Inside Lily Allen's Fight With Addiction And Her Shocking Confession

Lily, now 39, explained, "I don’t think I’d ever had sex with anybody not drunk before I got together with him." This revelation comes as Allen celebrates five years of sobriety, a milestone she shares with Harbour, who has been sober for over two decades. Allen’s comments come after she recently celebrated five years of sobriety. Harbour, 49, has also been sober for more than 20 years, respectfully.

"It’s a totally different thing. It’s unavoidable, conscious and real. He had a lot of experience with it, so it’s been helpful to do it with someone that’s long-in-the-tooth in that game," she laughed.

Allen's journey to sobriety is deeply intertwined with her family's history of addiction. She recalls witnessing her father, actor and comedian Keith Allen, using cocaine, which left a lasting impression on her. "I think that addiction runs deep in my family, so self-medicating was going to be on the cards," she confessed. Allen's candidness highlights the generational impact of substance abuse and her determination to break the cycle for her own children.

The singer's sobriety has not only altered her personal life but has also brought stability to her family. Allen was previously married to Sam Cooper, with whom she shares two daughters. The couple finalized their divorce in 2018 after a two-year process. "I drank myself into oblivion. I went over to his house and started screaming at him, woke the kids up, you know, really distressed the children," she said. "They remember that. And they know that I was under the influence then, and that it’s important that Mummy avoids getting into those situations."

Meanwhile, as Allen has been in the spotlight for most of her life, she went on to say that her sobriety has now given her family a peace of mind. "My kids feel safe," she added. "That’s the main thing for me. I felt very unsafe in my childhood, and my kids feel safe." And it has by no means been a safe road there...

Her career has always been intertwined with her personal life, and her struggles with addiction have played a significant role in shaping both. As her fame grew, so did the pressures of living under constant media scrutiny. The young singer found herself caught in a whirlwind of partying, substance abuse, and emotional distress. She was candid about her struggles with alcohol and drug use in interviews and later in her autobiography, ‘My Thoughts Exactly’, where she detailed how addiction affected both her career and her personal relationships.

Allen’s second album, ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’, marked a shift in her musical style. It was a more polished, electro-pop effort compared to her debut, but it was also a reflection of the turmoil she was facing. Singles like “The Fear” and “Not Fair” highlighted her evolving sound, but the album’s success came at a personal cost. Allen’s battles with addiction intensified during this period. As she openly struggled with substance abuse, it affected her work ethic and her relationships. Behind the scenes, Allen’s battles were escalating, and the pressure to maintain her public persona as a fun-loving, carefree pop star became increasingly difficult to sustain.

By the time her third album, ‘Sheezus’, was released, Allen had faced a series of personal crises that would shape much of her creative output. The album, named after Kanye West's ‘Yeezus’, showcased her characteristic self-assurance, but it also reflected a more reflective side, grappling with the realities of fame and the toll it had taken on her mental health. Songs like “Hard Out Here” and “Air Balloon” still carried the same clever, biting commentary that had made Allen a household name, but the album’s relatively underwhelming commercial reception was a reflection of the personal and professional burnout she was experiencing. Addiction continued to be a pervasive issue, and by the time of ‘Sheezus's’ release, Allen had largely retreated from the public eye, focusing on her family and taking a step back from her music career.

Allen’s struggles with addiction were not just a private battle; they were closely followed by the media, further exacerbating her emotional and mental health challenges. In interviews, Allen spoke candidly about her substance abuse issues, which included alcohol, cocaine, and prescription drugs. She described how the pressure to constantly be “on” in the public eye contributed to her spiraling addiction. The toxic relationship between fame and addiction is something many artists face, but Allen’s self-awareness and honesty in addressing these struggles set her apart. She didn’t shy away from talking about the destructive behaviors that had led to her near-collapse, offering a raw and honest portrayal of the darker side of fame.

Throughout her years of struggle, Allen has also found solace in her family. In particular, her relationship with her two children has been a grounding force. She’s often cited motherhood as a key factor in her decision to focus on her health and recovery. Allen made the decision to step away from the limelight for a period, focusing on raising her family and working on herself. This decision proved to be pivotal in her recovery process. By stepping back from the constant pressures of fame and the associated temptations, Allen was able to get sober and regain control of her life.

While Lily Allen’s career trajectory has had its ups and downs, her journey through addiction and recovery has added depth to her artistic persona. After a period of relative silence, she returned to the music scene with the album ‘No Shame’, a deeply personal and introspective effort that reflected her growth as an artist and an individual. Songs like “Higher” and “Lost My Mind” revealed an artist who had not only endured the trials of addiction but had come out the other side with a renewed sense of purpose. The album marked a significant shift in her sound, leaning toward a more subdued and mature approach, with a greater emphasis on emotional depth.