Lily Allen has always been unafraid to speak her mind, and in a recent episode of her podcast *Miss Me?*, she opened up about something deeply personal: she can’t recall exactly how many abortions she’s had.
Speaking with her close friend and co-host Miquita Oliver, the 40-year-old singer admitted, “Abortions, I’ve had a few… but I can’t remember exactly how many. Maybe four or five.” Oliver responded by sharing that she’d had “about five” herself.
The confession sparked immediate and mixed reactions online. Some praised Allen for her honesty in a society that still demands women justify their reproductive decisions. Others criticized her remarks as “irresponsible,” accusing her of treating abortion too casually.
Allen seemed to expect the controversy. She recounted one experience where a man paid for her abortion, which she initially saw as a romantic gesture—but in hindsight, realized it wasn’t. “It wasn’t generous or romantic,” she said. “He didn’t even check in with me afterwards.”
Her frustration extends beyond individual experiences to society’s wider expectations around abortion. “It actually really annoys me,” she said, referring to narratives that justify abortion only through extreme cases. “Like, stop saying, ‘She would’ve died’ or ‘the baby had a disability.’ Just say, ‘I don’t want a f\*\*\*ing baby right now.’ That’s enough.”
Though her blunt, relaxed tone unsettled some listeners, others saw it as a deliberate statement. Researcher Alison Wilson, writing for *Metro*, argued that people would have been more comfortable if Allen had expressed regret or sorrow. “This is about conditional acceptance,” Wilson wrote. “Society expects women to feel guilt. And when they don’t, people get uncomfortable.”
Wilson believes Allen’s raw honesty is powerful. “Being pro-choice means supporting the pregnant person’s decision—even if it makes you uneasy.”
In short, Allen isn’t glorifying abortion or encouraging others to do the same. She’s simply sharing her truth—honestly and unapologetically. And for many, that’s exactly what reproductive autonomy should be.