To people outside the UK : Do you recognise this man?

Ricky Martin x Patton Oswald?

American here. I have no idea who this is.

This is Lemmy, which crowd are you expecting to know him, the Marxists, the distro-snobs or the furries?

As an American I didn't recognize his face. Then I read that he is Robbie Williams and I also didn't recognize his name.

Not that good with faces or pop singers, but pretty sure it's Robbie Williams.

Since lemmy-verse user base skews heavily towards the western world, I think the real gap is not going to be UK vs Not UK, but US vs Rest of the World. And since there was a popular movie and a Netflix documentary about him, even Americans are probably more aware of who he is.

Yes, mainly because I'm an elder 🎶mil-len-ni-al🎶.

AND THROUGH IT ALL, SHE OFFERS ME PROTECTION..

Angels is played a lot as a warm up or "please leave now" song at least in my area in southern Germany

I live in the United States and I’m in my 40s; no idea who this is.

Im from Germany and Im quite shocked right now that there are people who dont know him. I was under the impression he was famous all around the world, kind of like Michael Jackson or Elvis. I think if you ask 100 random people in Germany at least 90 will know him.

I'd need to see him without his skin first.

Yeah, it's Matt Damon and Patton Oswald's fusion dance result.

robin williams rip

US here, no clue dont recognize it at all

I'd recognize that man anywhere. That's Bear Grylls.

I don't. Looks like a talk show host

Most of Europeans will recognize him.

!askusa@discuss.online will probably be different

Smuggy McSmugface?

He is quite known here in Germany, take that !

Usa, No

Didn't know Patton Oswald started dyeing his hair

He is pretty well known, or at least used to be more well known (European)

Well yeah, who doesn't know Robbie Williams? Isn't he more or less one of the best known solo artists internationally?

Though he now isn't as young as in that picture anymore.

For reference: I'm Swiss, and in my early 30s

USA here, and no. However he does look like a mash-up of several celebrities that I would recognize.

German here. He's super famous in Germany. I used to think he was an international superstar and only learned a couple of years ago that nobody knows him in the US. Still don't quite understand how that happened. How is "Feel" and "Angels" not stuck in everyone's head every once in a while?

Dutch, Robbie Williams, ezpz

TIL I haven't seen a photo of Robbie Williams in 20 years.

Germany here, this is:

Robbie! One of the better musicians to rise from the age of boy bands.

He’s the Carson Daly we have at home.

Robbie Williams? (from US, best friend used to have "Millennium" on repeat for a spell) I honestly thought at first that this was a Jonas brother or maybe post-reconstructive surgery Zac Ephron, but that didn't make sense with the UK part of the question.

Edit: I see I'm correct. But I honestly only dug into that part of my mind because I recalled both the aforementioned single and the general thing, stemming back to those days, that he was like huge in the UK but practically nowhere else. In other words, the question itself served as a clue to who he was (meaning he is apophatic--I only recognize him because I am aware of his absence)

Robbie something. A singer, right? (France)

I grew up in the US but have been living in Japan for 11 years and spent maybe one total month in the west between 2017 and 2023. I've seen a picture of this person before, I think, but couldn't tell you who he is. Looking at the other comments, I do know the name but only from watching UK panel shows on YouTube.

Isn't this Robbie Williams? I've never been in UK.

French guy in his late 30s here.
I recognize Robbie Williams. He had at least one song in the charts (Angels reached n°7 in France in 1997-1999).
Probably saw him on MTV at the time. Also heard him on the radio more than a few times.
Used to mix up his name with Robin Williams' ^^

Couldn’t remember the name immediately but the song Rock DJ came to mind. Remember the music video of him ripping his skin off.

he is the OG meat suit before lady gaga was even a concept. He did a stint in rehab for 'caffiene addiction' (but cmon, we all know it was cocaine lol)

He is well known in australia. but since i was travelling away from there people just think im mispronouncing Robin William's name if i bring him up.

