Lily Allen has disclosed that her teenage daughters feel "a little bit proud" yet "mostly embarrassed" by her renewed run of success.
The Fear frontwoman remains buoyant about the reception of her explosive breakup record West End Girl, more than a year since its release.
Although delighted by the resurgence of her profile, she told The Times that her girls Ethel, 14, and Marnie, 13, are unimpressed and even embarrassed by how candid and personal her songwriting tends to be.
"A friend asked one of them how it made them feel. They were like, ‘A little bit proud but mostly embarrassed,’" she shared. "I think that’s bang on. If I were a teenage girl and my mother was writhing around on the floor in her underwear talking about butt plugs, I would be a bit embarrassed."
Allen references butt plugs in the West End Girl track P**sy Palace and has recently collaborated with Lovehoney on a line of sex toys.
When asked if her fear about their reactions ever holds her back creatively, the British singer replied, "I can see how some of the topics I talk about could be difficult for them. The payoff is worth it."
Expanding on the payoff, she explained, "Having a house. Being able to pay for school fees. But also being able to talk about my experiences and be rewarded for it."
Allen, who wrote the album while navigating her split from actor husband David Harbour, is now "in a good place" and feels a sense of agency and accomplishment following the success of the album and tour.
"I feel like I’m here: a single mum supporting two teenagers on my own. I don’t need to be taken care of any more. There’s definitely a sense of liberation in that," she added.
The Smile hitmaker shares her two daughters with her first husband, Sam Cooper.
Clara Weiss
I write about music as a cultural signal, following the artists, scenes, releases, and movements that shape how people listen today. My work focuses on discovery, context, and the stories behind the sounds that travel beyond borders.