Lily Allen has opened up about how she 'can’t remember' how many abortions she’s had and it’s sparked a major conversation among fans and critics alike.
Now, while the British 'LDN' hit-maker has a right to both choose to have abortions, and then be able talk openly about them without a performance of shame - it's clear her comments have shocked many of her podcast listeners after first hearing them.
When speaking on a recent episode of her Miss Me? podcast, the 40-year-old opened about how she used to 'get pregnant all the time' and shared that she's had several abortions in the past.
"Abortions, I've had a few. But then again, I can't remember exactly how many... I think maybe like, I want to say four or five," Lily revealed as her co-host, Miquita Oliver, added that she's also had 'about five'.
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Recalling one of her experiences, Lily said: "I remember once getting pregnant and the man paying for my abortion, and me thinking it was so romantic."
However, after reflecting on the situation after getting some space from it, it's clear her opinion on this has since changed.
"I don't think it's generous or romantic," the Brit award-winner, who shares daughters Marnie Rose, 12, and Ethel Mary, 13, with ex-husband Sam Cooper, said before explaining that the man in question never followed up with her afterwards.
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The 'Smiler' singer also spoke about her frustration in having to justify her reasoning for wanting to terminate a pregnancy.
She explained: "It actually irritates me, and I’ve said it before on the record. I’ve seen memes going around sometimes, on Instagram from pro-abortion accounts or whatever, whenever this conversation comes up, and suddenly you start seeing people posting things about extraordinary reasons for having an abortion.
"Like: ‘My aunt had a kid that had this disability,’ or whatever, ‘if she went full term it was going to kill her, so we have to.’ It’s like, shut up!"
Lily added: "Just: ‘I don’t want a f***ing baby right now.’ Literally: ‘Don’t want a baby’ is enough reason."
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Several people hit out over Lily's comments, making scathing statements I'm sure the majority of adult women - including Lily - are well aware of.
"Abortion IS NOT a form of birth control!" penned one Instagram user, while a second slammed: "I'm pro choice and all for body sovereignty but this is so gross. Abortion should not be the go to for birth control. WTF."
Others, however, outlined: "We may not like the line (I don't like it myself), but the fact is that if men could get pregnant, they would say things like that in bars and no one would care."
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A lot of the critics seemed to take issue with the way in which Lily delivered her remarks, prompting PhD researcher Alison Wilson to point out in a piece for Metro: "It takes a lot of conscious effort to unlearn the many falsehoods that patriarchy teaches us, and Allen’s comments - which were delivered amid giggles - seem likely to cause the same kind of dreary controversy that rears its head whenever a woman doesn’t perform ideal feminine victimhood.
"Imagine for yourself how much more palatable you might find it if Allen instead talked about how terrible she feels about not knowing her number of abortions; how wrong she believes it to be; how full of remorse she is? This is all to do with conditional acceptance."
She adds: "I support Allen and any person’s right to have an abortion at any time for any reason, without exceptions.
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"That’s what it means to be pro-choice - pro the choice of the pregnant person, not the choice that makes you most comfortable."
While you may not like it, and while it may not be palatable and the societal norm we're used to seeing regarding women openly discussing their abortions, Wilson notes that Lily's admission is 'essential for quashing the enduring stigma that exists around women’s sexual freedom and bodily autonomy'.
She's not 'encouraging' other people to get abortions at all, but more opening up the discourse surrounding them.
Topics: Lily Allen, Celebrity, Women's Health, Pregnancy
Rhiannon Ingle