Lily Allen is defending herself online amid controversy sparked by her recent comments about having returned an adopted dog after it ate her family's passports.
"I have never been accused of mistreating an animal, and i've found this whole week very distressing," Allen, the English singer-songwriter, wrote in her Instagram stories Sunday.
Allen's stressful week stemmed from an episode of her podcast, "Miss Me?" on Thursday, when she revealed that she had adopted a dog during the Covid-19 pandemic "but then it ate my passport and so I took her back to the home."
She had mentioned on Thursday's podcast that the pup, Mary, "was a very badly behaved dog, and I really tried very hard with her, but it just didn’t work out, and the passports was the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak." In her Instagram stories Sunday, she pointed to that as a detail many tabloids hadn't quoted in their articles.
"i’ve received some really abhorrent messages including death threats, 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," Allen wrote. "i’m ok but it has been a really tough few days that has impacted me and my family."
The story originally came up when she told guest podcast co-host Steve Jones, a Welsh TV presenter, that her family might adopt a Chihuahua mix puppy. She then told him about Mary after Jones asked whether she felt ready for the commitment of getting a dog with her husband, “Stranger Things” star David Harbour.
"I just couldn’t look at her. I was like, 'You’ve ruined my life,'" she added with a laugh.
In her Instagram stories Sunday, Allen recounted having adopted Mary from a shelter in New York. Even though she "loved her very much," she wrote, her family struggled to accommodate the "pretty severe separation anxiety" Mary developed.
Allen wrote that the dog couldn't be left alone for more than 10 minutes at a time and that her family worked with a behavioral specialist from the shelter who would dog-sit Mary when they were away.
She added that "after many months and much deliberation everyone was in agreement that our home wasn't the best fit for Mary, the person that she was rehomed with was known to us and that rehoming happened within 24 hours of her being returned."
"We couldn't meet Mary's needs and her happiness and welfare were central to us making that decision, as difficult as it was," Allen continued.
A spokesperson for Allen didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Allen said that she has consistently had rescue dogs since she was a young child and that she considers herself "pretty good at ascertaining a dogs needs."
She also tagged People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals directly, sarcastically thanking the animal rights nonprofit group for "adding fuel to the fire."
The organization shared an Instagram post last week with a photo of Allen and the headline "LILY ALLEN RETURNED HER DOG TO THE SHELTER FOR EATING HER PASSPORT."
"While you can get new passports, Mary may spend months in the shelter waiting for a new family — if she's lucky enough to find one at all," the organization said in its post.
It added in the caption that it had sent Allen a mechanical toy puppy "that requires none of the care, patience, or commitment a real dog needs."
PETA responded to Allen on Sunday, writing in a post on X that Allen "ruined this poor dog's life."
The incident isn't the first time Allen has stirred controversy online with her comments.
She also drew mixed reactions this year when she said in an episode of the “Radio Times” podcast that having children “ruined” her career. It was a statement that drew angry comments from many online, as well as support from others who praised her honesty.
The Backlash
"She ate all three of our passports, and they had our visas in," she explained. "I cannot tell you how much money it cost me to get everything replaced, because it was in COVID, and so it was just an absolute logistical nightmare. Because the father of my children lives in England, I couldn't get them back to see their dad for like four months, five months, because this (expletive) dog had eaten the passports."
Allen, who is married to David Harbour and shares two kids with ex-husband Sam Cooper, continued that she could not "look" at her dog Mary again after this incident. "I was like, 'You've ruined my life,'" she said.
Allen clarified that this wasn't the only reason she returned the dog, though, saying that the pet was "very badly behaved" and she "really tried very hard with her, but it just didn't work out, and the passports was the straw that broke the camel's back." Allen also revealed that she may be getting a new puppy soon.
Allen's Response
In a lengthy statement shared on X and Instagram, Allen responded to the backlash by arguing her quotes had been "deliberately distorted" by the media, and she said she has received "abhorrent messages including death threats."
She went on to stress that she loved Mary "very much" but that the pet developed "pretty severe separation anxiety and would act out in all manner of ways."
"She couldn't be left alone for more than 10 mins, she had 3 long walks a day 2 by us and 1 with a local dog walker and several other dogs, we worked with the shelter that we rescued her from and they referred us to a behavioral specialist and a professional trainer, it was a volunteer from the shelter who would come and dog sit her when we were away, and after many months and much deliberation everyone was in agreement that our home wasn't the best fit for Mary," Allen wrote.
The Grammy nominee also said Mary was rehomed with a person known to her within 24 hours of being returned.
"I've had rescue dogs pretty consistently throughout my life since I was 4 years old, I'm pretty good at ascertaining a dogs needs, I have never been accused of mistreating an animal, and I've found this whole week very distressing," Allen said.
PETA's Response
But PETA did not appear satisfied by this response, replying to Allen on X that she "laughed" on the podcast "when speaking about abandoning Mary and ruined this poor dog's life," adding, "Shame on you. You don't deserve even the toy dog we sent you." Allen shot back that "people laugh when they talk about painful things all the time" and slammed PETA for "perpetuating lies" with its "dangerous" post.
Allen's Past Controversies
Allen introduced fans to Mary in a 2021 Instagram post, telling followers at the time that they would "be seeing a lot more of her."
The singer previously made headlines earlier this year after sharing in a "Radio Times" podcast episode that her children "ruined my career."
"I love them and they complete me, but in terms of pop stardom, totally ruined it," she said. "It really annoys me when people say you can have it all because, quite frankly, you can't. ... I chose stepping back and concentrating on them, and I'm glad that I have done that, because I think they're pretty well-rounded people."
A Second Look
The singer's actions have sparked a debate about responsibility and the ethics of pet ownership. While some argue that Allen's decision was impulsive and shows a lack of commitment, others defend her right to rehome a pet that was not a good fit for her family. The incident serves as a reminder that pet ownership is a significant responsibility and that sometimes, the best decision for the animal is to find a new home where their needs can be better met.
The Bigger Picture
The incident with Mary sheds light on the challenges of pet adoption and the importance of responsible pet ownership. While Allen's story has brought this issue into the public eye, the broader conversation needs to focus on the resources available to pet owners, the need for careful consideration before adopting a pet, and the responsibility to ensure that pets are placed in environments where their needs can be met.
A Final Note
This situation underscores the power of social media and the potential for negative consequences of public scrutiny. It's important to remember that people make mistakes, and sometimes the best course of action is to acknowledge those mistakes and learn from them. It's also vital to be cautious about spreading misinformation and to consider the impact of our words and actions before engaging in online discussions.
