In a remarkably candid new interview, singer Lily Allen has revealed she deliberately 'stays out' of the close relationship her ex-husband, actor David Harbour, maintains with her two daughters.
A Deliberate Distance
The 40-year-old 'Smile' artist, who split from the Stranger Things star last year, confirmed that Harbour remains in contact with her children, Ethel, 14, and Marnie, 12. Allen shares the girls with her first husband, Sam Cooper. Her comments follow sightings of Harbour enjoying a day out with the children at Universal's Epic Universe theme park in Florida, shortly after the release of her critically-acclaimed new album.
"I stay out of it," Allen told The Observer. "They've both got phones. They all text each other." This hands-off approach underscores her commitment to preserving the girls' bond with Harbour despite their marital breakdown.
Reflections on Marriage and Pain
The interview took a deeply personal turn as Allen reflected on the lessons learned from her two failed marriages. Her latest album, West End Girl, contains scathing lyrics that hint Harbour was unfaithful, alleging he led a "double life." This experience, she admits, has given her a new perspective on the hurt she may have caused during her first marriage to Cooper.
"[I've learned there are no] baddies and goodies in a marriage," she stated. "But, having done things that were not very nice in my first marriage, I have a better idea now of the pain I may have inflicted. I've learned how horrible it is to be on the receiving end of that."
Would She Marry Again?
Despite describing the divorce process as "devastating" and something that has eroded her ability to trust, Allen hasn't ruled out a third walk down the aisle. "I'd like to say I'd never do it again, but I do like it," she confessed. "Everything but the institution of it, you know? I like being chosen. I like jewellery. I like getting dressed up. I like celebrating... But I don't like divorce."
She elaborated on the toll of divorce, saying it "keeps you up at night and costs a huge amount of money and just goes on and on and on. And I hate feeling like I can't trust anyone."
The album's lyrics provide a raw insight into the marriage's demise. In the title track, West End Girl, Allen suggests they had an open arrangement but accuses Harbour of breaking the rules. Other songs, like Pussy Palace, describe finding a "shoebox full of handwritten letters" from other women and a bag of sex toys in a New York apartment, which she cites as evidence of his infidelity. David Harbour has not publicly responded to these allegations.
Allen and Harbour met on the dating app Raya and married in a Las Vegas ceremony in 2020. They confirmed their divorce in February of this year, after months of speculation.
