explained. \u201cIf I\u2019m creating images and funny things, I\u2019m not thinking about me.\u201d<\/p>\n
He offered a recent plane journey as an example of how far his intrusive thoughts can go. Williams said he found himself wondering whether he could somehow possess telekinetic abilities and whether his thoughts could make the aircraft crash. \u201cSo that\u2019s the kind of level of insanity that I\u2019m dealing with,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s best to train my brain to do something better than worrying about having supernatural powers and crashing a plane.\u201d<\/p>\n
His comments about creativity and attention came as he presented Hopeium\u2019s new collection<\/a>, the fashion project he has increasingly used as another creative outlet.<\/p>\n
Last Year an Online Test Identified \u2018Autistic Traits\u2019<\/h2>\n
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