Cancelled Robbie Williams Grand Prix Concert Sparks $8 Million Lawsuit

A Robbie Williams concert planned as the curtain-raiser for the 2020 Australian Grand Prix, but scrapped at the last moment, is now the subject of a multi-million-dollar lawsuit.

The “Angels” singer was booked to perform on the eve of race day in Melbourne, though the concert and the contest, like countless other events, was cancelled as COVID-19 swept the globe.

Pete Murray and Seb Fontaine were supports on the bill, for which Williams was reportedly due to pocket a seven-figure fee.

Set for March 14, 2020, the concert would have been located inside Lakeside Stadium within the Grand Prix race track at Albert Park, as part of the inaugural World Tour event in Melbourne.

Promoter TEG Dainty issued a statement as those plans changed: "Following on from the decision of Formula 1 and the FIA, with the support of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) to cancel all Formula 1 activity for the Australian Grand Prix, World Tour’s show on Saturday 14th March with Robbie Williams is cancelled,” adding full refunds would be offered by Ticketek.

The no-show has gone legal, with the World Tour agency seeking more than $8 million in damages and losses.

In paperwork filed last week in Victoria's Supreme Court, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) is sued for breach of contractual obligations.

The agency, which is part owned by Will Smith, is seeking a total of $7.594 million for costs incurred, plus $1.128 million in lost profits. The suit breaks out expenses across venue hire, catering, production fees such as sound and lighting, site costs, travel and accommodation, publicity, insurance, legal fees and more.

“WTM has suffered loss and damage,” the paperwork reads.

Neither party has commented on the development. TIO has reached out to the Grand Prix and Gadens law firm.

The lawsuit emerges as the Grand Prix cranks the gears for a return to Melbourne this weekend, ending after a two-year pause due to the pandemic.

Robbie Williams fans will also get a fix when the British pop singer stops into Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on April 30 for a one-off concert, produced by Frontier Touring and Chugg Entertainment.

An Exclusive Evening With Robbie Williams will include a 60-minute greatest hits live show, a Q&A with Richard Wilkins, and a guest appearance from a spokesperson from the set of Better Man, the biopic Robbie is filming in these parts.

The cancellation the 2020 Australian Grand Prix, which saw thousands of race fans turned away from the gate, was captured for the hit Netflix series Need for Speed.