Singer Lily Allen is facing fierce backlash from the woman she allegedly based her song 'Madeline' on, with Natalie Tippett accusing the star of 'profiting from lies' about a supposed affair with actor David Harbour.
'Extremely Violated': Natalie Tippett's Instagram Outburst
The controversy erupted on Sunday, 16th December 2025, when Tippett took to Instagram with a series of slides vehemently denying the narrative presented in Allen's latest album, 'West End Girl'. The album details the breakdown of Allen's open marriage to 'Stranger Things' star David Harbour, alleging he had a three-year affair with a woman named Madeline, later reported to be Tippett.
"I was hoping not to speak on this, but I am tired of this false narrative being pushed and circulated," Tippett wrote. She described feeling 'extremely violated' by her portrayal and stated the situation had become a "major disruption."
In a direct refutation, she asserted: "I did not have a three year affair with anyone." Tippett questioned Allen's motives, suggesting the singer was trying to "pit people against me" based on a false narrative, and highlighted that private messages between them had been referenced in a song without her consent.
The SNL Performance That Sparked the Row
Tippett's public statement came hot on the heels of Allen's high-profile appearance on Saturday Night Live (SNL) on Saturday, 15th December. The performance, her first as the show's musical guest in 18 years, featured a dramatic rendition of her song 'Tennis' from the controversial album.
In a bombshell moment, actress Dakota Johnson joined Allen on stage, appearing from behind a curtained-off bed to deliver spoken-word verses portraying 'Madeline's' side of the story via text messages. Johnson's character stated, "He told me that you were aware this was going on and that he had your full consent. If he’s lying about that, then please let me know."
The segment concluded with Johnson planting a kiss on Allen's cheek, a theatrical gesture that appears to have been the final straw for the real-life subject of the song.
Weaponising Women and Profiting from Pain
In her social media posts, Tippett made a pointed critique of Allen's approach. "I don’t weaponise women against women for the behaviour of men, especially not in an open relationship," she wrote, extending wishes for "success, money, healing and happiness" to Allen despite the dispute.
She acknowledged the potential repercussions of speaking out but emphasised her humanity over being a fictional character. "I’m a human being not a character someone created," Tippett stated, adding that she had to watch "someone profit off painful lies."
The saga stems from the very public end of Allen and Harbour's relationship in December 2024, after reports surfaced of his alleged affair. Allen channelled the experience into 'West End Girl', an album she has described as a blend of "truth" and "fantasy" exploring a broken sexual arrangement.
The SNL performance capped a significant year for Allen, who recently announced new dates for her sold-out tour. However, the acclaim has now been overshadowed by a very public and personal denial from the woman at the centre of the album's most contentious storyline.
