January 8, 2009 11:54

Lily Allen: 'I am not pro-cocaine'

Singer reacts to drug charity criticism after interview comments

Photo Gallery: Lily Allen
Photo: Danny North

Lily Allen has declared she does not condone drug use, after it was claimed comments she made in an interview endorsed cocaine.

The singer has been the subject of a flurry of online reports saying she was condoning use of the drug, and even incurred the wrath of anti-drugs campaigners.

In the interview with The Word magazine she said: "The only [newspaper] story is that drugs are bad and they will kill you - I know lots of people that take cocaine three nights a week and get up and go to work every day, no problem. But we never hear that side of the story."

She did add, however, that she had "no statement" to make on the issue, and no longer takes drugs.

Reports of those comments drew criticism from the likes of the National Drugs Prevention Alliance, who suggested her comments were "harming young people who will at some point in their lives have to make a decision about taking drugs" and drug and alcohol treatment charity Addaction, who said her comments were "misguided".

Reacting to the reports, Allen has issued a further statement this morning (January 8), hoping to clear up her position on the issue.

"Lily Allen would like to state unequivocally that she does not condone illegal drug use and has every sympathy with individuals and families whose lives have been blighted by drugs," explained the statement, adding that her new album's opening song 'Everyone's At It' dealt with both "legally prescribed drugs like anti-depressants" as well as illegal substances.