Robbie Williams publicly reconciles with former Take That bandmate Gary Barlow during an intimate War Child concert at Manchester’s Aviva Studios. He reflects on the recent Take That Netflix documentary, addressing his past behavior openly.

The Concert Apology

Williams, who left the band in 1995 amid tensions, admits his actions strained relationships. He addresses the audience: “Did anybody see the Take That documentary? I have to say I was a bit of a ‘c***’ in the second episode. I don’t think anybody has seen a man smugger than Robbie Williams in the second episode.”

He continues, expressing remorse: “And you know what, I felt really bad. I felt f***ing horrible about it. I’d been horrible to Gary, horrible to Mark, horrible to Howard and I was genuinely thinking about it for days and days and days and I’d go to bed at night and I was thinking I’ve gotta apologise again.”

Williams clarifies his current feelings: “But just to clarify, I f**king love Gary Barlow now. And he loved me. There’s only so many times I can apologise now.” He then performs his 1990s track Ego A Go Go, originally written about Barlow, describing it as a “horrible song.” The chorus states: “Ego a go go now you’ve gone solo/Living on a memory/Now you’ve gone stately/And yes you do hate me/Could you offer an apology.”

During rehearsal, Williams reflects: “I was sat there thinking hang on no one has ever left a boyband and gone ‘they’re a c, they’re a c except me’. But I’m a c***.”

Feud’s Lasting Impact

The three-part Netflix docuseries highlights Barlow’s bulimia struggle, which began after Take That’s 1996 split and intensified due to rivalry with Williams. Archival footage shows Williams saying: “My problem always was with Gary, I wanted to crush him. I wanted to crush the memory of the band and I didn’t let go. Even when he was down I didn’t let go.”

At the docuseries premiere in Battersea Power Station, Barlow shares: “It’s a narrative I haven’t thought about for years and years. When we had our reunion we spent a lot of time talking about it and I remember leaving on one particular day and we’d discussed everything. And I remember leaving and my shoulders were light. And I’d not thought about it since because I’d not needed to. And it brought it all back. Tricky times, they were.”

Path to Reconciliation

Despite a 2010 reunion tour and album, uncertainties persisted. Williams explains the healing: “I needed Gary to listen to my truth.” Barlow adds: “There were things around people not being supportive of his songwriting and his weight. I’d called him Blobby rather than Robbie one day, which I shouldn’t have done. Then I hit him with things he had done to me that I didn’t like. In about 25 minutes we’d put things to bed that had haunted us for years.”

The docuseries offers fans insight into the group’s 2011 comeback with Williams, marking a key step in resolving old conflicts.