Natalie Tippett has clapped back at Lily Allen, who addressed her as the 'Madeline' whose affair with David Harbour led to the alleged end of Lily's marriage. Here's why.
Since Lily Allen publicly opened up about the breakdown of her marriage to David Harbour, she has laid bare her feelings about her heartbreak in her candid interviews. Especially Lily's recently released album, West End Girl, vividly describes how her ex-husband, David Harbour, and a woman referred to as "Madeline" played a role in the end of her marriage. However, after being silent for so long, real-life "Madeline" a.k.a. Natalie Tippett has spoken out and denied the "false claims" levied against her by Lily, calling them "damaging." Here's what she said.
Natalie Tippett, the woman widely believed to be the inspiration behind Lily Allen's song "Madeline," has finally addressed the controversy linking her to David Harbour in a new Instagram post. Natalie, who is a costume designer and single mother, shares a series of texts in her post after Lily performed the song on Saturday Night Live. The former revealed that she had hoped to stay silent but felt compelled to respond to it as the speculation intensified. In her words:
"I was hoping not to speak on this, but I am tired of this false narrative being pushed and circulated. This was a relatively minor part of my life, but it has now become a major disruption. I'm unsure why this person wants so badly to pit people against me or create this narrative that we both know is false based on the actual messages that I have saved between us."
In the same post, Natalie Tippett denies Lily Allen's claim of a long-term affair with David Harbour. For those unaware, Lily had pointed out that she had a three-year affair with David Harbour. Natalie further added that she was confused as to why Lily would continue to push an intentional false narrative of events to the world.
At the same time, Natalie claimed that the private messages referenced in Lily Allen's music were done without her consent, turning personal communication into a public spectacle. The costume designer emphasised that, unlike Lily, she does not "weaponise women against women for the behaviour of men". For those unaware, Lily Allen was in an open marriage with David Harbour, a fact she herself has admitted in the past. But despite all the backlash, Natalie wishes Lily success, healing, and happiness.
Lily Allen and David Harbour reportedly separated in late 2024 and made their separation public in 2025. Lily had later revealed that they had an open marriage with strict boundaries that were broken. Particularly, in her album, West End Girl, released in October 2025, Lily's lyrics hinted that she found messages suggesting her husband's emotional betrayal and felt blindsided by David's actions.
Lily, in songs like "Madeline" and "Tennis," further questions how long the alleged affair lasted and whether emotional lines were crossed in them. She even spoke openly about seeking treatment for her emotional turmoil after the split. According to the interviews by People and The Guardian, the singer highlighted that the personal music album was a way for her to process the anger, grief, and shock regarding the end of her marriage.
Lily Allen and David Harbour's relationship began in 2019 after they met through a dating app. They soon developed a connection and became one of pop culture's most talked-about couples, frequently making red-carpet appearances together. The couple surprised the world by tying the knot in a Las Vegas wedding in 2020, officiated by an Elvis impersonator. David even became stepfather to Lilly's two daughters, and the couple later showcased their Brooklyn home in Architectural Digest. However, issues began to crop up based on their long work schedules, mental health struggles, and emotional distance. Lily chose to publically process the split, whereas David has largely been silent on the matter.
What do you think about Natalie Tippett's criticism of Lily Allen's song, Madeline?
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