Overview
- Allen performed “Sleepwalking” and “Madeline” from West End Girl in her second Saturday Night Live appearance since 2007.
- Dakota Johnson portrayed the titular figure in “Madeline,” delivering the spoken-word passage from behind a screen before revealing herself and kissing Allen on the cheek.
- Allen muted explicit lyrics during both songs to meet broadcast standards, avoiding profanities referenced on the studio recordings.
- Real-time reactions on X skewed critical of her vocals and stage presence, while others argued technical mixing issues or nerves likely affected the sound.
- The performance renewed attention on West End Girl’s themes tied to her separation from David Harbour and ongoing speculation around ‘Madeline,’ which Allen has described as a composite character, as tour plans continue.