I guess Spain is not that far from the UK, I recognised him easily.

That's Andy Burnham, our new Prime Minister.

No.

From USA, no idea who this is.

"Outside the UK" may not be correct. "Outside Western Europe" maybe or "younger people outside the UK". Around the release of Swings Both Ways was the last time I noticed his presence in the media here in Germany, that would be 10-15 years ago.

Middle-aged French woman who never really was in the loop about pop culture: No idea whatsoever.
I thought about this over-memed wrestler, then the TV chef who screams (and whom I only know through memes.)
Then I saw a comment about Robbie sth, so I thought about Margo Robbie, who might have played Barbie. And now I'm pretty sure this man is Robbie William, who was in a boys band when I was a kid? teen? and who might have gone on to have a solo career of not-quite-as-bad music.
I gave it my all.

Never heard of him. Pulled up some of his top songs and never heard those either 🤷🏼‍♂️

Robbie Williams. Grew up in Indonesia and in the 90s and 00s US and UK boybands/pop acts were quite popular. UK/Irish bands might be more popular than US ones. I would say my friends would know more Westlife songs than they do *NSYNC songs

He's pretty popular in Germany so yes, I know Robbie.

He's the English Mr. Robot, who is of course named Lord Hackery Chappy Of Computering-Upon-Robot.

Robby Williams?

I do. Very popular in Finland.

I don't normally like this sort of music, but Escapalogy is a great album. Me and My Monkey is a great song. And the one that has the 1970s Formula 1 themed music video, Superior Lover or something?

He was huge in Australia in the early 2000s.

I wouldn’t expect Americans to know who he is, but some of the threads when Better Man came out were fucking weird. A lot of people seemed actually pissed off at the notion that someone they hadn’t heard of would get a biopic, as though he needed America’s permission

Noooope

Of course I do, his music plagued all the radio stations when I was younger (IE & GER).

Yeah, that's Sir Gumphry Reginald Harknuckle

Robbie!

USA here... he does look kind of familiar, but no.

That's the guy that used to host TRL on MTV

Robbie Williams! Lots of hits from him where I live.
So many artists from UK back then like Jessie J, Paolo Nutini and even older ones.

You telling me Robbie Williams isn't actually a monkey?

Aussie here. He made some of the coolest music videos ever.

you should have asked this 20 years ago buddy. doubt many ppl in the uk now know who he is either!

Yes, Robbie Williams from Take That at first, then his own solo career

I believe he’s performing here in Australia for the Melbourne Cup, our most unfinest hour.

Yes I do, and I am from Canada. But that's because I watch a lot of British TV mostly quiz/panel shows where he has popped up a few times over the years

Yup, easily. Not a fan of his music, but he was big enough for me to learn about through cultural osmosis in the mid to late 90s.

Oh, and my sister absolutely hates him after covering George Michael, of which she was a big fan in her teens.

Norway, by the way.

no

That's the monkey from Better Man

Yes. I believe it is a singer. Don't remember the name though. Williams or something. Was famous in 90s.

is this Kira Knightly?

edit: I recognize him now! he's that rock DJ dude that ripped all his skin off, right?

he's looking better now!

I don't know him very well. But he looks like the kind of person who would have gone and spoiled it all by saying something stupid like "I love you". Sometime around the Millennium.

Of course, it’s that guy! From that thing!

Britty McBritface?

Live in Australia, I've never seen that man before in my life.

Yes, super famous in Italy.

Syrian here.

Nope.

Yes, from France.

Inside the country, but outside for the first >30 years of my life: his biggest hits were played to death in the radio in my home country. Back when I was a teen the only music themed channel we could get in my small town was a German one, and he was also all over it. I'm actually surprised if any European over 30 hasn't heard of him. I can imagine he wasn't as well known on the other side of the pond.

Not British. I'm a grown ass straight man with a wife, kids, back pain, and a mortgage, but FFS I'm still such a Robbie fangirl.

