British singer and actress Lily Allen has opened up about her personal life, detailing the dynamics of co-parenting after her split from 'Stranger Things' star David Harbour and reflecting on the painful lessons from her two marriages. The 40-year-old artist, while promoting her new album, shared candid insights about trust, independence, and the complexities of modern family relationships.
Co-Parenting with an Ex: 'They All Text Each Other'
Lily Allen and David Harbour, the actor famed for playing Chief Jim Hopper in the global Netflix hit Stranger Things, ended their relationship approximately a year ago. Despite the split, Harbour has maintained a connection with Allen's two daughters from her first marriage to Sam Cooper: Ethel, 14, and Marnie, 12.
Allen has chosen a hands-off approach to this ongoing bond. In an interview with The Observer, she stated, "I stay out of it. They've both got phones. They all text each other." This arrangement highlights a modern co-parenting scenario where children maintain independent relationships with former partners.
Reflections on Marriage, Pain, and Personal Growth
The singer's new album, 'West End Girl,' reportedly contains hints that Harbour was unfaithful during their union. This experience, she says, gave her a new perspective on the hurt she may have caused her first husband, businessman Sam Cooper.
"(I've learned there are no) baddies and goodies in a marriage," Allen explained. She added, "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." This reflection marks a significant moment of personal accountability and growth for the star.
Despite describing both her marriages as "short-lived unions," Lily Allen hasn't closed the door on matrimony forever. She expressed a conflicted view: "I'd like to say I'd never do it again, but I do like it. Everything but the institution of it, you know? I like being chosen. I like jewellery. I like getting dressed up. I like celebrating."
However, she was quick to balance this with her fierce independence, stating, "I don't like talking about money. I like my independence. But I don't like divorce."
The Devastating Cost of Divorce and Lost Trust
Allen did not shy away from describing the emotional and financial toll of her divorces. She found the process "devastating," noting it affected her sleep and was prohibitively expensive. "It keeps you up at night and costs a huge amount of money and just goes on and on and on," she shared.
Perhaps the most lasting impact has been on her ability to trust. "And I hate feeling like I can't trust anyone," Allen confessed. She elaborated that dealing with an ex-partner and lawyers "creates an environment of feeling like you can't trust anybody or anything."
Now in her forties, Allen believes she is a transformed person from the young woman who first shot to fame. "I'm a different person than I was 20 years ago because I've lived 20 years of my life and I've had two children and two marriages and I've learned a lot," she mused, embracing the contradictions that come with human experience and growth.
