Superstar musician Robbie Williams has managed to go unrecognised by his fans in London simply by wearing the jersey of the AFL team he acts as a global ambassador for.
The chart-topping performer has been a mad Carlton supporter since he provided the pre-game entertainment at the 2022 AFL grand final.
He has since made a habit of watching the Blues’ games and celebrating their wins on social media, and even wrote a song about the team to celebrate their win over Sydney in last year’s elimination final.
On Tuesday he posted a series of Instagram videos showing him and wife Ayda out and about in London with the former Take That singer sporting his Carlton jersey with ‘ROBBIE’ emblazoned on the back in an effort to see if people will recognise him in the strange outfit.
The couple discuss the experiment they’re performing before they head out for a walk and Williams says, ‘You know what I want to happen … if people are sort of like, “What’s that?” and then they turn around and it says Robbie on the back, they’re sort of like, know that it’s me.’
Their next clip shows Williams sitting on a bench outside London’s Design Museum while several people pass him by, completely unaware they’re right next to one of the world’s biggest stars.
A nonplussed Williams even nods at one man who walks by pushing a pram and only gets a polite nod in return.
In the third clip he finally hits paydirt when a restaurant worker greets him with ‘Bongiorno!’ – but then admits she only figured out who he is because she saw the first post of him wearing the Carlton top.
Several Londoners walked right past Williams without recognising him in his Carlton Blues AFL jersey, leaving the star a little unimpressed (pictured)
Williams was hoping people would eventually figure out who he was despite the unusual top
The superstar has been a big Carlton fan ever since he performed at the 2022 grand final and he wears his Blues strip with pride
‘I can’t believe nobody recognised you!’ the woman says.
Williams then takes a selfie with a fan and her daughters while Ayda says, ‘There you go, it’s happening, boo!’ before two more Londoners ask for a photo, prompting the star to say, ‘Back in the game!’ and, ‘Jackpot!’
The 50-year-old – who was first gifted a Blues jersey by his Aussie musician friend Tim Metcalfe in 2012 – will be hoping Carlton make this year’s grand final as they currently sit second on the ladder.
When they beat the Swans and Demons in the finals last season he couldn’t contain his joy on social media.
‘Every time, every time, every time I’ve watched the Swans,’ Williams sang to his 2.8 million followers.
‘The Swans have lost to everyone.’
He then sang another song, to the tune of Australian star John Paul Young’s smash hit Love is in the Air, about Carlton star Tom De Koning.
‘De Koning’s in the air, everywhere I look around,’ Williams sings.
‘De Koning’s everywhere, leaving bodies on the ground.
‘And he’s better than his brother, even better than his dad.
‘There’s only one Thomas de Koning, and he’s the best one we’ll ever have.
‘De Koning’s in the air! De, de, de, de, de, de.’
He then broke out into an impromptu soccer-style chant.
The first person to recognise the star (right) admitted she only spotted him because she’d seen the Instagram post showing him in his AFL gear
Williams is pictured dancing in celebration after he was finally recognised by music fans
He made sure to wear a strip with his name on the back (pictured) so puzzled fans had a clue about who they were looking at
The former Take That star (pictured with ex-AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan) has kept a close eye on the Blues ever since he performed a stunning show at the 2022 grand final
‘The city is ours, the city is ours. One team in Melbourne, the city is ours!’ Williams bellowed.
‘I can’t believe it!’
Earlier this year he made a cheeky request to coach Michael Voss after Carlton’s incredible comeback win over Brisbane in round one, when many fans wore the outfits Dan Aykroyd made famous in the movie The Blues Brothers.
‘I want one of those tops,’ he said after watching Carlton kick the winner.
‘I am the global ambassador after all, so I need one of these tops.
‘Can I have one of those tops please, Vossy. C’mon the lads!’