I always thought he should have played James Bond instead of Daniel Craig. But then again I always like Roger Moore better than Sean Connery. Robbie could have brought an Archer vibe back, instead of overcompensating for that 90s casting fail.

If only Robbie had been an actor. It may out my age quite a bit, but escapology is IMO one of the best albums ever. And it doesn't even have Rock DJ, Angels or Let Me Entertain You. As I age, I love how Robbie started crooning... It makes it easier to follow the speed regulations on my commute.

Robbie Williams. Used to love his music as a kid in the 2000s.

Pretty sure more Europeans over the age of 30 will probably recognize him.

I didn't recognize his face at first, but after reading the name in the comments did recognize him from that music video where he starts stripping and does not stop stripping. And then continues to not stop.

(USA)

Jimmy Fallon? Yeah I know that guy

No idea who that is, no.

Taiwanese here. No. And many white people look just resemblant for me in my small Asian eyes.

Kiwi here and yep, he used to be up there on the charts

He is the funny monkey man, nothing else is noteworthy about him though

John Stamos, right?

No. Or as Brits say, no'r.

Finland here, I recognize him. I like his music too. Seen him at the Pori Jazz Festival a couple years ago.

Millennium is still a fucking banger.

No

He had a song called Millennium which was about the millennium. I don’t think I have heard anything about him since.

It's Andy Burnham.

But seriously, I'm still young but now feels old that nobody knows him since that you asked. And I am not even British!

No idea who he is, but I'm also shit at knowing or recognizing famous people (assuming he's one)

Yoooo that's Robbie!

Cheers from Belgium

He caused quite a few wet spots among danish teenage girls in the 90's - 00's.

I'm from Mexico and I don't recognize him, but he reminds me of Dick Gumshoe from Ace Attorney.

nope

I know who dude is, but I couldn't name a single song.

(trapped inside prison USA)

Yes. Québécois here. I remember his name and know he's a signer, but couldn't remember what he sang. I had to look it up, and I only heard of him because of Millennium.

Usa, no idea. I now know its robbie williams, and can double confirm ive never heard of him before this post.

Nope

Yes, i do as a central european. I even have some respect for him as a singer; his music doesn't fit my taste at all, but he does have a great voice and knows how to use it.

I'm a 45 year old American. Yeah I know him. I remember him from having a hit song 15-25 years ago. I don't think I'd heard of him since until he had a movie a couple of years ago. I knew he was a bigger deal in the UK and Europe, but I didn't know that much of a bigger deal. I wouldn't be surprised if any random person in the US didn't know him.

Nope

Right in the Feel.

Sweden here. Can't say I do but reading the comments the it is Robbie Williams make me go "oh ok" because I don't really know who that is either.

Yeah. Isn't he Robbie Williams? Had a popular song some years back. Millennium, was it?

Canada. No

Vaguely familiar

He looks like an ape I saw in a movie last year.

Canadian here. I have some unique insite on this here. I moved to the UK about 10 years ago and this guy started popping up EVERYWHERE. people couldn't believe I didn't know who he was. Eventually I did put a few pieces together and realized:

Oh, this is that weirdo that released rock DJ. The one hit wonder dancing in the music video with his skin peeled off. I had no this guy had an actual career.

Outside of the UK Robbie williams is known for peeling his skin off and gyrating to a catchy enough pop song that he somehow managed to be a 1 hit wonder instead of a zero hit wonder

Never seen him before, or heard of his name.

Let me entertain you.

Didn't know until checking comments

Yes, he's the dude that's famous for not being famous enough for Americans to recognize, which pisses off British people who insist that he's so famous everyone on earth has to know about him.

is that the grandma bike guy?

Nope.

No idea from Canada

Belgium loves Robbie

Swiss here yes, he is super famous here. This year, he had a show that was sold out quite quickly, so he got a second show that sold out as well. I remeber my sis being obssessed with his song Angels back in the early 2000s...

