Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Lily Allen

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Lily Allen.

Lily Allen is an English singer, songwriter, and actress known for her distinctive voice and candid lyrics. She gained prominence in the mid-2000s with hits like "Smile" and "LDN," blending ska, pop, and electronic music. Beyond music, Allen has ventured into acting, appearing in stage productions and films. She has received critical acclaim and commercial success, earning awards and nominations, including a Brit Award and Grammy nomination.

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Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

June 2007: Allen arrested for allegedly assaulting photographer

On June 28, 2007, Lily Allen was arrested in London for allegedly assaulting photographer Kevin Rush as she left a nightclub in London's West End. This followed her expressing discomfort with paparazzi attention on her Myspace blog.

May 2009: Fake interview published in So Foot

In May 2009, French football magazine So Foot published a fake interview in which Lily Allen was falsely quoted making derogatory remarks about David and Victoria Beckham and Ashley and Cheryl Cole. The publications later apologized and paid damages to Allen.

2014: Allen pays for sex with female escorts

In 2014, Lily Allen paid for sex with female escorts while married to Cooper and promoting her album Sheezus. This information was later revealed by Allen herself in her book and on social media.

November 2016: Apology for "Hard out Here" video

In November 2016, Lily Allen apologized for the 2013 "Hard out Here" video in an interview with Annie Mac, admitting she was guilty of assuming a one-size-fits-all approach to feminism.

June 2017: Allen comments on Grenfell Tower fire

On June 15, 2017, Lily Allen appeared on Channel 4 News and disputed the official death toll of the Grenfell Tower fire, claiming the figure was closer to 150, a figure higher than the official count of 72.

September 2018: Allen discusses paying for sex and addresses press coverage

In September 2018, Lily Allen posted on Instagram about paying for sex with female escorts in 2014 during her marriage and tour for Sheezus. She preempted a Daily Mail article and linked these events to postnatal depression and her marriage breakdown, criticizing the press portrayal. She discussed the events on The Jonathan Ross Show, saying that the sex was not "cheating" as the escorts were women.

2018: Memoir reveals abortion and faked miscarriage

In her 2018 memoir My Thoughts Exactly, Lily Allen wrote that she had an abortion in 2008, but "fake[d]" the miscarriage due to fears over how tabloids would report the story.

2022: Performance at Glastonbury Festival

During the Glastonbury Festival in 2022, Lily Allen appeared during Olivia Rodrigo's set to perform "Fuck You" as a protest against the 2022 Supreme Court ruling on abortion rights.

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