Robbie Williams Defends Olivia Rodrigo Against Plagiarism Claims

Olivia Rodrigo Slams “Disturbing” Babydoll Dress ControversyNo, Robbie Williams doesn't think that Olivia Rodrigo is a traitor. The "Angels" singer responded to accusations online that Rodrigo's new holiday song "Take Me Home (4 Christmas)" ripped off his 2012 hit "Candy," which he stressed he "couldn't care less" about. "I love Olivia Rodrigo," Williams said in a statement posted to Instagram Nov. 9. "I've loved her since 'Brutal.' What a f--king record. I wish I'd made it. Also, I cannot believe how much she swears on stage. And that's coming from me. I'm a Sweary Mary, but she's making me look like a Victorian schoolmistress." "It sounds to me as though she may have accidentally stumbled across a musical echo of mine in one of her new songs," he continued. "And do you know what? I couldn't care less." The 52-year-old went on to say that he's unsure if the similarities make this "technically a publishing issue, a copyright issue or no issue whatsoever." Either way, he's not interested in finding out. "I don't want to know," he declared. "I'm not going after her. Because I think at some point, some f--king sanity has to prevail."The Take That alum hoped to make a broader point in his resistance to taking issue with whatever perceived similarities exist between "Candy" and "Take Me Home," because "artists deserve to be protected." "There's a difference between protecting your work and treating every vaguely familiar sequence of notes as a winning lottery ticket," Williams explained. "Some of this stuff has become ambulance chasing. And I think it's disgusting."Joe Schildhorn/BFA.com/Shutterstock"We all stand on the shoulders of people who came before us," he added. "Somethings consciously. Sometimes without even knowing it. That's how music works. If we keep punishing people for accidentally arriving somewhere somebody else has already been, eventually we're going to frighten the creativity out of everyone." Williams concluded his strongly worded statement by sharing a message directed Rodrigo herself.Alison Buck/Getty Images for The Recording Academy"Olivia, if you're reading this, I think you're f--king brilliant," he wrote. "But please stop swearing so much. It makes me feel like I have to keep up. And frankly, I'm already swearing far more than necessary." "Lots of love," Williams finished, "and Happy Christmas. Rob x." Keep reading for more about Olivia Rodrigo's career...JB Lacroix/WireImage2015Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic2016Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock2016Lester Cohen/Getty Images for Disney Consumer Products2016David Buchan/Shutterstock2016Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic2017Leon Bennett/Getty Images2017Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock2017Broadimage/Shutterstock2017Rob Latour/Shutterstock2017Mediapunch/Shutterstock2017Rob Latour/Shutterstock2018Broadimage/REX/Shutterstock2018Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images2018Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney2019Frazer Harrison/Getty Images2019TIENNE LAURENT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock2019 Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Spotify2021Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images2021David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images2021