We are all Robbie Williams, furiously rinsing our hands of the filthy residue of 2016.
The British singer has inadvertently sparked 2017's first meme, after viewers spotted him taking a bottle of hand sanitiser to his palms after absent-mindedly manhandling the unwashed masses during his 'Robbie Rocks Big Ben' New Year's Eve celebrations in London overnight.  Â
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Robbie Williams teased for sanitising hands
The first memes of 2017 are born after Robbie Williams is caught rubbing hand sanitiser on his hands after dancing with the audience at a NYE performance.
Williams – the people's popstar – had been holding hands with audience members during a singalong of Auld Lang Syne as the clock ticked midnight.
He came to his senses as he made his way back to the stage though, openly grimacing as he squeezed anti-bacterial gel all over his palms to clear the grubby stain of English peasants - you know, greasy pasties, sticky cider, Brexit votes - lingering on his hands.
Unfortunately for Robbie, the whole scenario was being broadcast live to 6.5 million viewers on BBC, leading to instant heckling from the general public.
Best part of 2017 so far- shot of Robbie Williams anti-bac'ing his hands after doing Auld Lang Syne with plebby audience 🙌😂
— Ellie Taylor (@EllieJaneTaylor) January 1, 2017
Robbie Williams grabbing the hand sanitiser after holding hands with the plebs during Auld Lang Syne is the start to 2017 we all deserve.
— Tom Phillips (@flashboy) January 1, 2017
Robbie Williams after touching the audience pic.twitter.com/meMKOzJyvk
— Trudi (@Trudski2012) January 1, 2017
My aesthetic is Robbie Williams applying hand sanitiser on live camera after touching normal people
— Mince Pie-ter (@_Clyse) January 1, 2017
Robbie Williams sanitising his hand after touching the public is the most hysterical start to a new year ever. The year of memes commences pic.twitter.com/zXb3c3Dyp5
— Zoe London (@zoelondondj) January 1, 2017
Others, getting more serious, stood up for the popstar, noting his outspoken discussion of his OCD in the past.
So fans of #robbiewilliams are appalled he used hand sanitiser. This is a guy known for anxiety & OCD. Get over it folks.#mentalhealth
— Helen (@helen_a15) January 1, 2017
And others just went straight for the parodies.
🎶I'M LOVIN' HAND GELS INSTEAD...🎶 pic.twitter.com/HkTAg9yG45
— Enough Of That (@AndyGilder) January 1, 2017
Whatever I said
— Hugh Jardon (@hughjardon3rd) January 1, 2017
Whatever I did
I didn't mean it
I just anti-bac for good
Anti-bac
Anti-bac
Anti-bac for good.@robbiewilliams https://t.co/hdxF1Q3gv0
Whatever your stance on the issue, I think we can all agree: 2017 is going to be a long year.