Lily Allen counters ‘rich’ criticisms: “I’m a million pounds in debt”

"If I’d been falling out of nightclubs, they wouldn’t bother with the rich thing"

Lily Allen has spoken out against tabloid criticisms that her involvement in social issues is made disingenuous by her ‘rich’ and ‘privileged’ lifestyle.

Speaking to NME in an exclusive interview timed with the release of her great new album ‘No Shame’, Allen spoke on her divorce, Twitter and her relationship with the tabloids.

Speaking about the criticism she received following her outspoken support of the victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Allen said of her ‘privileged’ labels: “Well, I’m a million pounds in debt, so put that in! But you know, there’s a reason that’s what they picked on [with Grenfell].”

She continued: “Because I haven’t been falling out of nightclubs for the last two years, they’ll say, ‘Well, she’s rich.’ If I’d been falling out of nightclubs, they wouldn’t bother with the rich thing – they’d just be like, ‘She’s a fucktard.’ So I think it’s whatever they can get with.”

Allen also spoke on the time she once nearly started a band with Alex Turner.


The singer started her pop career around the same time as Arctic Monkeys, releasing her debut album ‘Alright, Still‘ seven months after ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not‘.


“We were meant to do a band together once, called Rupert The Band, me and Alex Turner,” she told NME. “I haven’t seen him for a long time. He lives in LA now. Avoiding tax. Yeah.”