“At the same time, I’ve used shared experiences as the basis for songs which try to delve into why we humans behave as we do, so the record is a mixture of fact and fiction.”
The tour –Lily AllenPerforms West End Girl – will see the singer perform the album in its entirety in the order the songs feature on her record.
When is Lily Allen’s 2026 tour?
Lily Allen’s 2026 West End Girl tour is scheduled to take place throughout March 2026.
The British singer is set to perform her acclaimed fifth studio album at venues, theatres and concert halls across the UK.
This tour marks her first headline shows since her No Shame Tour in 2018-19.
The tour dates and venues for Lily Allen Performs West End Girl UK in March 2026 are:
March 2: Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
March 3: Liverpool, Philharmonic Hall
March 5: Birmingham, Symphony Hall
March 7: Sheffield, City Hall
March 8: Newcastle, City Hall
March 10: Manchester, Aviva Studios (The Hall)
March 11: Manchester, Aviva Studios (The Hall)
March 14: Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall
March 15: Cambridge, Corn Exchange
March 17: Bristol, Beacon
March 18: Cardiff, New Theatre
March 20: London, Palladium
March 21: London, Palladium
How can I get tickets for Lily Allen’s 2026 tour?
Tickets go on general sale from 10am GMT Friday, November 7, 2025, via Ticketmaster and LiveNation.
For fans who want to secure tickets before the general release, thankfully there is a presale, taking place from 10am on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
But to access this presale, you will need to register with co:brand before midnight on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
Selected venues have already confirmed ticket prices for Lily Allen’s UK tour.
The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall said they start at roughly £40 and go up to around £85.
Lily Allen has launched a fresh attack on David Harbour’s ‘mistress’ MadelineCredit: tiktok/@lilyallenLily has accused her ex-husband of cheating on her new albumCredit: GettyLily’s artwork for her latest album West End Girl which critics have branded a ‘revenge record’Credit: PA
It has been put in the same lane as Dolly Parton classic Jolene, which sees the country star plead with an attractive woman not to steal her man, and Beyoncé’s Sorry, in which she takes aim at ‘Becky with the good hair‘ after husband Jay-Z admitted to being unfaithful.
Now, in another dig at her ex-husband, Lily has taken to TikTok and posted a video of herself lip-syncing to a woman saying: “Who the f**k is Madeline?”
It is taken from a scene from the Australian cult comedySummer Heights High.
In fact Lily credit’s The Sun’s Howell Davies with giving her the audio, after he noticed a similarity between the lyrics of the song and a scene from the cult comedy.
In the scene, school girl Ja’mie confronts her boyfriend over messages he has been sending to another girl named Madeline.
Meanwhile, the the real life “Madeline” has spoken out, with New Orleans based costume designer Natalie Tippett, 34, claiming to have been involved in the fling.
It is understood they separated in December, with Lily spending Christmas alone with her children in Kenya.
Lily Allen’s most shocking West End Girl lyrics
Madeline
Perhaps the most eye-opening track on the album, Madeline tells the story of lovers who had a pact to be open in their relationship, but that trust was broken when the man struck up a romance with a woman called Madeline.
“Saw your text, that’s how I found out, tell me the truth and his motives I can’t trust anything that comes out of his mouth We had an arrangement Be discreet and don’t be blatant There had to be payment It had to be with strangers But you’re not a stranger, Madeline”
Tennis
Lily sings about finding messages from another woman on her man’s phone that shows the secret lovers have a deeper connection than just sex.
“So I read your text, and now I regret it I can’t get my head ’round how you’ve been playing tennis If it was just sex, I wouldn’t be jealous You won’t play with me And who’s Madeline?”
Ruminating
A heartbreaking reflection on a once trusted partner being intimate with someone else behind her back.
“And I can’t shake the image of her naked. On top of you and I’m dissociated.”
“I told you all of this has been too brutal. You told me you felt the same, it’s mutual. And then you came out with this line, so crucial. Yeah, ‘If it has to happen, baby, do you want to know.”
Pussy Palace
This emotional track sees Lily come to terms with a lover using an apartment as a base for sex, but not with her.
“Don’t come home, I don’t want you in my bed. Go to the apartment in the West Village instead. I’ll drop off your clothes, your mail and medication.”
“Up to the first floor, key in the front door. Nothing’s ever gonna be the same anymore.
“I didn’t know it was a pussy palace, pussy palace, pussy palace, pussy palace. I always thought it was a dojo, dojo, dojo. So am I looking at a sex addict, sex addict, sex addict, sex addict? Oh talk about a low blow, oh, no, oh, no.”
Dallas Major
The title of this track is a pseudonym used by a woman, who sounds very much like Lily, on a dating app as she looks for validation and attention while her absent husband looks for affection elsewhere.
“My name is Dallas Major and I’m coming out to play. Looking for someone to have fun with while my husband walks away. I’m almost nearly forty, I’m just shy of five foot two. I’m a mum to teenage children, does that sound like fun to you?”
“So I go by Dallas Major but that’s not really my name. You know I used to be quite famous, that was way back in the day. Yes, I’m here for validation and I probably should explain. How my marriage has been open since my husband went astray.”
Lily Allen hesitated after being asked about the other woman from her bombshell new albumCredit: instagram/@theperfectmagazineLily retells her husband’s alleged infidelity on her new albumCredit: instagram/@theperfectmagazine
Following its release, the real life Madeline spoke out, with New Orleans based costume designer Natalie Tippett, 34, claiming to have been involved in the fling.
In a new interview with Perfect magazine, Lily was put on the spot and asked to name the title of her songs as the interviewer read lyrics in a dramatic style.
It was a trip down memory lane, with Lily correctly answering Not Fair, The Kooks’ Naive, Cheryl Tweedy, Friday Night and Pussy Palace.
She was then asked directly: “Who the f**k is Madeline?”
Pop star Lily, who was sitting on a toilet in a glamorous mini dress embellished with a large bow, momentarily hesitated before saying “erm that’s Tennis”.
