Robbie Williams has confirmed that his father Pete has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a condition that affects the brain and worsens over time, causing stiffness and shaking.
The 46-year-old opened up for the first time about the “fear and panic” he had suffered during the lockdown, stemming around his dad’s diagnosis.
Living in Los Angeles and being miles away from his 70-year-old father, during lockdown had taken it’s toll on Robbie’s mental health.
The Millennium hitmaker, spoke about difficult thoughts that had once caused him to spiral into depression but felt strong enough to tackle them head on now.
Robbie confirms that his father Pete has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (Image: Alpha Photo Press Agency Ltd.)
Robbie who is married to the stunning Ayda Field, 41, has also had to content with some difficult news too.
If it wasn’t enough, that Robbie’s dad Pete was suffering from a chronic illness, his mother in law also faces an uphill battle against Parkinson’s disease and Lupus.
In an intimate interview with the Daily Mirror, Robbie poured his heart out about his family troubles, with heightened anxieties during the coronavirus pandemic.
The pop icon said: “We’ve got a lot of family issues right now. My dad has got Parkinson’s, my mother-in-law who I love dearly has got a very big illness.
Robbie also revealed that his mother in law also suffered from the disease along with Lupus (Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
“We can’t get to them. My dad is thousands of miles away.”
Worrying for his mum too, who would be considered high risk for coronavirus, due to her age, Robbie spoke about his fears for her safety too.
He added: “My mum is just a year short of 80 and she’s in isolation and I can see the things whirling in her mind and her eyes going.”
Robbie who has always been open about his past, including battling problems with alcohol, drugs and depression, spoke about the mental challenges he’d faced with trying to cope with the current strain on his family during isolation.
The singer continued: “But the difference between me now and the person I used to be… I saw it, thought ‘That’s interesting – tomorrow will be different’. And it was.
“Whereas before I used to think that I’d feel that way for a decade.”
Robbie has always shared a close bond with his father Pete, who is also an entertainer, often joining his son on stage.
The father and son singing duo, last appeared on stage together back in January, with planned performances in the pipeline that were delayed due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
