Lily Allen has responded to reports about her returning a rescue dog, claiming that media coverage of the situation is "deliberately distorted." The singer addressed the issue publicly after facing severe backlash, including death threats, following the reports.
Allen clarified her position in a statement on X, where she described the controversy as a misrepresentation of her comments. In her Miss Me? podcast, she had explained the challenges she faced with the adopted pet. According to Allen, the dog's destruction of important documents, like her and her children's passports, was a major factor in her decision to rehome the animal. “We tried very hard and for a very long time,” Allen said, emphasizing that the incident with the passports was a tipping point.
In her statement, Allen accused the media of manipulating her words to provoke anger. She expressed frustration over the hateful messages she received, which included death threats. The negative reactions stemmed from a skewed portrayal of her podcast discussion about rehoming the dog, which she felt was intentionally taken out of context.
Allen also recounted the difficulties she faced with the rescue dog named Mary, including the dog's separation anxiety and destructive behavior. Despite extensive efforts, including consulting a behavioral specialist and a professional trainer, it was determined that Mary was not thriving in her home environment.
Living in the U.S. with her husband, actor David Harbour, Allen's children were unable to visit their father in England due to the lost passports, adding to the family's stress. She has had rescue dogs throughout her life and expressed disappointment over the recent allegations of mistreatment.
In her final remarks, Allen urged people to avoid reacting to sensational headlines and to verify information before forming opinions. She highlighted the issue of toxic media and misinformation, linking it to broader societal problems such as recent xenophobic riots in the U.K.
“It’s just all so toxic and I know that we can do better,” she concluded.