On the track, which documents her discovering that her man’s connection with another woman is deeper than just sex, Lily sings: “So I read your text, and now I regret it. I can’t get my head ’round how you’ve been playing tennis.
“If it was just sex, I wouldn’t be jealous. You won’t play with me. And who’s Madeline?”
It has been put in the same lane as Dolly Parton classic Jolene, which sees the country star plead with an attractive woman not to steal her man, and Beyoncé’s Sorry, in which she takes aim at ‘Becky with the good hair’ after husband Jay-Z admitted to being unfaithful.
Stranger Things star David and Natalie reportedly began an affair while working on 2021 film We Have A Ghost, and he later allegedly flew Natalie to his home in Atlanta, Georgia.
He had married Lily the previous year in a Las Vegas ceremony.
Speaking from her home in New Orleans’ historic Treme district, Natalie told Daily Mail she was the woman behind “Madeline”.
When approached by Daily Mail, Natalie said: “Of course I’ve heard the song.
“But I have a family and things to protect.
“I have a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, and I understand this is going on.
“It’s a little bit scary for me.”
The affair reportedly came to light when Lily found an incriminating text on David’s phone.
The discovery inspired several tracks on her new album, which details betrayal and heartbreak.
Natalie declined to discuss the lyrics further, saying: “Yeah… I just don’t feel comfortable talking about it at the moment.”
The Sun has contacted Lily and David’s reps for comment.
Lily and David announced their split in January after four years of marriage.
It is understood they separated in December, with Lily spending Christmas alone with her children in Kenya.
The LDN hitmaker was previously married to Sam Cooper from 2011-2018, although the relationship was understood to have crumbled some time before they made their split official.
With Sam, Lily had two children, 13 year old Ethel and Marnie Rose, 11
Lily and David Harbour split in December after four years togetherCredit: GettyLily’s artwork for her latest album West End Girl which critics have branded a ‘revenge record’Credit: PA
Lily Allen’s most shocking West End Girl lyrics
Madeline
Perhaps the most eye-opening track on the album, Madeline tells the story of lovers who had a pact to be open in their relationship, but that trust was broken when the man struck up a romance with a woman called Madeline.
“Saw your text, that’s how I found out, tell me the truth and his motives I can’t trust anything that comes out of his mouth We had an arrangement Be discreet and don’t be blatant There had to be payment It had to be with strangers But you’re not a stranger, Madeline”
Tennis
Lily sings about finding messages from another woman on her man’s phone that shows the secret lovers have a deeper connection than just sex.
“So I read your text, and now I regret it I can’t get my head ’round how you’ve been playing tennis If it was just sex, I wouldn’t be jealous You won’t play with me And who’s Madeline?”
Ruminating
A heartbreaking reflection on a once trusted partner being intimate with someone else behind her back.
“And I can’t shake the image of her naked. On top of you and I’m dissociated.”
“I told you all of this has been too brutal. You told me you felt the same, it’s mutual. And then you came out with this line, so crucial. Yeah, ‘If it has to happen, baby, do you want to know.”
Pussy Palace
This emotional track sees Lily come to terms with a lover using an apartment as a base for sex, but not with her.
“Don’t come home, I don’t want you in my bed. Go to the apartment in the West Village instead. I’ll drop off your clothes, your mail and medication.”
“Up to the first floor, key in the front door. Nothing’s ever gonna be the same anymore.
“I didn’t know it was a pussy palace, pussy palace, pussy palace, pussy palace. I always thought it was a dojo, dojo, dojo. So am I looking at a sex addict, sex addict, sex addict, sex addict? Oh talk about a low blow, oh, no, oh, no.”
Dallas Major
The title of this track is a pseudonym used by a woman, who sounds very much like Lily, on a dating app as she looks for validation and attention while her absent husband looks for affection elsewhere.
“My name is Dallas Major and I’m coming out to play. Looking for someone to have fun with while my husband walks away. I’m almost nearly forty, I’m just shy of five foot two. I’m a mum to teenage children, does that sound like fun to you?”
“So I go by Dallas Major but that’s not really my name. You know I used to be quite famous, that was way back in the day. Yes, I’m here for validation and I probably should explain. How my marriage has been open since my husband went astray.”
LILY Allen and David Harbour are selling their Brooklyn townhouse just days after her new album and are set to make millions in profit.
The stunning property has hit the market for a whopping $8 million (around £6m) after the pair bought it for just $3.3 million (£2.5m) in 2020.
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Lily Allen and David Harbour are selling their Brooklyn townhouse and are set to make millionsCredit: The U.S SunThe property was listed on Sunday, just two days after the release of Lily’s new albumCredit: Getty
The 19th-century townhouse only went on sale yesterday – two days after Lily, 40, released her breakup album which has been branded her “revenge” album by fans.
David had even made a shock “cheating” joke while doing a tour of their New York City home two years prior.
Lily and David bought the property under two separate trusts as co-owners, according to documents seen by The U.S. Sun, and made several renovations worth thousands.
Lying at the heart of Brooklyn and spread across four levels, the house has five bedrooms and four bathrooms interspersed throughout.
The property listing eloquently describes the home as a “layered narrative of traditional English charm, modern Brooklyn sensibilities and rich Italian influence”.
The main level opens out into an exotic living room wrapped in high-end Zuber wallpaper and “detailed crown mouldings”.
With a fireplace at its centre, the room is framed by glass doors that lead to a private backyard with a sauna and cold plunge at the owner’s disposal.
The kitchen is described as spacious with “plain English cabinetry” and houses a huge island as well as a custom-built banquette beneath is windows with natural light flooding the room.
Walk upstairs and you’ll find another sitting area with a fireplace as well as dual walk-in closets alongside the main bedroom.
There are two well-equipped guest bedrooms on the third floor as well as a skylit lounge and a home office.
There’s an additional guest suite on the garden level too with a powder room and casual living room, another fireplace and access to the backyard.
