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In 2009, British singer and actor Lily Allen released her single,F**k You,which went on to become a powerful anthem against racism and homophobia. The song, which attacks and confronts a fictional bigot, became a chart topper in Europe with its no-holes-barred lyrics striking a chord with fans across the world.
A decade later, Allen used the song as a tool to call out Hollywood star Liam Neeson for his controversial comments. TheTakenstar, who was deeply affected by the r*pe of a friend, used one occasion to express his anger at her attacker. As it turned out, his racial stereotyping of the culprit did not sit well with Allen, who scathingly dedicatedF**k Youto him.
Also Read:Stranger Things Star David Harbour Meeting Wife Lily Allen Through Dating App is Perfect Script for ‘You’ve Got Mail 2’
Lily Allen Criticized Liam Neeson Through Her Popular Song
Through her confrontational songF**k You,Lily Allentook a firm stance on the evils of bigotry, homophobia, and racism that is sadly prevalent in abundance in the world. Ten years after its release in 2009, the British singer-songwriter in a concert in Australia used the powerful lyrical references to brutally takedownLiam Neesonin public.
TheSchindler’s Listactor, in an interview, had spoken about the plight of a friend who had been rped. Unable to contain his wrath, Neeson who discovered that the culprit was black, described the moment when he felt the urge to kill the ‘black b***rd’, if he got the chance to lay his hands on him.
Following his comment, Lily Allen took to stage in a concert in Sydney and handed out the highest insult by comparing the Oscar nominee to Donald Trump. In the video dripping with sarcasm on the star’s Instagram stories (viaFar Out Magazine), the singer called out Neeson for his sweeping generalization and tone deaf views towards black people and said,
“Normally, I dedicate this song to Donald Trump, but tonight I’m dedicating it to Liam Neeson.”
Though Neeson admitted well before Allen’s criticism, that he was ashamed of what he said and felt, theSmilesinger was not one to pardon excuses of this nature. She also pointed out the double standards among men who, in theory, spoke up for women’s rights but failed to walk the talk.
Also Read:Liam Neeson Made ‘Game of Thrones’ Star Feel “Grownup” Despite Being Only 12 Years Old: “He treated me like his son”
WhyDreamlandWas Cathartic For Lily Allen
Apart from being a successful singer and a movie star, Lily Allen also made her big television debut in 2023 with the comedy-drama seriesDreamland. In the show, theHow to Build A Girlactor played the central character Mel, who returns home in an attempt to reconnect with her family after spending many years abroad. Apart from bagging a marquee primetime gig, Allen revealed that the show was cathartic in many ways, and the character resonated with her on a personal level. In an interview withRadio Times, she confessed,
“She has a really complicated relationship with some members of her family, and I have complicated relationships with some people in mine. She bottles things up, she’s not very good at communicating her feelings and I think that’s where she gets into a lot of trouble really. She feels all these things really strongly but doesn’t share them with anyone.”
Allen hoped thatDreamlandwould continue to give her the opportunity to develop on her character and explore various aspects of her personality as the seasons progressed.
Sharanya Sankar
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1230
Sharanya Sankar, Writer for FandomwireHaving completed her Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Sharanya has a solid foundation in writing which is also one of her passions. She has worked previously with Book My show for a couple of years where she gained experience reviewing films and writing feature articles. Sharanya’s articles on film and pop culture have also been published on Film Companion, a popular film-based website. Apart from movies and pop culture, her interests include music and sports. She has contributed over 650 articles to Fandomwire so far.
