Robbie Williams branded 'disgrace' by retail chiefs for joking about shoplifting chaos
Shoplifting is on the rise in the UK and costing retailers more than £1 billion a year, but singer Robbie Williams is facing backlash from retail bosses for making light of the epidemic.
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Robbie Williams has been labelled a “disgrace” by retail bosses after posting a controversial shoplifting joke on X/Twitter.
Shoplifting is reportedly at an all-time high, with thousands of retail workers threatened with thefts and even assaults every day.
On Monday, Williams, 49, tweeted to 2.4 million followers: “Thinking of getting into shoplifting. Anyone got any tips?”
Several key figures in the retail sector have since called out his post, which they say is making light of a serious issue.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the Centre for Retail Research, said: “The Robbie Williams comment is a disgrace.
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“If shoplifting was mostly all about his music royalties, he would immediately be taking the moral high ground.”
James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, said: “Shop theft is a crime with real victims, often small businesses trying to make ends meet, and there's been a massive increase in incidents recently.
“Dealing with theft definitely isn't funny for the thousands of retailers that are being targeted on a daily basis.”
CEO of Gail's Bakery, Luke Johnson, called Williams’ post a “very poor taste joke” in a statement via the Daily Mail.
“Shop staff are facing a huge increase in crime and violence. A vastly rich ex-pop star mocking a serious social and economic problem shows a celebrity truly lost in showbiz.”
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Muntazir Dipoti, president of the Federation of Independent Retailers, added: “In the past six months we've had 30 or 40 shops close and they're saying they can't keep up with theft and with rising costs because of the cost-of-living crisis.”
Mackays of Cambridge owner Neil Mackay said the Take That star’s comments were “appalling”.
“It's not a joke for business owners,” he said. “Many of whom feel very threatened.
“As much as I admire Robbie Williams' singing, I think he needs to be singing a different tune.”
Thinking of getting into shoplifting. Anyone got any tips?
— Robbie Williams (@robbiewilliams) September 25, 2023
Paddy Lillis, USDAW General Secretary, said: “Shoplifting is not a victimless crime.
“Theft from shops has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shopworkers.
“Faced with such appalling high levels of attacks on shop workers, along with a growing epidemic of retail crime, much more needs to be done.”
The Daily Express has approached Robbie Williams’ reps for comment.