Lily Allen offered an ironic twist with her 2025 Halloween costume. She chose to dress as Madeline, a direct reference to the title of her recent breakup song.
The 40-year-old artist showcased her look on Friday, October 31. She shared a video displaying her outfit while walking gracefully to Cardi B’s song "Magnet."
Allen wore a pastel blue coat dress with a red tie. She completed her ensemble with a straw hat, Mary Jane shoes, and a red wig. Her attire was an almost perfect replica of the titular character from Ludwig Bemelmans’ children’s book series Madeline.
The name Madeline carries a double meaning due to Allen’s new album, West End Girl. One track on the album is named "Madeline."
In the song, Allen sings about perceived betrayal. Lyrics include, "I know none of this is your fault, writing to you almost feels like an aggression." She adds, "I can’t believe anything he says / No, I can’t believe anything he says."
The song continues with powerful lines such as, "We had an agreement / Be discreet and don’t be brazen / There had to be a payment / It had to be with strangers / But you’re not a stranger, Madeline."
Allen’s latest studio album was released in October. Its lyrics hint at infidelity from her now ex-husband, David Harbour. Allen and Harbour, 50, were married for four years before their separation in 2024.
The Stranger Things actor has not publicly addressed the allegations of infidelity. Us Weekly previously reached out to him for comment.
Allen has consistently stated that the "Madeline" in her song is not a single person. She insists the character is a combination of various individuals.
She discussed her musical inspiration with The Times of London last month. Allen commented that intimacy is inherently complicated. She added that whether agreed-upon boundaries in relationships are respected has suddenly become a "grey area."
Allen also told the outlet that dating applications make people disposable. She believes this creates a perception that one always has endless options available in their pocket if unhappy.
She reiterated to the same publication that Madeline was a "fictional character." The artist clarified it was based on a construct of multiple people.
"We live in very interesting times regarding how we define intimacy and monogamy," Allen declared. She noted that many young women no longer find the idea of marriage or long-term relationships appealing.
Allen continued, speculating that this might not be negative. She pointed out that her parents’ generation often remained together unhappily because they lacked infinite options.
While Allen utilized her West End Girl creative process to cope with her separation from Harbour, he has maintained silence. He has not spoken publicly about what went wrong in their marriage.
"I protect the people and the reality of my life," Harbour told GQ in April. He described interacting with rumors as "senseless" because it is based on "hysterical exaggerations."
Before her relationship with Harbour, Allen was married to Sam Cooper. Their marriage lasted from 2011 to 2018. The former couple shares two daughters, Ethel, 13, and Marnie, 12.