Gwyneth Paltrow took to Instagram with backstage snaps from unlikely pal Lily Allen's second successful tour show at Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The singer, 40, has nearly completed the first leg of her West End Girl tour, performing songs from her smash hit comeback album inspired by her turbulent split from husband David Harbour.
Gwyneth's Chic Appearance
Gwyneth, 53, cut a chic figure in an oversized black blazer as she caught up with the British hitmaker, 40, in her dressing room following the show. Meanwhile, Lily sizzled in her onstage costume, showcasing her jaw-dropping figure in sheer lace lingerie layered with silky shorts. The duo shared a giggle alongside the British songstress's film producer mum, Alison Owen, 65, who first introduced the pair.
The Oscar winner captioned the snaps: 'Best night, absolutely incredible show. Have known Lily since she was a little girl.'
History of Friendship
Lily previously shared how she and Gwyneth crossed paths during her struggles with alcohol addiction, with the actress stepping in to help her when she became unconscious at Kate Hudson's Halloween party. In her memoir My Thoughts Exactly, Lily detailed the encounter: 'I was very, very drunk and I head-butted something behind Orlando Bloom and knocked myself out.'
She told E!: 'Then Chris Martin, who is a friend of mine, and Gwyneth, who is a close friend of my mom, drove me home. He [Chris] left a Post-it note on my fridge just saying, 'Give me a call tomorrow.' I did. We went for lunch and he said, 'I don't think you're in a great place right now, Lily, are you? Here's the number of someone that can help.' They [Chris and Gwyneth] are great people.'
After-Party Festivities
Following the show, Lily enjoyed a night of partying with friends including Daniel Nguyen and songwriter Chloe Angelides, who helped write songs on the album. The group looked in high spirits as they posed for snaps with reality star Lisa Rinna, who made a cameo during the show to play the infamous 'Madeleine'. Lily also stopped by West Hollywood LGBTQ bar and nightclub The Abbey to watch Madonna's surprise Confession II performance on Saturday.
She was spotted having the time of her life in the crowd alongside Addison Rae, Julia Fox, Britney Spears' ex-husband Sam Asghari, and Tori Spelling. The pop star continued the fun the following night, with pal Daniel documenting their late-night dinner at In-N-Out.
In-N-Out Connection
The fast food chain was famously the site of Lily's wedding reception with ex-husband David, 51, after the pair tied the knot in Las Vegas in 2020. They exchanged vows with an Elvis Presley impersonator as officiant, before celebrating with dinner at In-N-Out with her two daughters, Ethel and Marnie. At the time, David shared snaps with the caption: 'In a wedding officiated by the king himself, the people's princess wed her devoted, low born, but kind credit card holder in a beautiful ceremony lit by the ashen skies courtesy of a burning state miles away in the midst of a global pandemic. Refreshments were served at a small reception following.'
Split and Album Inspiration
Lily and David split in December 2024 after she allegedly discovered his cheating, with her documenting the turbulent end of the romance in West End Girl. The lyrics suggest the couple had an open arrangement regarding sex, as long as it was discreet, with paid strangers and not emotional connections—rules the Stranger Things actor appeared to flout.
In her most talked-about track, titled 'Madeline', she appears to directly address David's infidelity with a mystery woman, given a fictional moniker. She sings: 'How long has it been going on? Is it just sex or is there emotion? / He told me it would stay in hotel rooms, never be out in the open. Why would I trust anything that comes out of his mouth? / I'm not convinced that he didn't f**k you in our house.' The chorus reads: 'We had an arrangement / Be discrete and don't be blatant. There had to be payment / It had to be with strangers / But you're not a stranger, Madeline.'
The song features spoken interludes from Madeline insisting via text: 'Our relationship has only ever been about sex / I can promise you that this is not an emotional connection. We don't speak outside of the time we spend together / And whenever he talks about you, it's with the utmost respect.' Later, Madeline adds: 'I hate that you're in so much pain right now / I really don't wanna be the cause of any upset. He told me 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 / Because I have my own feelings about dishonesty / Lies are not something that I want to get caught up in.'
The Daily Mail revealed that the woman behind the pseudonym Madeline is costume designer Natalie Tippett, who is understood to have met David—16 years her senior—while filming the Netflix movie We Have a Ghost in 2021 in New Orleans.
