Lily Allen has praised ex-husband David Harbour's public response to her divorce album "West End Girl" as "generous", after the record implied he cheated during their four-year marriage.
The 41-year-old singer addressed Harbour's diplomatic reaction in a September feature interview with The Cut. "I think that was a generous thing for him to say," she said. She also took a moment to celebrate Harbour's recent career highlights: "He's having a real moment of success as well, right? He's been nominated for an Emmy, and it's great. We're all doing our own thing, and we're all doing what we're supposed to do." She added coyly: "If there's one thing I know about David Harbour, it's that he's an excellent actor."
Allen and Harbour met on the dating app Raya in 2019 and married in a Las Vegas ceremony in September 2020. News of their separation broke in February 2025, with a source telling PEOPLE that their marriage had been "crumbling".
Eight months later, "West End Girl" arrived, offering raw insight into their demise. Though Allen does not mention Harbour by name in her songs, she traces the end of a relationship, referring to her ex as a "sex addict" who led a "double life" and "went astray" during their marriage. Allen implies that said ex cheated on her and claims that he kept a separate apartment — the "Pussy Palace" — for sexual encounters that violated their open marriage. Allen also describes a partner who was envious of her success and who struggled with committing to their relationship.
Allen has stated that the album was inspired by what went on in her relationship but also noted that her lyrics aren't wholly autobiographical, telling Interview: "Some of it is based on truth, and some of it is fantasy. It's not a cruel album. I don't feel like I'm being mean. It was just the feelings I was processing at the time."
Harbour, 51, has largely avoided discussing the album or the breakup directly. Pressed in June, he said: "I can't really say that much more because it's my private life. In spite of the fact that a lot of people don't allow me a private life — I value it." Asked if he wanted to address the claims, he replied: "Stories are complex. And that's why I say I respect her creation of art to channel her experience. It wasn't my experience."
The high-profile split generated widespread online discussion regarding unverified third-party claims. Allen has since taken her theatrical live show on tour, recently defending her minimalist stage interactions against online criticism, while Harbour continues to ride his Emmy moment for his HBO limited series.