Lily Allen’s Extremely Controversial Halloween Costume Makes People Lose Sympathy for Her After Divorce Album
After a flood of sympathy following the release of her album, West End Girl, a resurfaced picture of Lily Allen’s Halloween costume has caused backlash. In 2014, Allen dressed as a doctor with a badge that read “Dr. Luke, Gynecology Department.” At this time, the singer Kesha was suing Dr. Luke, a producer, for sexual assault. Many people have spoken about their disgust for the costume, even though Allen said she did not wear it in support of Dr. Luke. Some have even said the costume makes them lose sympathy for her after revealing details of her divorce.
Lily Allen dressed as Dr. Luke for Halloween
In 2014, Allen wore blue scrubs, a stethoscope, and a badge reading, “Dr. Luke, Gynecology Department,” for her Halloween costume.
That same year, Kesha sued Dr. Luke, alleging that he drugged and raped her and psychologically abused her during their working relationship. Dr. Luke denied her allegations against him. The lawsuit dragged on for years before eventually reaching a settlement.
Attention on Allen has increased after the release of her divorce album, West End Girl. Amid the praise, the photos of her Halloween costume have resurfaced. People are not happy about them.
“[Learned] more about Lily Allen than I needed,” wrote one person on X (formerly Twitter). “1) Her non-consensually kissing Zoe Kravitz and 2) dressing as Dr. Luke for Halloween after Kesha came forward. Really poor taste.”
A number of people said the costume makes it difficult for them to sympathize with Allen after her divorce from actor David Harbour.
“Idrgaf that David Harbour cheated on the woman who dressed as ‘gynecologist Dr. Luke’ after Kesha came forward about being sexually abused by him,” posted one person.
“I keep saying that I do not condone cheating, but in this case, I don’t care because they’re both pieces of s***,” wrote one Reddit user.
Lily Allen clarified that her Halloween costume was not in support of Dr. Luke
The costume got backlash, prompting Allen to clarify that she meant it in support of Kesha.
“I never made fun of Kesha and never would,” she wrote on X. “I made fun of the d***wad that allegedly abused her. Big difference.”
She also posted about her support for the singer in 2016.
“My thoughts are with [Kesha] today,” she wrote. “I’m sorry you’ve had to endure this experience.”
Still, some people pointed out that even if the costume was done in support of Kesha, it was still in poor taste.
“We need to be able to accept that two things are true at once: Lily Allen was vocally supportive of Kesha and almost certainly intended this as a dig at Dr Luke; and this was incredibly insensitive and in poor taste and good intentions don’t diminish that,” wrote one person.
She spoke about writing a breakup album
In West End Girl, Allen details her divorce from Harbour after discovering his infidelity. She said that the album captures how she was feeling at the time, as she wrote it while still processing the end of her marriage.
“That’s what’s fun about this record; it’s viscerally like going through the motions,” she told Interview Magazine. “At the time, I was really trying to process things, and that’s great in terms of the album, but I don’t feel confused or angry now. I don’t need revenge.”
She said that the breakup was “brutal” but feels like she’s on the other side of it now.