And a fully-furnished basement see’s a gym, ample storage and closet areas as well as a laundry room.
The pair took out a big mortgage on the house which they first purchased on November 16 2020 for $3.35 million.
The loan is listed for $2,512,500 with City National Bank in 2021, and they had until February 1, 2051 to pay it back.
They made extensive renovation on the property filing several building permits, many for tens of thousands, with the most expensive being for $282,600 and $265,600 for general construction.
Lily had moved to New York to start a new life with the US actor, who she wed in 2020 a year after meeting oncelebritydatingappRaya.
But five years later, one local resident said: “It appears no one has been home for quite some time”
“Every house on the street has Halloween decorations, but not Lily and David’s”
“It’s a very family-friendly neighbourhood, Lily was very active in the community when she lived here with David.”
The Smile singer has now moved back to London with her two daughters from her first marriage.
The pair wed in 2020 and moved into the Brooklyn townhouse in November of that yearCredit: AFPLily had moved to New York to start a new life with the US actorCredit: Getty
De Ridder’s four-fight UFC winning streak was snapped after he was unable to continue against Brendan Allen.
Published On 19 Oct 202519 Oct 2025
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Brendan Allen shook up the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight division in a big way, handing Reinier de Ridder his first promotional loss by securing a technical knockout (TKO) after the Dutchman’s corner deemed him unable to continue ahead of Round 5.
De Ridder was visibly exhausted in his neutral corner at UFC Fight Night in Vancouver on Saturday night, leading to the sudden ending in the main event of mixed martial arts (MMA).
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Allen (26-7 MMA) avoided de Ridder’s (21-3 MMA) devastating kickboxing ability by utilising his wrestling and controlling de Ridder with strikes from the top position.
De Ridder had few answers for the American fighter, as Allen stepped in on short notice after replacing fellow contender Anthony Hernandez (15-2, 1 no-contest MMA).
“It feels good to do exactly what I said I would do,” Allen said. “This was me three and a half weeks off the couch. I told you I’m a different monster. When my head is clear and we’re on, I’m the best in the world.”
With the UFC’s middleweight logjam in full effect, Allen said post-fight he has done enough to earn a title shot opposite champion Khamzat Chimaev (15-0 MMA).
“Come get it, baby,” Allen said.
De Ridder had not lost in 19 months.
Allen (blue gloves) on top of de Ridder (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Rogers Arena [Simon Fearn/Imagn Images via Reuters]An exhausted de Ridder is forced to throw in the towel between the fourth and fifth rounds [Simon Fearn/Imagn Images via Reuters]
In the co-main event, welterweight Mike Malott (13-2-1 MMA) dodged a bullet by avoiding a no-contest against Kevin Holland (28-15 MMA) after Holland’s protective shorts cup was compromised from a Malott leg kick gone wrong early in the fight.
A Malott arm-triangle choke attempt in the third round was not enough to secure the win either. Malott was eventually awarded the highly competitive five-round fight via decision: 29-28, 29-28, 29-28.
Aiemann Zahabi won his bantamweight bout by decision against former title challenger Marlon Vera (23-11-1 MMA). The final score had Zahabi victorious by a judges’ score of 29-28, 28-29, 29-28.
In women’s flyweight action, former title challenger Manon Fiorot (13-2 MMA) delivered a devastating TKO over Canada’s Jasmine Jasudavicius (14-4 MMA), set up by a flurry of punches to secure the stoppage win at 1:14 of the opening round.
Allen, centre, reacts after winning the fight against de Ridder [Simon Fearn/Imagn Images via Reuters]
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday vetoed legislation that would have phased out a range of popular consumer products, including nonstick pots and pans, that contain synthetic chemicals with potential links to cancer.
“I appreciate the efforts to protect the health and safety of consumers, and while this bill is well-intentioned, I am deeply concerned about the impact this bill would have on the availability of affordable options in cooking products,” Newsom wrote in his veto statement. “I believe we must carefully consider the consequences that may result from a dramatic shift of products on our shelves.”
The legislation would have prohibited the selling or distributing of cookware with intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, by 2030. It phased out PFAS in products for infants and children, ski wax, dental floss, food packaging and cleaning products starting in 2028. Previously used items would have been exempt.
Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), who introduced the legislation, Senate Bill 682, said he will continue to work on the issue moving forward.
“We are obviously disappointed,” he said. “We know there are safer alternatives — [but] I understand there were strong voices on both sides on this topic.”
Allen previously explained he introduced the bill to help protect the state’s water supply from contamination.
A study released in 2023 by the U.S. Geological Survey found tap water in urban areas of Southern and Central California is more likely to contain PFAS than the drinking water in most of the nation’s other regions.
“The water agencies, sanitation agencies and local governments are faced with increasingly impossible-to-meet standards just to keep the water supply for our constituents clean,” Allen said during a Senate committee meeting in April. “They’re facing the costs while the producers who keep pushing these products out on the market are not being held accountable.”
PFAS are commonly dubbed “forever chemicals” because of their well-established longevity. They are linked to adverse health effects, including liver enzyme changes and kidney and testicular cancer, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The chemicals have been used for decades to prevent food from sticking to pans or packaging, or to make materials more resistant to stains. California has taken steps in recent years to ban their use in certain items, like cosmetics and menstrual products.
Dozens of organizations weighed-in on Allen’s bill, with the Sierra Club, California Health Coalition Advocacy and the League of California Cities supporting the legislation.
The Chemical Industry Council of California and the Cookware Sustainability Alliance were among those opposed.
Steve Burns, president of the sustainability alliance, was especially concerned by the provision barring the distribution of the banned products.
“California is the entry point for nonstick cookware and other products that come into the Port of Long Beach, the Port of Los Angeles or the Port of Oakland, and then get distributed throughout the country,” he told The Times. “They go to warehouses, distribution centers and get loaded up on rail or usually trucks — so there’s a lot of jobs in the California economy that depend on products that have Teflon.”
