Robbie Williams has called on the music industry to create a support group for “young stars struggling with fame” following the death of former One Direction singer Liam Payne last month.
Williams, who rose to fame as a 16-year-old with British pop band Take That, spoke about his own struggles and expressed his hope that a “think tank of compassionate and compassionate creatives” would come together to “protect people.” In an interview with the UK He crosses newspaper, he said:
“If you follow the story closely, we begin to understand, perhaps more on a subconscious level than a conscious level, that fame is not a universal solution.
“Some are lucky to make it to the other end but many don't.
“I hope something can be done in Liam's name to protect people, whatever that means.”
Williams' story was told in a Netflix docuseries last year, which focused on his rollercoaster ride as he found fame first as a member of a group, then solo stardom but also mental health challenges. In the series, Williams recalls standing on stage in front of thousands of people and having a “nervous and mental breakdown.” He also suffered from agoraphobia.
