Are Famous People Hiding a Diagnosis of Long Covid?
Robbie Williams didn’t hide it…or did he?
Robbie Williams forced to stop mid-concert due to ‘long covid’ and he tells the crowd “I’m f**ked”
Headline news from June 19th, 2023. Robbie (of Take That pop group fame) went on to tell the crowd that his need to stop after singing just three tracks was not due to his BLEEPING age!
I felt immediate compassion and empathised with Robbie as I have Long Covid and reluctantly belong to a community known as ‘long haulers.’
I thought how brave it was of Robbie to confess to this devastating and debilitating illness. Long haulers need advocates, leaders and high-profile names to openly talk about their condition and validate their experiences.
What is Long Covid?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) define Long Covid as:
‘The continuation or development of new symptoms 3 months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, with these symptoms lasting for at least 2 months with no other explanation.’
Symptoms are many and varied, affecting nearly every system in the body. They include fatigue, shortness of breath, pain and cognitive problems which impact upon a person’s memory and thinking. At least 65 million people worldwide are believed to have Long Covid, with this number expected to increase further.
The ‘Lie’
A few weeks later, I was scrolling my twitter feed (sorry, I mean ‘X’ feed), and spotted uproar developing amongst Long Covid sufferers and support groups. Robbie had now apparently claimed in an interview:
“If I am suddenly tired and exhausted on stage, then I don’t want the viewers to think this is because I’m an old man. So, I pretend to suffer from Long Covid.”
What the actual hell?!!
Does Robbie Williams Really Have Long Covid?
It’s no longer clear or certain. Robbie has had two known acute covid19 infections which we believe took their toll on him at the time.
Robbie has previously been open about many difficult personal issues, including those with stigma attached. He has revealed an ADHD diagnosis, and the disappearance of an active marital sex life stating:
“Sometimes now, Ayda will turn to me on the sofa and say, ‘We should do sex’, and I’m sitting there eating a tangerine and just sort of shrug.”
Why then would Robbie Williams suddenly become coy about having Long Covid? Or why would he be so cruel as to quip (as The Telegraph review described it) about having Long Covid if he doesn’t?
The Stigma Surrounding Long Covid
A recent survey of 888 people in the UK diagnosed with Long Covid found that 95% had experienced stigma related to their condition. Those surveyed had experienced disrespect, disbelief, and loss of friendships. Eighty-six percent of the respondents reported internalised stigma where they felt shame, embarrassment, and prejudice about their condition, leading them to prefer to conceal their diagnosis.
A further study found this type of social stigma in people with Long Covid is related to more perceived stress, more depressive symptoms, higher anxiety, and lower mental health-related quality of life.
The Evidence For and Against Whether Robbie Has Long Covid
Critic reviews of his performance claimed that after seeking compassion from his fans for having Long Covid, Robbie then encouraged the audience to sing along, or sing instead of him, for the remainder of his set endorsing that he was indeed struggling.
However, he then appeared to be his normal, highly energised, charismatic self the following evening as he headlined at the Isle of Wight festival.
I’m confused. Are you?
Is it possible that Robbie’s management told him to retract his covid-related confessional comments for fear they would destroy his commercial appeal?
Celebrity Long Covid Denial
Although we can define Long Covid, and list the symptoms, we don’t understand the long-term implications of the diagnosis. The condition results in frequent ‘crashes’ where sufferers push themselves too much physically and/or mentally, resulting in their body and mind shutting down. This is known as Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM). For me, PEM feels like my body battery has run completely dead. I come to a standstill and lie in bed until the crash resolves.
Imagine crashing like that mid-press interview or gig!
Celebrities often have their ‘sell by’ date. Would a Long Covid diagnosis reduce this further in the eyes of brands and music executives?
Celebs With Long Covid
Whilst some famous people have been open and honest about their post-covid infection experiences, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Colin Farrell and Billie Eilish, it is thought that many others may be suffering in silence, mainly to protect their career.
What About the Fans?
Sympathetic, empathetic, or also in denial?
The public and raving fans possibly also don’t want to hear about disability and chronic illness from their favourite celebs. They certainly mightn’t want to hear about an illness linked to the Covid19 pandemic, something the world is so keen to move on from.
I started with a question:
“Are famous people hiding a diagnosis of long covid?”
And I’m ending with more questions than answers, the main one being for Robbie Williams. I have a one-word question for him:
“Why?”
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