Burns said science hasn’t shown that all PFAS are harmful and argued California should have studied the issue further. He pointed to Illinois, which recently passed similar legislation but ultimately nixed the line banning nonstick cookware. An amendment instead directs the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to assess scientific data on fluoropolymers, the type of PFAS used in nonstick pots and pans.
Several states have recently moved toward restricting items with PFAS. Last January, Minnesota became the first state to ban PFAS in cookware. The Cookware Sustainability Alliance filed a lawsuit arguing the law discriminated against out-of-state commerce. A judge dismissed the suit in August.
The sustainability alliance has shared letters of opposition on its website from several prominent chefs and culinary personalities, including cook and television host Rachael Ray and Mark Dommen, the chef at Hestan, a new restaurant in Napa slated to open later this year.
Dommen explained the legislation would have placed an unfair burden on restaurants and food service providers.
“Non-stick cookware is essential to our daily operations and eliminating these products without a viable alternative would drive up costs, disrupt our supply chain, and put California restaurants at a competitive disadvantage,” Dommen wrote.
Ray, who has a cookware line, argued easy-clean cookware helps families eat healthier by making it easier to prepare meals without extra oils or fats.
Her letter drew a gentle rebuke from actor and environmental activist Mark Ruffalo, who implored Ray on social media to reconsider her stance and said her advocacy on behalf of the cookware industry was putting the bill in jeopardy.
“Some of us have so much PFAS in our blood that we face a far greater risk of developing cancer,” he wrote in a recent letter shared on X. “Let’s work together to get PFAS out of the everyday products we bring into our home.”
Scientific studies about the health effects of PFAS will continue, according to the CDC.
“Ongoing research has identified associations between PFAS exposure and several health impacts,” the agency’s website states. “There are many factors that can influence the risk of these effects, such as exposure, individual factors and other health determinants. Research is ongoing to understand the mechanisms of PFAS toxicity.”
Times staff writer Melody Gutierrez contributed to this report.
Diane Keaton, the beloved star of “Annie Hall,” “The Godfather” and “The First Wives Club,” wooed audiences as much as she did her multiple Hollywood boyfriends. It seems that much remains true for ex-lovers Woody Allen and Al Pacino, whose high-profile romances with the Los Angeles native are back in the spotlight in the wake of her death over the weekend.
“Her face and laugh illuminated any space she entered,” Allen, Keaton’s “Annie Hall” director and co-star, wrote Sunday.
The acclaimed and controversial filmmaker reminisced on his dating relationship with Keaton for the Free Press, recalling how they first met in Manhattan in the late 1960s for his stage production of “Play It Again, Sam.” Allen’s first impression of the eventual Oscar winner was, he explained, as “if Huckleberry Finn was a gorgeous young woman.”
“The upshot is that she was so charming, so beautiful, so magical, that I questioned my sanity. I thought: Could I be in love so quickly?” he wrote, later describing their evolution from collaborators to romantic partners.
Keaton and Allen collaborated on eight movies, also including “Stardust Memories,” “Sleeper” and “Love and Death.” The 89-year-old director wrote that he “made movies for an audience of one, Diane Keaton,” and heavily valued her opinions on his work. As Allen praised Keaton’s radiating personality (“She was a million laughs to be around”) he recalled learning about her struggles with bulimia and spending Thanksgiving with her family in Orange County.
“Why we parted only God and Freud might be able to figure out,” Allen wrote.
Pacino, who shared the screen with Keaton in three “Godfather” films and dated Keaton throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, is also thinking about what could have been. “Looking back, Al admits the love of his life was Diane who he’s always called an ‘amazing woman,’ ” a source close to the 85-year-old actor told the Daily Mail.
“I know he will forever regret he didn’t make his move when he had the chance,” the source added. “For years after he and Diane split, Al used to say, ‘If it’s meant to be, it’s never too late for a do-over. But sadly, now it is.’ ”
After news of Keaton’s death spread Saturday, stars including Bette Midler, Steve Martin, Viola Davis and Kate Hudson paid tribute on social media. “What you saw was who she was,” Midler said of her “First Wives Club” co-star. Keaton never married and is survived by two adopted children, Duke and Dexter Keaton.
Allen closed his essay emphasizing the significance of Keaton’s death: “A few days ago the world was a place that included Diane Keaton. Now it’s a world that does not. Hence it’s a drearier world.”
“Still there are her movies,” he wrote. “And her great laugh still echoes in my head.”
British heavyweight David Allen’s fairytale headline show ended in a unanimous points defeat to Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov at a raucous Sheffield Arena.
Judges scored the fight 115-111, 117-109 and 116-10 in favour of Makhmudov.
The 33-year-old Allen had previously fought at the venue five times, but this was his first time as a headliner and a 9,000-strong crowd came out to support their South Yorkshire hero, who quit boxing five years ago and planned a quiet life.
He returned to the sport with titles on his mind, and for big nights like this.
“I’ve never, ever seen anything like it,” Allen said after the fight. “I nearly cried. I had to really choke it all back a bit on the ramp. I’m not finished.”
The imposing Makhmudov entered the fight with 19 knockouts from his 20 wins, and with just two defeats it made him the toughest opponent Allen has faced.
As chants of “There’s only one Dave Allen” rang around the venue, the home fighter had to bite down on his gumshield early on and take thudding blows from Makhmudov.
With the names of his children, Betty and George, etched on his shorts, Allen started to stalk Makhmudov, with a massive body shot followed by a right uppercut landing in the fifth round.
Allen sparked to life in the ninth round and connected with an overhand right, but Makhmudov showed toughness and durability.
In the 12th round, Makhmudov had a second points deduction – both were for holding. This, along with the roar of the crowd, encouraged Allen to push on and land another monstrous right hook, but it was not enough.
The ‘White Rhino’ has been here before – suffering some major setbacks during his 13 years as a professional.
