Lily Allen reveals she got death threats after returning pandemic puppy

Allen addressed the backlash she received after revealing she returned a dog adopted during the pandemic.

Lily Allen is defending herself amid intense online criticism following her recent comments about returning a dog she had adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The English singer-songwriter revealed in an Instagram story on Sunday that she has received death threats and a barrage of hateful messages after disclosing that she returned the dog, Mary, to a shelter because it ate her family's passports.

In an episode of her podcast "Miss Me?" on Thursday, Allen explained that she had adopted the dog during the pandemic but had to return her after the incident. 

“She was a very badly behaved dog, and I really tried very hard with her, but it just didn’t work out, and the passports was the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak,” Allen shared on the podcast. This revelation sparked widespread backlash, with numerous publications running critical articles.

Responding to the negative coverage, Allen accused the media of "a deliberately distorted cobbling together of quotes designed to make people angry." She expressed frustration at the situation, stating, "I have never been accused of mistreating an animal, and I’ve found this whole week very distressing."

Allen further explained in her Instagram story that Mary suffered from "pretty severe separation anxiety," making it difficult for her family to meet the dog’s needs. 

After consulting with a behavioural specialist and considering the situation for several months, Allen decided to rehome Mary, emphasising that the process was done with the dog's welfare in mind. "We couldn't meet Mary's needs and her happiness and welfare were central to us making that decision, as difficult as it was," Allen wrote.

The controversy has also drawn attention from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which criticised Allen in a social media post. 

PETA shared a headline stating, "LILY ALLEN RETURNED HER DOG TO THE SHELTER FOR EATING HER PASSPORT," and sent her a mechanical toy puppy as a sarcastic gesture. Allen responded by tagging the organisation in her Instagram story, thanking them for "adding fuel to the fire."