I had no idea who he was, until I saw his name.

I knew he was in Take That after seeing Derry Girls and looking up the band. We also had Now That's What I Call Music Volume 2 ( Now 2) so I am a big fan of Millenium.

Rombie something. May be an ape.

I’m a Canadian that engages in more than average UK content and I don’t recognize him.

nope

He looks like 2000s era Carson Daly after recovering from an accident that messed up his face somehow

I have to presume he's a spokesman for a prominent brand of lube?

American living in the Netherlands, and I knew of him before moving to Europe. I like some of his music, "Tripping" has a fun video.

Robbie Williams, am of right age and a fan of some of his music. I recommend rudebox which is him collaborating with all kinds of cool artists like the pet shop boys.

Morrissey?

Hehe, he's a bit older but I don't think I'm too far off:

If he came to my door. I would think I know him but not be able to place how. When he started talking, I would know I done know him personally and would figure I might know him from tv or YouTube. I know who Robbie Williams is, but not what he likes like, now I do

That's Robin Williams his son, isn't he? Robbie? /jk

Yeah, I know him, his hits were also popular in the Netherlands.

I'm from Eastern Europe, 34 y.o., and i recognise Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams, i am 150th respondent, but still, why shouldn't I know this face?

Yeah, he does a comeback show every year where he cashes in on all the middle aged housewives who are still preoccupied with 1995.

It always gets bad reviews but it sells out every year.

No

Can’t stand his music, but he’s still cute after all these years

Hard to recognize him in human form.

Canadian here, never seen him to my awareness.

Canadian here. He was something special in the 90s but fell off since then.

German here.
My favorite songs (open for more):

• Beyond the sea
• Feel
• Supreme (2004 Mix)

No

Where are his lips?

Haha! A lot of us know Robbie now. I feel like when his movie came out, Europe figured it would be recieved as well as a movie about Michael Jackson but it just didn't work out that way.

Didn't recognize the image, not at all.

I've heard of the name Robbie Williams... And I'm pretty sure he's a musician. That's as much as I've got.

Can't say if I've ever heard his music.

To be fair, a year ago I could have said the exact same thing about Taylor Swift. But you know, now I've heard "shake it off", so I can recognize 1 song. I still wouldn't recognize her face.

Yes

His music is not really my cup of tea but i was recently on a hike in Germany and visited a cottage/bar there and they had a live band there that played Let me entertain you.

Yes, not that I care at all for his music.

Australia. Escapology is an amazing album. It's definitely in my desert island top 10.

US here, I learned who this is recently because I listen to talk shows for background noise while I work, and he's on the Graham Norton Show sometimes. He's funny. His music's okay.

Brobbie Brilliams. I know him from a Fus-Roh-Dah skyrim meme

He sang that song with Nicole Kidman!!

I do, but only because I watched British mtv in Eastern Europe growing up

i juste wannaa feeeel

feeeeel looveeee

The guy who left Take That

(I’m from Germany, we know him)

Delta Goodrem is another artist like this who locals in AU would consider 'famous' but otherwise don't make it on the international charts let alone bring anything unique that anyone cares to remember. It's even worse watching them pad their gigs with covers of bigger artists' songs. If not for constant TV appearances I suspect these artists would struggle to stay relevant even locally.

At first i thought that must be wrongly postet away Form shitposts and than i was shocked how many people dont know Robbie. In germany he was/is hughe.

American millennial here and I've had The Ego Has Landed since it came out in 99.

I didn't like the line 'for the next two hours your ass is mine' which sounds like a prison rape threat.

It’s Lenny Henry.

I grew up with a bunch of his early songs. Some of them I still really enjoy, like "Let Me Entertain You" and "Feel" are his best works from my purely musical perspective

Yea, he was famous in my home country in the 2000

No idea. Since its the UK hes probably like a celeb chef or something

I'm South African

My uncle with a coke and gambling addiction loved his shit.