Allen’s career appeared to be in tatters numerous times, but he has emerged from retirement and rebuilt over the past four years and will look to do so again.
A stoppage loss to David Price in 2019 ended with Allen being stretchered out of the ring and he gave up the sport the following year.
Allen’s attention turned to training young boxers Joe Hayden and Joe Howarth – both of whom won on Saturday’s Sheffield undercard – before confirming a return to the sport he loved at a “low level”.
After two wins via small hall shows, a loss to Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke was only a minor setback as Allen was quick to accept a fight with undefeated heavyweight Johnny Fisher, without knowing this would catapult his career.
Allen was on the wrong end of a contentious loss in Saudi Arabia before knocking out Fisher in a rematch at a sold-out Copper Box Arena in May 2025.
DAVE ALLEN could become a British boxing cult hero and break into the mainstream by toppling a Russian ‘Bond villain’ who wrestles bears.
In 2017, the Doncaster lad weighed in for a heavyweight clash on a David Haye undercard with a pair of XXL socks stuffed down his pants and a huge grin across his handsome face.
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Dave Allen is set to fight giant Dagestan fighter Arslanbek MakhmudovCredit: Getty
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Makhmudov has wrestled with BEARS on camera
The clip went viral, especially among the gay community, getting 16 million views and earning him countless proposals in his social media inboxes.
In the ring, he earned total respect from hardcore boxing fans who watched through their fingers as he funded a gambling addiction with brave defeats to prime versions of Dillian Whyte, Luis Ortiz, Olympic gold winner Tony Yoka and David Price.
Online followers also loved Allen’s relationship with nan Betty, which he shared in touching videos and photos.
We worried about his life going off the rails again when she passed away in 2022. But in a beautiful stroke of fate, Allen fathered his first child shortly after and named her Betty.
If you are a British boxing fan of a certain age, you will have watched the White Rhino’s career rollercoaster from exploited punchbag, to shock LGBT icon, to early retirement, to doting dad and budding property tycoon.
The honesty and humour he has always shared has made us cheer and fear — in equal measure — for Allen, who speaks openly about his former fighter father being tough on him.
But following a sensational knockout rematch win over Essex fighter Johnny Fisher in May, he is now at the peak of his pulling power.
Saturday night’s homecoming headline slot in Sheffield — against terrifying 6ft 6in Arslanbek Makhmudov of Dagestan — will provide a life-changing purse.
And a victory could take him closer to his very modest dream — for a man with his record and profile — of winning the often-overlooked British title.
He has the perfect dance partner in the grizzly-grappling knockout artist, 36, who even has a trademark tic of twisting his neck like a 007 foe.
Anthony Joshua sends emotional message to Dave Allen after boxer’s heroic battle with suicide and gambling demons
And Allen insists he has ditched his infamous ice-cream sandwiches to be in the best shape of his career.
So much so that he apologised for the first photos from the underwear modelling contract he unveiled, coming complete with paunch as the snaps were taken before he committed totally to this 34th professional training camp.
Despite being a hard and witty Yorkshireman — who has done hundreds of sparring rounds with the likes of Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury — Allen has never trash-talked or bad-mouthed an opponent.
He has built a loyal and invested fanbase by being brutally open and uncensored with his back story and struggles, while being humble and self-deprecating about his recent successes.
Even after the original 2024 draw with Fisher, he begged his 26-year-old pal and sparring partner not to take the rerun and to prolong his potential and profile with a different route.
And he seemed genuinely gutted to inflict such a thorough pasting upon him when he ignored the advice.
As a man and a fighter, Allen is a throwback. As a modern boxer, though, he has harnessed social media and YouTube to become a star.
The mismatched and utterly predictable defeats were horrible to watch but — combined with Allen’s unshakably authentic personality — they have made his underdog story one we are all desperate to see finish with a gloriously happy ending.
Allen vs Makhmudov – all the info
DAVE ALLEN returns to the ring for one of the biggest tests of his career this weekend!
Allen was selected by the Chargers – then based in San Diego – in the third round of the 2013 draft, but he has outlasted many of the wide receivers that were drafted after him.
“This record basically speaks to his consistency and his availability,” said McGeoghan, who was the Chargers’ wide receivers coach from 2018-2020.
“But his intelligence and his sophistication are what has allowed him to catch that number of passes over time. He’s great on third down, he’s one of the best chain movers in the history of the game.”
Allen currently has 11,563 receiving yards – fifth among current players, behind DeAndre Hopkins, Mike Evans, Travis Kelce and Davante Adams.
Along with Tyreek Hill and Stefon Diggs, they are the six current players to have claimed more receiving touchdowns than Allen (69).
Schecter said that for him to reach 1,000 receptions before them “shows how reliable a target he is for his quarterbacks”, yet he has a smaller profile than his peers listed above and is not lauded by fans for being a “big-time, flashy receiver”.
But McGeoghan said that Allen is “the most heralded guy that I’ve ever coached when it comes to the industry professionals”.
He added: “I would say that within the industry, when I go to speak at clinics and there’s nothing but coaches in there, all the people want to talk about is Keenan and his route craft, his ability to separate [from defenders], his understanding of zones, his release at the line of scrimmage. He’s just so refined and such a craftsman of the receiver position.”
Joshua Allen, the dancer who took home the crown on the fourth season of “So You Think You Can Dance,” has died after he was struck by a train in Fort Worth.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s database confirmed that Allen died early Tuesday morning at a local hospital. His manner of death and cause of death are pending, the database says. Allen was 36.
Police responded Tuesday around 1 a.m. to railroad tracks near the intersection of Millbrook Lane and Nuffield Lane, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. Officers found Allen, who had been struck by a train, and took him to a nearby hospital where he died, police told the outlet. Police did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment Wednesday.
Christina Price, who represented Allen, also confirmed his death, saying in a statement that “what stood out most about Joshua was his heart.”
“He had a natural gift for movement — no formal training, yet he could watch something once and his body just knew how to do it,” Price added.”Beyond his talent, he gave back, teaching kids in Texas through dance workshops.”
