Lily Allen has sparked backlash after revealing that she has put herself in first class and her daughter in economy for an upcoming flight to London.
The singer made the confession while speaking to her childhood friend Miquita Oliver on their BBC podcast Miss Me?
Allen told her co-host that when returning to London for her friend’s birthday with her 11-year-old daughter Ethel she had decided to sit apart from her.
“We are flying to London today to come and see you for your birthday — I’m going in first class, she’s going in economy,” she said.
“You know what that is?” Oliver said as Allen joked, “Selfish?”
Oliver continued, “The circle of life. That baby is now coming to London because you live in New York for my 40th birthday, which we are having at the end of the road we grew up on.”
Allen replied, “There’s a trend at the moment on social media of people defiantly saying that they won’t give up their seats for children on airplanes,” to which her friend agreed, saying, “Fair enough. Why would you give your seat to a kid if you paid for it? It’s not like a train.”
However, Allen then went on to argue that airline passengers should be mindful of families who haven’t been sat next to each other.
“Quite often when you’re a big group the airline will separate the seats,” she explained.
“You’ll get to the airport and they’ll tell you your child is sat [away from you] and so when you get on the plane you have to ask people if they don’t mind moving so you can sit next to your children.”
“Obviously it’s inconvenient for everybody involved but I find it fascinating that it’s now become something that gives you clout on social media when you’re like, ‘A mum came up to me and asked me to move and I told them to f–k off.’ Is this what we’ve become? Well done, you’ve made a family sit apart from each other.”
Allen insisted that some families may not have had the chance to book seats in advance and shared her wish for people to be a bit nicer to others.
“Says me who’s putting myself in first class while my child is alone in the back of the plane. I don’t want to sit with my kid,” laughed the singer.
Her remarks have left social media divided, with some hitting out at the star for appearing to contradict herself.
“Alright for some isn’t it,” remarked one, while another said, “Poor flight attendant being left to do your job!”
However, others supported the singer, claiming that her refusal to bring her child into first class will help keep them “grounded”.