Brits have been forced to defend Robbie Williams after a debate erupted on social media, with Americans slamming his new musical monkey biopic and claiming they ‘have no idea who he is’.
The 50-year-old star’s movie Better Man has received glowing reviews from critics, as they praised the film as ‘riveting’, ‘bombastic’ and ‘utterly inspired’.
The semi-biographical movie follows the singer’s meteoric rise to fame as a member of Take That and subsequent dramatic fall, as he battled with his personal demons and the challenges that success can bring.
But in a twist on the genre, the pop star is portrayed as a chimpanzee in the film, while everyone else in human, with Jonno Davies acting the movements via motion capture technology and Robbie doing most of the voicework.
However, as clips from the film have started circulating on social media, baffled Americans are admitting they have ‘never heard of him’ – and Brits cannot believe it.
Taking to X, Americans quipped: ‘What the hell is up with this “Robbie Williams” monkey CGI movie Nobody in America has a CLUE who that is…. And like me probably got excited for Robin Williams then was like oh…. Why’re they advertising like this is a big deal.’
Brits have been forced to defend Robbie Williams after a debate erupted on social media, with Americans slamming claiming they ‘have no idea who he is’
The 50-year-old star’s movie Better Man has received glowing reviews from critics, as they praised the film as ‘riveting’, ‘bombastic’ and ‘utterly inspired’.
‘Who is Robbie Williams and why does he have a biopic where he is a cartoon monkey?’
‘Who tf is Robbie Williams? Why are people mad that Americans are not interested in whatever movie he’s associated with?’
‘I had to look up who Robbie Williams is. Apparently he is some British guy who sings.’
‘In the trailer Robbie states he’s one of the biggest pop stars in the world. I literally never heard of him. Nor do I want to watch biopic of him.’
But, British fans were quick to explain and furiously defend the pop star, writing: ‘That’s insane. Idk how you haven’t heard of him or take that.’
‘Just recently discovered that americans have no idea who robbie williams is and that’s absolutely blown my mind because how.’
‘375,000 people over 3 nights went to knebworth just to watch Robbie Williams, he broke out in Europe, Asia, South America, his tours have grossed over $600 million. But Americans make fun of him and question his popularity because he wasn’t as big in North America? Get a grip.’
‘Americans: “who even is robbie williams” robbie williams: biggest selling solo artist in the uk, most brit awards of any artist, every album getting to number 1, numerous guinness world records, one of the biggest selling music artists of all time…’
‘Americans slandering Robbie Williams for Rock DJ as if it is not one of the best songs ever made.’
The semi-biographical movie follows the singer’s meteoric rise to fame as a member of Take That and subsequent dramatic fall
However, as clips from the film have started circulating on social media, baffled Americans are admitting they have ‘never heard of him’ – and Brits cannot believe it
‘I don’t understand why the robbie Williams movie is getting so much hate from Americans lol just don’t watch it?’
‘Need the hating ass americans to keep robbie williams’ name out of their mouths tbh if you dont get it then thats on you the man is a superstar.’
And over on TikTok, another Brit posted a TikTok sticking up for the star, which has racked up a whopping two million views in just days.
The user, who posts under the handle @sophiegotsleeved, wrote: ‘Americans bullying Robbie Williams but what they fail to understand is he signed the biggest recording deal in British music history (£80m) making him one of the highest paid singers in the world.
‘Remember how Taylor Swift broke the record for the most tickets sold in a day in late 2022 for the Eras Tour? Guess who held the record before her? For SEVENTEEN years.
‘He also did three nights at Knebworth to a crowd of 300,000 people EVERY night. Put some respect on his name.’
But, the debate continued as Brits and Americans flooded the comments section: ‘Literally never heard of the guy until the extreme amount of videos about him this week.’
‘Ok great but why is he a monkey.’
‘It is crazy how literally no Americans know who he is? Was literally on Take That and I KNOW they were worldwide so?’
But, British fans were quick to explain and furiously defend the pop star, writing: ‘That’s insane. Idk how you haven’t heard of him or take that’
And over on TikTok, another Brit posted a TikTok sticking up for the star, which has racked up a whopping two million views in just days
‘Now I’m wondering if Americans know the Beatles or the Queen. I’m Italian and Robbie Williams had an incredible success here in the 90/2000.’
‘I’m shocked when Americans don’t know who he is, like whaaat?! You don’t know Take That?! they were huge here.’
‘I’m happy he had a great career, he’s just practically unknown in the US.’
‘It baffles me that as someone who loves music old and new that as an American I’ve NEVER heard of Robbie Williams until now. even my parents don’t know who he is. I’ll give the film a chance.’
While critics have branded the monkey decision a ‘huge risk’ and potentially ‘stupid gambit’, they declared it ended up being genius choice and ‘one of the most inspired bits of casting of the year’.
While they also heaped praise on director Michael Gracey for creating the right balance of fun-filled choreographed musical numbers with deep emotional scenes and said the film does best when delving into Robbie’s vulnerability.
In his four star review for Roger Egbert.com, Clint Worthington said the chimp gimmick was a ‘smart move’ that allowed Robbie to ‘vulnerably share his lows while underplaying the pomp and circumstance of his highs.’
He added: ‘You won’t see another music biopic quite like “Better Man,” regardless of your level of familiarity with its subject. There’s a surfeit of charm here that helps sell the nonsensical gimmick’.
But, the debate continued as Brits and Americans flooded the comments section
While critics have branded the monkey decision a ‘huge risk’ and potentially ‘stupid gambit’, they declared it ended up being genius choice
While The Telegraph’s Robbie Collin agreed, also giving the flick four stars and declaring: ‘The Take That singer’s decision to tell his life story via a CGI chimpanzee may seem stupid – but it’s utterly inspired’.
He said it was ‘pure monkey magic’ and praised Jonno for giving ‘the best performance of this type since Andy Serkis’s Gollum in The Lord of the Rings’, writing: ‘The physical integration is seamless; the emotional fine details rivetingly subtle and present.’
And in another four star review, Empire’s Alex Godfrey said that the risk payed off because it ‘elevates everything we see on screen, making it all both heightened and, somehow, more relatable.’
Alex wrote that the monkey idea makes us even more sympathetic to Robbie’s story, saying: ‘The conceit works wonders: the little animalistic physical touches make him feel like enough of an actual animal that we care for him considerably more than we would if he were a human lookalike.
