British singer Lily Allen’s new album has drawn attention for its focus on her split from actor David Harbour, while new claims about Harbour and his Stranger Things co-star Millie Bobby Brown have been disputed by the show’s director.
Allen and Harbour were married for four years. Reports surfaced late last year suggesting they had separated. The rumors were confirmed with the release of Allen’s October 2025 album West End Girl, which tells the story of her troubled marriage and the emotional fallout that followed.
The album arrived only weeks before the upcoming release of Stranger Things Season 5 on Netflix. Around the same time, the Daily Mail reported that Brown had filed a complaint against Harbour accusing him of “bullying and harassment.” The publication claimed the alleged complaint was made before production began and led to an internal inquiry. However, it stated there were no claims of sexual misconduct and that the outcome of the alleged investigation remained unclear.
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Director and producer Shawn Levy denied the allegations, calling the reports “wildly inaccurate.” He told The Hollywood Reporter that the production team works to create a safe and respectful environment for everyone involved. “You have to create a respectful workplace where everyone feels comfortable and safe, and so we did everything to build that environment,” Levy said. “I’ve read a bunch of stories and they range from wildly inaccurate to… there’s so much noise around it. But the truth is that we view this crew and this cast as family.”
Matt Duffer, who co-created the show, also dismissed speculation, saying, “We’ve been doing this for 10 years with this cast, and at this point they’re family and we deeply care about them.”
At the Season 5 premiere on November 6, Brown and Harbour appeared together, joking and embracing on the red carpet. Their public interaction led many fans to believe that the rumors were unfounded. Brown also praised Harbour during an interview with Extra, saying, “It’s been amazing. We’re so lucky to have each other. The show means so much to the both of us, and to everyone here. This has been the last 10 years of our lives.”
While Harbour’s name has been in the headlines, Allen’s album continues to draw attention for its personal themes. West End Girl spans 14 tracks that describe her marriage’s collapse, including struggles with an open relationship and feelings of betrayal. In songs like “Tennis” and “Madeline,” she recounts discovering another woman’s messages on Harbour’s phone and confronting the person involved.
“Madeline” is reportedly about Natalie Tippett, a costume designer Harbour met while working on the 2023 Netflix film We Have A Ghost. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Tippett acknowledged hearing the song and said she was uncomfortable discussing the situation further. Allen meanwhile has said parts of the record are fictional, telling The Sunday Times, “I don’t think I could say it’s all true—I have artistic license. But yes, there are definitely things I experienced within my relationship that have ended up on this album.”
In a recent profile with Esquire, Harbour reflected on regret and personal growth. “You either accept your path completely and realize that even the pain and the slip-ups and the mistakes are all part of the journey,” he said. “There’s truth and growth, wisdom and deeper empathy and connection in all that.”
Stranger Things Season 5 is set to close Netflix’s biggest original series to date. Volume 1 premieres on November 26, Volume 2 debuts on Christmas Day, and the final installment arrives on New Year’s Eve 2025.
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