Robbie Williams is facing furious backlash from viewers around the world after he gave the middle finger to cameras during the World Cup opening ceremony.
The pop star’s rude gesture appears to have been a response to critics who blasted him for performing in Russia despite its persecution of the LGBT community.
It was not obvious what the 44-year-old meant by the gesture but he is known to be a campaigner for LGBT rights.
Robbie Williams appeared to give millions of fans watching the opening ceremony the finger during proceedings on Thursday afternoon
The singer had earlier given fans a peace symbol before his performance in front of a packed crowd at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow
UK pop sensation Robbie Williams headlined the World Cup opening ceremony at the stadium in a red leopard-print suit
He was heavily criticised for accepting the invitation to perform in the country which has been blasted for its stance on gay people.
Viewers slammed the ageing singer on Twitter, saying he’s disappointed his large proportion of gay fans.
They also said he should donate his earnings to LGBT rights groups and charities.
The ageing seemed to respond to his critics by telling them he wasn’t paid for the appearance when he changed the lyrics of Rock DJ to ‘I did this for free’.
The line in the song should be ‘Every night pimpin’ ain’t easy’ but he instead sang ‘Most of them fleece me/I did this for free’ seconds before giving the finger.
The former Take That singer made the offensive gesture during his last song, Rock DJ, prompting viewers in the UK and abroad to complain.
A spokesman for the Fox network, in the US, apologised to its viewers.
The Broadcaster told the Hollywood Reporter: ‘As it was broadcast live, we did not know what would happen during Robbie Williams’s performance and we apologise.’
The incident was not seen by UK viewers, because ITV had already cut away from the ceremony when he made his impromptu gesture.
The Stoke-born singer takes to the stage as the dancers get into the spirit of the occasion during a lively performance in Moscow
Twitter users were left stunned by Williams’ antics with some blasting him for a ‘lack of morals’ and calling him ‘desperate for attention’.
One Twitter user said: ‘What a joke! Watching with my kids and that happened? Wow.’
While another added: ‘Robbie Williams is such a melt showing his middle finger!’
‘Worst opening performance ever at a FIFA World Cup goes to Robbie Williams #WorldCup,’ another commented.
Thousands of revellers packed inside the sold-out stadium to witness the dazzling opening ceremony – seen by an estimated one billion people worldwide.
According to experts, Williams risks facing arrest and a fine for his one-finger gesture, if it is proved it was meant as an insult.
The 44-year-old former Take That star opened with his 1998 single ‘Let Me Entertain You’ at the start of the proceedings
Russia’s administrative code allows prosecutors to take offenders to court and be punished for outraging public decency – punishable with a fine of up to £6,000.
The country banned the use of swear words in the arts in July 2014.
One legal source in Moscow said: ‘It needs to be proved that the gesture was intended to be an insult and an expert has to testify in the court that it was an insult.’