I haven't listened to the guy's music in twenty years.

I hardly remember anything about the songs.

I grew up developing a very different taste in genres. So I never really bothered keeping up with RW. Not to be a snob or anything, I'm sure my taste is most likely dogshit. I can see why people like him, but his stuff just isn't for me.

Plus, I don't want those tracks triggering any memories I am blissfully forgetting.

My uncle is a piece of shit. The coke and gambling thing is deep into saint territory on the spectrum of his morality. Man fuck that guy. (Not RW, I'm sure he's alright)

(USA, specifically the state of Iowa). Yep, I know who that is but also don't care. His music never really hit over here.

When his Better Man movie came out, there was probably a slight uptick in awareness of who he is, but that dropped back down quickly. Most of what I heard about that movie was about the visual effects technology rather than the storyline.

Obi Wan Kenobi!

Ritchie....Ronnie.....Rudy......Ravioli....

Some people in the UK don't even care who he is.

If that's you Robbie fuck off trying to be relevent, this is not that sort of social media place.

Celebrity worship; I just don't get it.

Nope. Even with his name, nope. Even with hints at some of his music, nope. So I listened, nope. It is not the kind of music I would ever listen to nor do I follow celebrity “news”

I might just show my age but I feel like, in Germany most Millenials and older will recognize him? I certainly did.

Had to look him up. I recognize Millenium, and Feel because of a German friend.

Is this guy still alive and still living with his mother? I had enough of his music and persona being shoved in my ears by classmates when I was in high school.

Looks vaguely familiar

Californian checking in and no. He looks like a generic white dude id see at the gas station.

Robbie Williams. And Let Love be Your Energy is a great song.

Millennium! Good song

I looked him up, and i still don't know who he is. Don't think I've ever heard one of his songs even.

GenX American here. I thought that it might be him, but I wasn't certain and couldn't think of his name off the top of my head. I know he was involved in a lot of hits from my 20s, but the only reason that i recognize his face is from the Derren Brown TV spot, which I only know about because I had a co-worker who was an amateur magician.

I saw him on top gear one time maybe

American, huge fan, but I was in Germany for my formative years, right as Millennium was released.

Liam Gallagher’s old friend.

Kinda looks like that guy from warehouse 13 minus the charisma.

I knew the name but did not know the face.

If I had to look at this without seeing comments talking about the name, I would have stated that he looks like basically every main non-anime protagonist strives for.

His was one of the best live shows I've ever seen. (Africa and now Europe)

Uhhh Ray William Johnson?

No, but I also don't recognize a lot of people in general.

You've unlocked a core memory from Y2k. Robbie Williams is still recognizable to me for his song Millennium. I am from the US.

Didn't he just release a movie about his life, but he was a monkey? His music didn't seem cool enough for how he behaved.

He might have a slightly familiar face, like I saw it briefly in an article I didnt read but I couldn't say who this guy is. I am 80% sure he isnt important though.

No.

Yeah, I recognize him easily. I have this lightbulb memory of learning that a friend of mine was playing piano when I heard him perfectly play the piano melody to "Feel"

The face looks familiar. Like with people I have known in real life and maybe in media. no idea though and I have not read any comments yet.

I was going to say Robbie something or other. I wouldn't be able to tell you what he does or did though.

Am in US of A, no. I'm also an outlier cause I am terrible with recognizing celebrities

this seems like astroturfing. Edit: found the pr team

No. And what is "UK"?

Possibly the saddest fact I know in my entire life is that in the musical colossus that is the UK this bellend has the most number one albums of all time…

What. The. Fuck?

I find it hilarious to see him doing ads for "golden oldies" radio stations after his youthful shenanigans, but I appreciate him leaning into it

And he's a talented entertainer, even if he's not my cup of tea

But asking 'Muricans if they know anything outside of their little bubble will only lead to disappointment