Lily Allen has taken to social media to defend herself against criticism of her current West End Girl tour, insisting she is 'extremely proud' of the show. The singer faced backlash from some fans who attended her performance at London's O2 on Saturday, with one attendee complaining on X about the lack of a support act, a late start, and the artist not speaking to the audience.
Fan Complaints and Allen's Response
The fan wrote: 'No support act, arrived on stage at 9:10pm, all wrapped up by 10 p.m. Not one word to the audience, £86 to sit in the gods.' Allen responded, explaining that there is indeed a support act—the Dallas Minor Trio, a cello ensemble that opens with instrumental versions of her older hits. She attributed her late start to a wardrobe malfunction: 'I was a few mins late as my tights were laddered and I had to change them.' She added that the show runs just over an hour because it features the album in its entirety.
Artistic Choice Not to Talk
Allen further justified her silence on stage: 'It's my artistic choice not to talk to the audience, the fourth wall helps with the storytelling. Most people find it to be effective. I don't want anyone to feel ripped off. Everyone on this tour is really working very hard to give people the best show we possibly can, and I'm extremely proud of it.' The fan later clarified that their comments were not meant to be harsh, admitting the performance was 'brilliant,' but noted that Allen not even thanking the audience at the end felt 'a bit weird.' Allen conceded: 'I'd happily concede that I'm a bit weird, though.'
Mixed Reactions Online
Social media reactions were divided. One user commented: 'It can't be right to charge that much for an hour, late on Sunday night.' Another added: 'I'd also concede that not saying "thank you" at the end of a gig is a d*** move.' However, a supporter defended Allen: 'She bowed and waved at the audience and was clearly extremely grateful for us fans who were there. It's not really a gig it's more like a theatre show.' The West End Girl tour, supporting her 2025 album dealing with her split from David Harbour, continues with multiple dates across Europe.
