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Lily Allen Releases West End Girl, An Autofictional Account of a Marriage Breakdown

Allen describes the songs as autofiction, not a verbatim account.

Overview

  • The 14-track album arrived on Oct. 24 as her first release in seven years and centers on the collapse of a four-year marriage.
  • Lyrics strongly imply breaches of an agreed open arrangement, repeatedly invoking a figure named “Madeline.”
  • Songs detail discoveries such as sex toys, hundreds of condoms and a Bergdorf Goodman receipt, and portray a partner’s alleged “double life.”
  • Allen has emphasized that the record mixes fact and fiction and should not be treated as “all gospel,” even as media scrutinize its specific claims.
  • David Harbour and his representatives have not commented, while early reviews from major outlets report broadly positive reception.