Allen’s family member confirmed the entertainer’s death to TMZ, which first broke the news. The family member did not disclose his cause of death and asked fans for “privacy and prayers.”
The Texas-based dancer auditioned for “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2008, impressing judges with his fluid movements, controlled popping and locking and springy leaps. Throughout the season, he proved his ability to take on a variety of dance styles ranging from contemporary to Bollywood. He remained a strong competitor, eventually besting fellow contestants for the grand prize.
Allen notably bested Stephen “Twitch” Boss, who died by suicide in December 2022. Boss was 40. Allen mourned Boss on Instagram, writing “NO WORDS will ever be enough to explain the LOVE I have for you Stephen.” At the time, he recalled connecting with Boss prior to their auditions and wrote, “This isn’t goodbye more so I’ll see you later.”
Price, who also represented Boss, said his death “weighed heavily on Allen” and that “it’s heartbreaking to now be grieving Joshua as well.”
After his “So You Think You Can Dance” days, Allen’s work included a McDonald’s commercial, a role in the debut season of “American Horror Story” and appearances in “Freak Dance,” “Step Up 3D,” and the 2011 “Footloose” remake, according to IMDb. He was also an instructor for several dance competitions.
Allen faced legal troubles in summer 2016, when he was accused of attacking his girlfriend at a coffee shop. The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office charged him with two felony counts of willfully injuring his girlfriend, one felony assault with a deadly weapon and four misdemeanors related to battery, vandalism and violating a protective order, according to TMZ. Allen was poised to be a mentor on Season 13 of “SYTYCD,” but longtime host Cat Deeley announced his departure from the series on-air amid his domestic violence case.
He pleaded no contest in August 2016 and was sentenced to one year in jail.
Mark Allen survived a spirited comeback from China’s Zhou Yuelong to win the English Open in a final-frame decider and claim his first ranking title in 19 months.
Northern Ireland’s Allen led Sunday’s final in Brentwood 6-2 and 7-3 before Zhou roared back to win five consecutive frames and lead for the first time.
Former world number one Allen, however, showed his own powers of recovery to win the last two frames and win 9-8 in a final that lasted seven hours over two sessions.
It is Allen’s 12th ranking title and first since the Players Championship in February 2024.
With Sunday’s victory, 39-year-old Allen earned the £100,000 top prize and lifted the Steve Davis Trophy for the first time.
It was a fitting end to the week for the former UK Championship and Masters winner, who also edged out Stuart Bingham, Ding Junhui, Elliot Slessor and Jak Jones in final-frame deciders to reach the final.
“I thought Zhou battled really hard in that second session, he played some good stuff,” said Allen.
“He put me under pressure, I missed a few balls and I was nervous. I missed a few that I shouldn’t have but at 8-7 I suddenly switched on a bit.
“It’s a good trait to have. I don’t want to keep relying on it but I felt as good as any part of the match in those last two frames, but I feel for Zhou, he probably deserved that for the character he showed.”
So Allen plays safe to get the cue ball to baulk and actually hits the jaws of the yellow pocket and just stays aboard!
Zhou Yuelong 8-8 Mark Allen (0-0)
On the stretch, Zhou gets a simple pot all wrong and misses into the right corner pocket.
The cue ball remains around the reds too but not sure if he’s gotten away with it and not left anything on.
Zhou Yuelong 8-8 Mark Allen (0-0)
Safety exchange to start the frame as you might probably expect.
Every shot carefully thought out as an error could spell the end.
Zhou Yuelong 8-8 Mark Allen
An enormous cheers greets both men as they return to the floor.
Zhou Yuelong to break in the decider.
Zhou Yuelong 8-8 Mark Allen
We’re heading to a decider!
Allen sinks the remaining balls after Zhou potted the cue ball and we’re going to have a 17th and final frame to decide our English Open winner.
And that decider will start after midnight, when they kicked things off at 1pm this afternoon. It’s been said so many times this week but that’s a completely absurd situation to expect sports stars to operate at their best in. Genuinely ridiculous.
But never mind. A one-frame shoot-out for £100,000!
Zhou Yuelong 8-7 Mark Allen (59-75)
Allen flukes a snooker when he hits the green this time.
Zhou makes contact with the green too but it sends the cue ball into the pocket after doing so!
IT’S CLEAR that The Masked Singer is a huge asset to the ITV schedule. From the reaction of viewers at home, it seems that the competition is the epitome of primetime Saturday night telly at it’s best.
Alongside the likes of Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain’s Got Talent, the guessing game is one of the top three entertainment shows for the broadcaster as up to seven million people tune in to watch.
When we look at the show, we have a real mix of personalities involved. Joel Dommett’s unique style as a host is carefully balanced by the sharp and witty panel of judges. We have singing star power in the form of Rita Ora, veterans of the business in the form of Davina McCall and Jonathan Ross and comedy value from Mo Gilligan.
The dynamics of the panel work perfectly as Jonathan would take sarcastic jibes at Rita as Davina and Mo would be in hysterics
Last series Rita was forced to take time of the show as she had other commitments across the pond. Huge names such as Nicole Scherzinger, Olly Murs and Jennifer Saunders took her place.
Rita’s star is only on the rise in Hollywood and she’s set to star in a new film alongside the likes of legends such as Robert De Niro and Jamie Foxx in Tin Soldier. This is alongside her marriage to Academy Award winner Taika Waititi.
Clearly not happy with a part-time panelist and a rotating roster of guest judges, ITV bosses have chosen another name to take her place as Love Island star Maya Jama will join the panel. We don’t need to be worried about Rita as she will still be on the US edition.
Maya is a clear favourite amongst telly fans as they love to see her front a show like Love Island and let’s be honest, she’s the perfect fit for it. She is stunning to watch, she’s always on-trend, and very much appeals to the young fan base that flocks to the ITV2 dating show.
