Lily Allen Condemns ‘Deliberately Distorted’ Media Coverage After Rescue Dog Controversy and Death Threats

Lily Allen Condemns ‘Deliberately Distorted’ Media Coverage After Rescue Dog Controversy and Death Threats

Lily Allen is speaking out against what she describes as “deliberately distorted” media coverage following backlash over her decision to return a rescue dog. The singer addressed the situation in a statement, calling for an end to the “abhorrent messages” and death threats she has received as a result.

In her statement, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Allen clarified the circumstances surrounding her decision to give up the dog, which she had discussed on her Miss Me? podcast. The controversy arose after reports claimed she returned the dog because it ate her and her children’s passports.

“We tried very hard and for a very long time,” Allen explained on the podcast, adding, “but the passports were the straw that broke the camel’s back.” She emphasized that this part of her explanation was omitted from tabloid articles, which she believes were designed to provoke anger and generate clicks.

Allen expressed her frustration with the misleading reports, noting that they led to a flood of hateful comments and death threats on her social media. “Some of the most disgusting comments have been all over my social media channels, and I’m really not surprised because this is exactly what those articles are designed to do,” she wrote.

On the podcast, Allen shared her plans to adopt a Chihuahua mix and recounted her experience with a rescue dog she adopted during the pandemic. The dog, named Mary, ate all three of their passports, causing a significant logistical and financial burden, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of passports prevented her children from visiting their father, Sam Cooper, who lives in England, for several months.

Allen further explained that Mary, whom they adopted from a shelter in New York, suffered from severe separation anxiety, which made it difficult for the family to care for her. Despite their efforts, which included working with a behavioral specialist and a professional trainer, the family ultimately decided that their home was not the best environment for Mary. The decision was made in consultation with the shelter and a volunteer who had been helping care for Mary.

In her statement, Allen reflected on her history of caring for rescue dogs and expressed her distress over the accusations of mistreatment. She urged people to be more critical of sensationalized media and not to act on “clickbait articles” without verifying the facts. She also drew attention to recent “racially driven xenophobic riots” in the U.K., which she believes were fueled by “distorted propaganda.”

Concluding her statement, Allen called for a less toxic environment and expressed hope that people can do better. “It’s just all so toxic and I know that we can do better,” she said.

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