UK:Pop star Robbie Williams has been admitted into rehab for addiction to prescription drugs.
The former Take That star should have been celebrating his 33rd birthday yesterday. Instead, Williams, who moved to Los Angeles to crack the US market and remove himself from the London party scene, is in a clinic.
His spokeswoman Bryony Watts said he entered the treatment centre in the US yesterday.
"Robbie Williams has today been admitted into a treatment centre in America for his dependency on prescription drugs," she said. "There will be no further comment on this matter."
Williams has constantly battled his demons, entering rehab for addiction to drink and drugs after splitting from boyband Take That in 1995.
His career has been hugely successful. He has won several Brit awards, claimed the title of best-selling act of the 21st century so far, and racked up an estimated £100 million (€149 million) fortune. But that has done nothing to rid him of his depression, insecurity and self-loathing.
Recently model Lisa D'Amato spoke of their relationship and said Williams was plagued with worries about his image.
"It was clear he was struggling with his mind. He doesn't drink, but he needs antidepressants to get him through the day."
Williams was admitted to rehab in 1995 after he left Take That, following constant rows with the rest of the band. His cheeky-chappy image disappeared as he put on weight and binged on drugs and alcohol.
But after treatment at the Clouds rehab clinic in Wiltshire, he became one of the UK's most successful solo artists with anthems including Angels, Millennium and Rock DJ.
Williams spoke frankly about his experience with depression in a BBC documentary on bipolar disorder with Stephen Fry last year. "My first drug of choice was probably fantasy," he said.
"Fantasising about being an actor or being a singer, going to the moon, whatever. And I don't know if that was to escape a depression.
"I was sad that my career went like that [ pointing upwards] and my self-esteem went like that [ pointing downwards].
"With me, how my depression manifested itself was that I'd stop going out. I lost the cog to socialise. Having said that, I'd get up in front of 40,000 people and say 'look at me, I'm ace'.
"And then as soon as I got off stage, I'd get in the tour coach and go back to my bedroom and pull the duvet over my eyes.
"Cocaine gave me a twitch and drink just made me ill. So all the props I had just had to be removed."
Thirteen months of clean living later, he felt no better and, fearing a return to his old ways, began taking antidepressants.