Robbie Williams has called for change in the entertainment industry in wake of Liam Payne’s untimely death.
On October 16th, police officials confirmed that the One Direction singer had died after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Argentina.
According to a post-mortem examination, the 31-year-old died from multiple injuries as well as internal and external bleeding caused by the fall.
Police found substances in his hotel room, and prosecutors have since charged three people in connection with his death.
The three have been charged with “abandonment of a person followed by death” and the “supply and facilitation of narcotics”.
It’s believed Liam had alcohol, cocaine and prescription antidepressants in his system when he died, and prosecutors believe he was “in a state of semi or total unconsciousness” when he fell.
Liam’s death has sparked a huge conversation about the mental health of artists in the entertainment industry.
Speaking to Newstalk in Dublin this week as he announced details of his Croke Park gig for 2025, Robbie said Liam’s death “won’t go unnoticed”.
“Everybody on the planet right now is neurodiverse, has been through trauma, is struggling to come to terms with their childhood or struggling to come to terms with their place in the world and yeah, it’s very difficult,” he said.
“If I turn it back to entertainment, it’s very difficult and a grey area to put things into place to look after people properly.
“I know there’s talk of plans of what to do and how to facilitate this but the plans of what to do and how to facilitate this come with already having money in place to be able to facilitate these things.
“That negates the young manager and the young band that are doing everything out the back of a Transit van – who don’t have the money in place to facilitate it.
“So there’s all of these grey areas, but it needs addressing and there needs to be a think tank by creative people, like myself and others to get together and figure out what’s the best way to tackle this problem for our entertainment industry.”
“It’s weird times, but it’s really interesting times to be alive too,” he continued, before stressing the importance of “being kind” to others.
Robbie added: “The tragedy of Liam won’t go unnoticed and hasn’t gone unnoticed and I’m sure that things will be done in his name to make things better. What they are, I don’t know yet, but I’m in.”
Following the shock news of Liam’s death last month, Robbie took to Instagram to pay tribute to the One Direction star.
In a heartfelt statement on Instagram, Robbie wrote: “How to make sense of the Liam Payne tragedy?”
“Obviously, my first feelings towards his passing were like everyone else. Shock, sadness and confusion. And to be honest as I write these words that’s where I still am.”
“I met the boys on The X Factor and ‘’mentored’’ them. I use the word mentored in inverted brackets cos I hardly did anything to be honest. I just hung out with them.”
“They were all cheeky and lovely. I enjoyed the light hearted piss takery and Thought about all the times I was that cheeky pisstaker with the Popstars that had gone before me when I was in Take That.”
“Our paths have crossed ever since that day and I’m fond of them all. Liam’s trials and tribulations were very similar to mine, so it made sense to reach out and offer what I could. So I did.”
“I guess in these moments it’s worth repeating – WE DON’T KNOW WHATS GOING ON IN PEOPLE’S LIVES. WHAT PAIN THEY’RE GOING THROUGH AND WHAT MAKES THEM BEHAVE IN THE WAY THAT THEY BEHAVE. BEFORE WE REACH TO JUDGEMENT, A BIT OF SLACK NEEDS TO BE GIVEN.
“BEFORE YOU TYPE ANYTHING ON THE INTERNET, HAVE A THINK ‘DO I REALLY NEED TO PUBLISH THIS?’, BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE DOING. YOU’RE PUBLISHING YOUR THOUGHTS FOR ANYBODY TO READ. EVEN IF YOU DON’T REALLY THINK THAT CELEBRITIES OR THEIR FAMILIES EXIST. THEY FUCKING DO. SKIN AND BONE AND IMMENSELY SENSITIVE.”
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“I still had my demons at 31. I relapsed. I was in pain. I was in pain because I relapsed.I relapsed because of a multitude of painful reasons. I remember Heath Ledger passing and thinking ‘’I’m next’’. By the grace of god and/or dumb luck I’m still here.”
“The internet will unfortunately carry on being the internet. The media will unfortunately carry on being the media and fame will carry on being fame.”
“As individuals though we have the power to change ourselves. We can be kinder. We can be more empathic. We can at least try to be more compassionate towards ourselves, our family, our friends, strangers in life and strangers on the internet.”
“Even famous strangers need your compassion. What a Handsome Talented boy. What a tragic painful loss for his friends, family, fans and by the looks of the energy this moment has created – The World. Be Kind ❤️”
