Lily Allen addressed criticism on social media after deciding to re-home her dog, which had eaten her passport. The 39-year-old pop star discussed the incident on her podcast, Miss Me?, co-hosted with Miquita Oliver. Earlier this week, she shared that she and her husband, David Harbour from Stranger Things, had adopted the puppy in New York, where they live with her children, Ethel, 12, and Marine, 11.
Allen explained that she returned the dog after it ate her and her daughters’ passports. “She ate all three of our passports, which included our visas. The cost and effort to replace everything during Covid were immense,” she said.
This incident prevented her daughters from visiting their father, Sam Cooper, in England for months. Allen expressed her frustration, saying, “I couldn’t even look at her. She had ruined my life.”
People laugh when they talk about painful things all the time, it’s quite normal. I’ve clarified that we didn’t abandon her and that she was rehomed with people we knew almost immediately. Why are you perpetuating lies ? What kind of animal welfare charity tries to shame someone… https://t.co/SLORFjFauN
— Lily Allen (@lilyallen) August 26, 2024
Following her disclosure, Allen faced significant backlash. Social media users criticised her, with one calling her an ‘irresponsible pet owner’. PETA even sent her a gift in response to her plans of adopting another dog.
Allen responded to the criticism on Instagram, stating, “We tried very hard for a long time, but the passports were the final straw.”
She clarified that the tabloids omitted parts of her podcast where she mentioned the efforts made to train the dog before deciding to re-home it. “She was very badly behaved, and despite our efforts, it didn’t work out,” she said.
Allen also mentioned receiving abhorrent messages, including death threats, due to distorted quotes from the podcast. “The comments on my social media channels have been disgusting, and I’m not surprised because that’s what those articles are designed to do.”
The dog, named Mary, suffered from severe separation anxiety, unable to be left alone for more than 10 minutes. Allen worked with the shelter and specialists to help Mary but ultimately decided their home was not suitable. Mary was rehomed within 24 hours to someone known to Allen.
She urged people to avoid reacting to clickbait articles without proper understanding. “It’s all just so toxic, and I know we can do better,” she concluded.
What Other Media Are Saying
- AOL article titled “Lily Allen Sparks Outrage After Returning Adopted Dog Who She…” discusses the controversy surrounding Lily Allen’s decision to return her adopted dog Mary to the shelter due to behavioral issues, particularly after the dog ate her and her children’s passports.(read more)
- Fox News reports that Lily Allen is being criticized for returning her adopted dog, Mary, to an animal shelter due to behavioral issues and the dog’s destruction of her family’s passports during the pandemic.(read more)
- Entertainment Weekly reports that Lily Allen slammed the media for misrepresenting her story about returning a rescue dog, Mary, after it ate her family’s passports, leading to death threats and online abuse.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why did Lily Allen re-home her dog?
The dog ate their passports, causing logistical issues and severe separation anxiety issues made it hard to care for her properly.
What was the dog’s behavior like?
The dog had severe separation anxiety and could not be left alone for more than 10 minutes a day.
How did Lily Allen respond to criticism about re-homing her dog?
She explained they tried hard to train the dog and worked with specialists before deciding re-homing was best for the dog’s welfare.
What impact did the dog’s behavior have on Lily Allen’s family?
The dog eating their passports prevented her daughters from seeing their father in England for months.
How did social media react to Lily Allen’s decision?
She received backlash, including being called an ‘irresponsible pet owner’ and receiving death threats.