Lily Allen is standing her ground. The British singer and podcast host recently stirred up quite a bit of controversy after openly discussing her past experiences with abortion on her Miss Me? podcast.
Her reaction to the backlash has reignited important discussions about shame, personal choice, and what being “pro-choice” really means.
In a July 1 episode, Allen and her co-host Miquita Oliver shared candid stories about their own reproductive journeys. Allen joked lightheartedly,
“I’ve had a few abortions, but honestly, I can’t remember exactly how many… Maybe around five? Like, four or five?”
even singing that part to the tune of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” Oliver chimed in, estimating that she’d had “about five” too.
This light tone didn’t sit well with everyone. Pro-life organizations slammed the comments as “disrespectful to the sanctity of life,” while some listeners who identify as pro-choice expressed discomfort, describing the conversation as “flippant” and “insensitive.”
I don’t care if Lily Allen has had “4 or 5” abortions a year for the last 20 years tbh. Her body, her choice. Simple as that. 🤷🏻♀️
— ⋆౨ৎ˚ kellie⁷ (@tokyomoonchild7) July 7, 2025
Allen’s Fiery Response: “It’s About Control”
A week later, Allen confronted the backlash directly.
“How dare you find humor in these things—you’re supposed to feel ashamed and scared,”
she said, mocking her critics.
“And you know what? That tactic works. I read a lot of that stuff last week, and when I was younger, I thought, ‘Wow, I must be a bad person.’ But actually, I’m a good person.”
She painted the backlash as a broader issue, saying,
“It’s about wanting control over our thoughts and feelings. And I just can’t put up with that.”
This echoes her previous statements, like when she protested against the overturning of Roe v. Wade at Glastonbury in 2022, stating,
“Most people, including myself, chose to have an abortion simply because they didn’t want children. That’s a valid reason.”
Why This Conversation Matters Beyond Celebrity Gossip
Allen’s remarks resonate because they confront the deeply rooted stigma surrounding abortion. As Glamour highlighted,
“If your pro-choice view comes with conditions—like supporting only one abortion—it’s not truly pro-choice.”
Research indicates that 1 in 3 women in the UK will have an abortion in their lifetime, yet the associated shame remains strong.
Supporters argue that Allen’s openness helps normalize conversations about reproductive health.
“Her body, her choice. It’s as simple as that,”
said one fan on Twitter. Critics, on the other hand, accuse her of making light of a serious matter. “This is who Hollywood chooses to elevate as a role model?” questioned another Twitter user.
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