Lily Allen’s new album West End Girl has got everyone talking since it came out on Friday 24th October. From the mysterious “Madeline,” who the 40-year-old references in two songs, to claims of an open marriage, the singer is spilling some major tea.
Lily split from her husband of four years, Stranger Things actor David Harbour, 50, in December of 2024, and has said that the new album is “inspired” by what happened in their marriage, but shouldn’t be taken as “gospel.” However, fans aren’t too sure.
In the first song on the new album, “West End Girl,” Lily sings about being offered a lead role in a play without auditioning. She says she needed to move back to London to start production and that’s when her partner’s “demeanor changed.”
Now, several clips and posts have resurfaced, appearing to show David being quite hostile towards the singer over her role in the West End play 2:22 A Ghost Story.
Allen made her stage debut in 2022, after receiving a call from the casting director. “He sent me the script and I read it, and my husband read it, and we were both just blown away by it. So I spoke to the director the next night, and I was here six weeks later,” she said at the time.
From a cryptic note to a very, awkward interview and more, here are some reactions from David that are raising eyebrows in light of Lily’s new album.
He sent her “bad luck flowers.”
A note that David sent Lily along with some flowers has been unearthed since her new album came out and it’s very telling.
The note reads: “My ambitious wife, these are bad luck flowers, ’cause if you get reviewed well in this play you will get all kinds of awards and I’ll be miserable. Your loving husband.”
Fans have since commented on it, with one writing on x (formerly Twitter): “This is so hostile. He really was HARBOURING some resentment there.”
Another said: “My ‘ambitious’ wife feels so backhanded.”
He joked that he was going to be “working on a pop album.”
Ahead of the 2:22 A Ghost Story premiere in August 2021, David shared a promotional photo on Instagram, along with a caption, in which he appeared to mock his wife’s acting career, as he joked that he was now going to start “working on a pop album.”
Alongside a pic of Lily Allen and her co-stars Julia Chan, Hadley Fraser and Jake Wood, he wrote: “Very proud of my slightly nervous, immensely brave, annoyingly talented wife @lilyallen who has her first preview of her play @222aghoststory tonight. Like, that she’s acting in! If you’re in London check it out at the Noel Coward til October something. Also, very excited to announce I’ve been working on a pop album. Get ready, cause it’s gonna suck!”
The actor has since disabled the Instagram comments on the post.
This super awkward interview at the 2022 Olivier Awards.
A clip from the 2022 Olivier Awards has reemerged of David speaking over Lily during an interview. That year, Lily was nominated for Best Actress and while being interviewed on the red carpet, he interrupted her as she was about to answer the journalist.
“Oh!” he laughed upon realizing that the question was for Lily and not him.
She continued: “It’s the first time that I’ve been here because it’s not my usual industry crowd but yeah I’m just really, really honored and have been humbled to be here. To be nominated is just like beyond. I don’t know what’s happening really, but I couldn’t be happier.”
In that same interview, David—who is a theatre trained actor—was asked if it was also his first time attending the prestigious theatre event, causing Lily to burst out laughing.
“I’ve done about 100,000 plays and never been recognized,” he replied.
He then turned to Lily and said sarcastically: “Congratulations, darling,” before looking away from the journalist and his wife.
Commenting on the video, one user said: “Who is that openly jealous of their partner? In front if cameras? It’s so…. Weird.”
Another said: “Oooo……the ‘congratulations – awkward gap – DARHling’ at the end. Vile.”
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