Lily Allen is living her best life as a strong, independent woman, but there was a time when she used to be drawn to another kind of lifestyle, according to the pop star.
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In an interview with The Times published Tuesday (Oct. 20), Allen looked back on her marriages to Sam Cooper, with whom she shares two teenage daughters, and David Harbour, from whom she split sometime around February 2025. She told the newspaper that while in those relationships, she prioritized staying home and cooking for the household, noting that the “tradwife” movement “appealed to me in the past.”
“I don’t think it does now,” she continued. “There’s this myth someone’s going to pick you up and make everything OK. I haven’t seen much evidence of it.”
“Tradwife” refers to a “married woman who embraces traditional gender roles (such as being a stay-at-home wife and mother),” according to Merriam-Webster. The term increased in popularity in recent years thanks to social media influencers who either overtly or subtly embrace the lifestyle in videos.
The movement has been called everything from wholesome to ultra-conservative propaganda, but regardless, Allen isn’t into it. She also told The Times that taking control of her life in the wake of her breakup from the Stranger Things actor — which she chronicled in her critically acclaimed 2025 album, West End Girl — has changed how she views herself.
“The album and tour having been a success has given me a sense of agency and accomplishment,” the singer said. “I feel like I’m here: a single mum supporting two teenagers on my own. I don’t need to be taken care of any more. There’s definitely a sense of liberation in that.”
“There’s always going to be a part of me that wants a happy ending — but also, not really,” she added. “I’m starting to see through that.”
Part of Allen’s liberation is the recent launch of her new Lovehoney sex-toy line, which calls back to some of the more explicit lyrics on West End Girl songs. She told The Times: “If me speaking about it can help women feel more confident talking about desire and pleasure, then that can only be a good thing.”