Robbie Williams has addressed the disqualification of his song Forbidden Road from the Oscars 2025 shortlist for Best Original Song, maintaining a refreshingly laid-back attitude. The track, featured in his semi-autobiographical biopic Better Man, was initially shortlisted but later deemed ineligible due to its inclusion of material from Jim Croce’s I Got a Name. According to Academy rules, songs in this category must be entirely original and written specifically for the film.
When asked about the decision on the Golden Globes red carpet, Williams didn’t seem too bothered. “Listen, the rules is the rules, and you have to go by them,” he told Deadline. “It would have been nice, but as an introvert, it’s another party I don’t have to go to. I went through it, I’m on the other side. It’s all good.”
Despite the setback, Better Man—a film where Williams is depicted as a CGI monkey—continues to generate buzz. Directed by Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), the movie chronicles the pop star’s life, from his early days with Take That to his solo stardom. Williams has described the experience of watching his life on screen as deeply emotional, saying, “It’s healing, it’s grief, it’s ego… It just depends on which version of me shows up for the screening.”
While Forbidden Road may be out of the Oscars race, other contenders for Best Original Song include Elton John and Brandi Carlile’s Never Too Late and Selena Gomez’s Mi Camino from Emilia Pérez.
In the meantime, Williams is staying busy. He’s reportedly working on a new album featuring collaborations with Glenn Hughes and Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, marking his first full-length project since 2019’s The Christmas Present. Fans will just have to wait and see what the ever-unpredictable Robbie Williams does next.
One thing’s for sure: whether it’s CGI monkeys or unexpected disqualifications, Williams knows how to keep us talking.