But The Masked Singer is a different show on a different channel. Maya is no doubt well versed in the world of television, but she will be surrounded by stars on the panel with decades more experience on air and with more universal appeal. Rita also has huge star power thanks to all her work in the music industry with several hits under her name, something which – despite her undoubted recognition as a star presenter – Maya just does not have.
By some, this could be considered as a risky move for ITV. Especially as networks fight to retain the loyalty of viewers in an age of Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+. With such drastic replacement in the panel and the inevitable shift in dynamics, the show is clearly about to change.
She opted for neutral-toned paisley patterned shoes with ankle tassels to match her brunette bob hairdo.
In terms of accessories, the singer opted for a choker necklace and a black clutch with an arm-length chain strap.
Her bold red lip gloss was complemented by chunky black and gold earrings as she smiled for the cameras.
Also in red was chart-topping musician Maisie Peters who looked absolutely tiny in her slimming red gown.
The Good Witch hitmaker stunned in an ankle-length red lace gown with pastel coloured shoes.
She wore her signature circular rimmed glasses whilst she showed off her short blonde bob.
Maybe it was the reset for Slessor, who gets to 19 points in this break without much concern.
Elliot Slessor 4-4 Mark Allen
We’re headed for a decider!
And if you’ve been here for the last couple of hours, that absolutely won’t surprise you.
Slessor pots the pink before the pair have a couple of shots at putting the black safe.
That was, until Slessor leaves Allen the straightest pot he could hope for into the yellow pocket which he smashes away.
Only one winner from here but hopefully, for Slessor’s sake, the fact it’s a one-frame shoot-out will reset him. As the last hour and a bit has been pretty desperate to say the least.
Elliot Slessor 4-3 Mark Allen (46-59)
Oooooh, Allen misses the pink for the frame!
A routine pot too and the pink bounces away to safety and he takes a 13-point lead with 13 on the table!
Elliot Slessor 4-3 Mark Allen (46-0)
It WAS the big opportunity and again it goes begging for Elliot Slessor.
It’s actually getting tough to watch now as we tick into Saturday morning.
Mark Allen returns to the table once more.
Elliot Slessor 4-3 Mark Allen (33-0)
The Slessor break continues as he takes his time over each shot knowing this is his opportunity.
The Cincinnati Bengals have started 0-2 or worse in the past three seasons and Joe Burrow was 1-9 in the first two weeks in his career, so their one-point win against the Cleveland Browns will be a huge relief.
Even more encouraging was the fact the much-maligned defence stepped up to clinch their 17-16 victory.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Emeka Egbuka became only the second rookie since the 1970 merger to score a game-winning touchdown in the final minute as they edged Atlanta thanks to the Falcons missing a last-gasp field goal.
Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty scored as they beat the Patriots in New England, and Washington’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt had an even better debut with 82 yards and a score as the Washington Commanders dominated the New York Giants.
Matthew Stafford became the 10th player in NFL history to reach 60,000 passing yards as the Los Angeles Rams beat the Houston Texans, while the San Francisco 49ers lost George Kittle to a hamstring injury in victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Headline rookie Travis Hunter made his eagerly anticipated debut for the Jacksonville Jaguars, taking six catches for 33 yards as a receiver and playing six snaps on defence in a comfortable win over Carolina.
Top overall draft pick Cam Ward lost on his debut as the Tennessee Titans were beaten by the Denver Broncos.
As if we needed another reason to question Woody Allen’s judgment, the 89-year-old director praised President Trump as “polite” and “a pleasure to work with” on Bill Maher’s podcast, “Club Random.”
Allen, who cast Trump in a cameo appearance for his 1998 film “Celebrity,” said on Monday’s podcast that the then-real estate mogul “hit his mark, did everything correctly and had a real flair for show business.”
“As an actor, he was very good,” Allen said. “He was very convincing, and he has a charismatic quality as an actor. And I’m surprised he wanted to go into politics. Politics is nothing but headaches and critical decisions and agony.”
Trump’s latest critical decision as commander in chief? Sharing the filmmaker’s positive comments on his Truth Social account. Heavy hangs the crown …
But why would Trump even want Allen on his side?
Allen’s legacy as a groundbreaking filmmaker was tarnished by revelations about his personal life that emerged in the 1990s. It was revealed that he had a romantic relationship with his then-girlfriend Mia Farrow’s adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn. He was 56. She was 21. Allen’s own daughter with Farrow, Dylan, would later accuse Allen of sexually molesting her, claims that he denies. Even if fans want to separate the artist from news stories about the man, it’s difficult given that Allen’s films often reflect an obsession with youthful — and occasionally underage — women.
The president has been doing everything possible to bury his past associations with older men who allegedly prey on younger women. There’s this guy named Jeffrey Epstein …
There’s obviously no comparing Allen to the late convicted child sex trafficker, but why even open the door to such scrutiny? It’s because a compliment is a compliment, and there are so few of them coming from Hollywood that Trump could not help but copy, paste and post.
Maher responded to Allen’s flattering words about Trump with mock outrage: “How dare you?!”
Allen may have surprised listeners who know the director as a master satirist of the flawed personality, but Maher was right on brand. The 69-year-old has forged a career playing to all sides of contentious issues while sincerely committing to none.
Earlier this year, the host of HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher,” who describes himself as a “vocal critic” of Trump, caught flak for dining with the president at Mar-a-Lago, then later describing Trump as “gracious,” “not fake” and that “everything I’ve ever not liked about him was absent.” He praised Trump for being “measured” and not like the “person who plays a crazy person on TV.”
Larry David, the creator of “Seinfeld” and star of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” responded to Maher’s laudatory dinner recollection with a satirical essay in the New York Times titled “My Dinner With Adolf.” David wrote from the perspective of a “vocal critic” of the Nazi dictator who, over dinner, finds Hitler to be surprisingly “disarming” and “authentic.” The essay went viral.
During Monday’s podcast, Allen counterbalanced his kind words about Trump with the revelation that he voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. He also said that he disagrees with Trump on “99%” of issues.
