Lily Allen On Her Daughters’ Relationship With Ex David Harbour

The “Smile” singer and the “Stranger Things” star called it quits after four years of marriage, a breakup marked by infidelity accusations. While the former couple shares no children, Allen is a mother to Ethel and Marnie from her previous relationship with Sam Cooper.

Now, months after the separation, Allen has revealed that her girls continue to maintain a relationship with Harbour.

Allen shared brief details about her children’s ongoing bond with Harbour, revealing that while she doesn’t involve herself, her daughters continue to stay in touch with him.

“I stay out of it,” Allen told The Observer. “But they’ve both got phones. They all text each other.” The 40-year-old singer also reflected on the challenges of parenting, admitting that raising children has been far more difficult than she anticipated. 

Allen previously shared that her relationship with her daughters was part of the reason she sought professional help in a mental health facility after her split from Harbour. 

Speaking on Miquita Oliver’s “Miss Me?” podcast in February, she explained, “I’m in a situation now where I really have to be my strongest self for them.” 

She went on to admit, “I felt like it was getting harder and harder for me to be able to show up for them in the way that they needed me to,” according to E! Online.

Despite the struggles, Allen shared her progress, saying, “I’m not saying that I’m getting it 100 percent right or ever will, but I’m definitely in a stronger place.”

Allen’s admission that her kids still talk to Harbour comes months after videos of him hanging out with the girls amid their separation surfaced.

As The Blast reported, the “Hellboy” star joined Allen’s 13-year-old and 12-year-old girls for a fun trip to Universal Epic Universe in Orlando.

Allen was not present during the outing, but eyewitnesses described the trio as “all smiles, having a great time.” Harbour embraced the playful mood in a bright red Super Mario shirt, casual pants, and a bucket hat, while his stepdaughters opted for shorts, tank tops, and colorful headbands.

However, Allen’s absence in the clip soon drew criticisms from fans who opined that she was more focused on promoting her album “West End Girl” than spending time with her kids. 

Around ten months before releasing the project, Allen reportedly checked herself into a £8,000 ($10,000)-per-week treatment center, an experience she has since spoken about candidly.

Per The Blast, Allen looked back on the ordeal three months ago, crediting fans for embracing her project and admitting she felt validated when people acknowledged how “messy” her situation was.

She even joked, “Now I know why I had to check myself into a treatment center!” According to sources, Allen flew directly to rehab after settling Ethel and Marnie back into their school routine. She arrived a day earlier than planned, feeling unstable and desperate for support.

Her emotional state was said to have worsened after returning from a holiday to the couple’s New York home in January, amid fears that David Harbour might have been elsewhere in the city with another woman.

Meanwhile, Natalie Tippett, the woman many speculated was involved in the collapse of Harbour and Allen’s marriage, has recently spoken out on the allegations. 

As The Blast reported, Tippett claimed that her statement about being “fearful of a strange man” at her door was misinterpreted, and claimed to have ring camera footage supporting her account.

Though she didn’t name Allen directly, Tippett implied the singer and her team had falsely outed her and denied claims of a three-year affair. She also argued that text messages referenced in Allen’s new album were misleading and used without her consent, leaving her feeling violated and targeted.

While Allen has not directly addressed Tippett’s recent claims, she has spoken openly about recovery and re-entering the dating scene.

According to The Blast, the singer revealed her go-to remedy for heartbreak is stepping out and surrounding herself with other people.

She admitted that she tends to become fully absorbed in her relationships, which leaves her feeling destabilized when they end. 

However, socializing, she explained, helps restore her balance and reminds her she can lean on friends and family. When it comes to dating again, Allen said she’s interested but not looking to pursue another celebrity partner.