Robbie Williams Surprises Fans by Officiating Wedding at 'Better Man' Screening in NYC.
On January 12, Robbie Williams, 50, stunned fans during a screening of his latest film Better Man when he unexpectedly became a wedding officiant. The singer, famous for his playful antics, was asked by an audience member to marry him and his fiancée, taking on the role without hesitation.
Better Man movie
Robbie Williams surprised fans at a Better Man screening on January 12 by unexpectedly stepping in as a wedding officiant. Known for his playful nature, Williams was approached by a man in the audience who asked him to marry him and his fiancée. Dressed in a stylish leopard print coat, he officiated the wedding, delivering a heartfelt yet humorous ceremony that left the crowd in awe.
Blogger Ezra Cubero shared the surprise moment on X, writing, "At today’s Better Man Q&A in NYC, Robbie Williams was vulnerable, receptive to the audience’s energy, took time to have a heart to heart with his daughter, and then a man in the audience asked him, as an ordained minister, to officiate a marriage with his fiancé. Incredible."
Williams stood before the couple, dressed in a stylish leopard print coat, and in true Williams fashion, humorously declared, “By the power vested in me by absolutely nobody – it’s not legally binding, but it’s legally binding in your heart and your heart and my heart,” before getting to the “I dos.” The crowd erupted in cheers as he officially declared the couple husband and wife, giving them both a warm embrace.
The British pop star has held the title of ordained minister since 2002, after obtaining an online license to officiate the wedding of two of his close friends, guitarist Billy Morrison and Jennifer Holliday. Morrison reflected on Williams' previous ceremony, stating, “The fact that my mate Robbie performed the ceremony means everything to me. He managed to make it extremely powerful. My bride walked down the aisle to the tune of Aerosmith’s ‘Sweet Emotion.’ Robbie ended the service with the traditional, ‘You may now kiss the bride.’”
Robbie Williams with his wife Ayda (@aydafieldwilliams Instagram)
While Morrison’s marriage has since ended, Williams continues to remain active in the wedding officiant world. His unexpected role as a wedding officiant during the Better Man screening is just one example of his down-to-earth and engaging personality.
The singer has also been promoting Better Man, a film where he portrays the Take That star as a CGI chimpanzee. In addition to narrating the movie, Williams created the original song “Forbidden Road,” which was recently disqualified from consideration for the Academy Awards due to its resemblance to Jim Groce's song "I Got a Name."
On the red carpet at the Golden Globes, Williams addressed the disqualification with his usual lightheartedness, saying, “Listen, the rules are the rules, and you have to go by them. And it would’ve been nice, but as an introvert it’s another party that I don’t have to go to. I went through it, I’m on the other side and it’s all good. I’m at the Globes and they’re showing me loads of love,” before thanking the interviewer for “being annoyed on [his] behalf.”
Though the film received positive reviews, Better Man faced a tough opening weekend at the U.S. box office, debuting with only $1 million. It fared slightly better in the UK, where it grossed £1.7 million against a £100 million budget. Fans of Williams can still catch Better Man in cinemas now.
During the making of Better Man, Robbie Williams took on a highly unique role, portraying himself as a CGI chimpanzee. This surreal twist on his life story saw Williams not only narrating the film but also voicing the animated character, which added an extra layer of creativity to the biopic. The film blended live-action and animation to explore Williams' complex journey through fame, identity, and personal struggles.
In addition to his voice role, Williams contributed an original song titled Forbidden Road for the film. The track garnered attention and was nominated for a Golden Globe, though it was later disqualified for an Oscar nomination due to its resemblance to another song. Despite this, Williams embraced the experience, stating that as an introvert, avoiding the Oscars’ additional attention was not a negative outcome.
The film's director, Michael Gracey, known for his work on The Greatest Showman, collaborated closely with Williams to create a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film. The result was a unique cinematic experience that combined both fantasy and reality, reflecting Williams' larger-than-life persona. The process of filming Better Man was deeply emotional for Williams, as it allowed him to explore his past and connect with his audience in an unexpected way.
