Entertainment · Music · 51 mins ago
Robbie Williams Says He Is Not Pursuing Olivia Rodrigo Over Song Similarities
Olivia Rodrigo released her first Christmas song last week, and listeners noticed similarities to earlier songs.
Some compared it to The Waitresses’ 1981 hit “Christmas Wrapping,” while others heard echoes of Robbie Williams’ 2012 song “Candy.”
The Waitresses’ songwriter Christopher Butler called Rodrigo’s song an homage and said it was not plagiarism; he also said she contacted him before its release.
Williams initially posted “Happy Christmas” while tagging Rodrigo, a message some people read as a dig.
He later said he was not going after her and argued that similarities between songs do not automatically mean wrongdoing.
Williams said artists should be protected from genuine theft, but warned that treating every familiar melody as a legal claim could discourage creativity.
Robbie Williams says he is not pursuing Olivia Rodrigo over perceived similarities between one of her new songs and his 2012 track “Candy.”
Williams said he did not know whether there was a publishing or copyright issue and did not want to find out.
Rodrigo’s first Christmas single, “Take Me Home (4 Christmas),” was also compared online to The Waitresses’ 1981 song “Christmas Wrapping.”
The Waitresses’ songwriter Christopher Butler said Rodrigo contacted him before the song’s release and described it as having a similar vibe but no plagiarism.
Williams argued that artists can arrive at similar musical ideas and warned against treating every resemblance as a legal claim.
- Who
- Robbie Williams, Olivia Rodrigo and Christopher Butler, songwriter and guitarist for The Waitresses.
- What
- Williams said he is not pursuing Rodrigo over similarities between her new song and his track “Candy.” The song was also compared to “Christmas Wrapping.
- When
- Williams addressed the comparisons on Instagram on November 9, 2026. Rodrigo released her song the previous week.
- Where
- Williams posted on Instagram. Butler shared comments on Facebook and YouTube.
- Why
- Williams said artists can arrive at similar musical ideas and that he does not want to pursue Rodrigo over the perceived resemblance.
Online plagiarism accusers
Christopher Butler and Robbie Williams
Interpretation of similarities
Online plagiarism accusers
Online allegations raised concerns that Rodrigo’s song copied “Christmas Wrapping” or resembled Williams’ “Candy.
Christopher Butler and Robbie Williams
Butler said Rodrigo’s song had the vibe of “Christmas Wrapping” but was not plagiarism; Williams said he was not pursuing Rodrigo over the “Candy” comparison.
Response to perceived copying
Online plagiarism accusers
Some online commenters drew comparisons and plagiarism allegations.
Christopher Butler and Robbie Williams
Williams said genuine theft should be addressed but warned against treating every familiar sequence of notes as a claim.
Christopher Butler said he received an email from someone claiming to be Olivia Rodrigo, who invited him to hear her Christmas song.
Rodrigo released “Take Me Home (4 Christmas),” her first festive single.
Williams posted Happy Christmas @oliviarodrigo x on X, prompting some people to interpret it as shade.
Williams addressed the comparisons on Instagram and said he was not going after Rodrigo.
- Robbie Williams track
- Candy,” released in 2012
- Olivia Rodrigo single
- Take Me Home (4 Christmas),” her first Christmas song
- The Waitresses song
- Christmas Wrapping,” released in 1981
- Christopher Butler’s role
- The Waitresses’ songwriter and guitarist
- Williams’ position
- He said he is not pursuing Rodrigo over the song similarities
2 sources
What people are saying
I'm not going after her.
I don’t know whether there’s technically a publishing issue, a copyright issue, or no issue whatsoever. And I don’t want to know.
The vibe is there, but no plagiarism—and this is from the guy who wrote ‘CW’
Her song was/is great.