After wondering aloud why Trump went into politics, Allen said, “This was a guy I used to see at the Knicks games, and he liked to play golf, and he liked to judge beauty contests, and he liked to do things that were enjoyable and relaxing. Why anyone would want to suddenly have to deal with the issues of politics is beyond me.”
Perhaps it’s about seizing total power? Exacting revenge on enemies such as his former national security advisor John Bolton? Scrubbing the Epstein files? Profiting off his office?
But let’s get back to Allen.
The director reiterated that he disagreed “with many, almost all, not all, but almost all of his politics, of his policies. I can only judge what I know from directing him in film. And he was pleasant to work [with], and very professional, very polite to everyone…
“If he would let me direct him now that he’s president, I think I could do wonders.”
He kids. But it was only just a few days ago that Allen came under fire for virtually attending the Moscow Film Festival as a guest of honor. He praised Russian cinema and hinted at wanting to shoot a film in the country. After some “measured” thought, perhaps Putin will get a cameo.
Lord Allen has today taken over as BHA Chairman, and, according to racing’s leaders, he will take the sport to a new era of prosperity.
1
Lord Allen is the man in charge of racing in Britain – and two issues above all others demand addressing now he is officially in the role
The celebrations have already started.
Betting and Gaming Council chief executive Grainne Hurst said: “The appointment of Lord Charles Allen as chair of the BHA is great news for the sport.
“Charles will bring the kind of authority and leadership that racing has been crying out for.”
Will he? Do you believe that? Evidence for this is what?
Firstly, don’t get me wrong here. I want Charles Allen to be the special one. And if he can do it working the odd day here and there then fair play.
But how could Hurst possibly know if what she says is factual or not? Basically it’s just words.
It’s just what people say when someone takes over a job of supposed authority.
Indeed, we haven’t only heard it before, we have heard it time and time and time and time again.
What was said about former BHA chief executive Julie Harrington on her arrival at BHA?
Well, chair Annamarie Phelps enthused: “This is a vital leadership role for the organisation and British racing.
“Julie’s hands-on knowledge of horseracing, coupled with her governance and business experience, make her the ideal person to carry on with the task of restoring sustainable prosperity after the Covid crisis.
“We’ve got the right person, for the right job, at the right time.”
Really? Laughable.
How about Nick Rust, another BHA chief executive?
BHA Chairman Steve Harman said: “I am delighted that Nick Rust is able to join us early in the New Year. I know he will do a great job.”
And then there was chief executive Paul Bittar.
Paul Roy, another Chairman of the British Horseracing Authority, said: “Paul Bittar is a racing enthusiast through and through.
“He combines keen management and financial skills with love for the sport and a well-informed understanding of the challenges that British Racing must overcome at this time.
“After a prolonged and painstaking search, the selection team was unanimous in putting him forward for the job.”
I’m not slagging these people. It’s up to you to decide whether racing has thrived under their tenure.
The point I’m making is the quotes are all the same. More Messiahs than George Frideric Handel!
And I like Handel.
Anyone who has worked in racing for a reasonable period, knows exactly how difficult it is to change its format and its funding mechanism.
They would also know it’s a nigh on impossible task to unite the different factions.
Let’s face it, most are in it for themselves. Few truly care if horse racing is thriving 50 years after their death.
So the Messiah is here. Just like the Messiahs before him. Let’s hope Lord Allen sparks a vibrant racing future.
He has the chance to do so instantly and can start with two things.
Sorting the expected Racing Tax and getting to grips with the nonsensical affordability checks.
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TELLURIDE, Colo. — Jeremy Allen White asked all the questions any normal human being would ask when offered the chance to play Bruce Springsteen in “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.” In theaters Oct. 24, it’s a movie that examines a slice of the rock legend’s career when he was battling depression and creating 1982’s incomparable exploration of alienation “Nebraska,” a record he didn’t know he was making when he recorded the songs on a primitive four-track tape machine in a rented New Jersey home. It turned out to be his favorite of all his albums.
Most of those questions could be boiled down to: Why me? White didn’t know how to play the guitar. He loves to sing but would never call himself a singer. And while he has a relationship with an audience, particularly those who have white-knuckled their way through his Emmy-winning work as Carmy, the talented and troubled chef on “The Bear,” he says it’s a far cry from the bond Springsteen has forged with his fan base for the past 50-plus years.
“The relationship a musician has with fans is so intimate,” White, 34, tells me the morning after the movie had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival. “You listen to him in the car, you go to see him live. He’s there in your ear and it’s just the two of you. You feel like you’re being spoken to. Bruce is so important to so many people. It was daunting. I didn’t want to disappoint.”
By the time we talked, though, White was well past any anxiety about disappointing, if only because he had the approval of the person who mattered the most: Springsteen himself.
“Jeremy tolerated me and I appreciated that,” Springsteen said at a festival Q&A, suggesting that his input on the movie was ongoing and significant — and also welcome. He noted that it was easy to sign off on director Scott Cooper’s vision for the movie, which, with its narrow focus on the deep dive of “Nebraska,” he called an “antibiopic.”
“And I’m old and I don’t give a f— what I do,” Springsteen added, laughing.
White and I are sitting in the sun outside his hotel, basking in the warmth the day after a steady rain. Wearing a battered Yankees cap, jeans, boots and a blue pullover, he’s sporting the casual uniform of the festival, if not the Boss himself. White asks if I mind if he lights an American Spirit. He reaches for his lighter. The premiere is over and his mood is light. We dive right in.
Jeremy Allen White in the movie “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.”
(Macall Polay / 20th Century Studios)
Was there an immediate point of connection with Springsteen? The more I talked with him, the more I learned. And at the point in his life we show in the movie, he was feeling so fraudulent. Not in his work, but as a human. He felt like he was being caught in a lie all the time. And I don’t want to speak for all actors, but I’ve certainly dealt with that kind of feeling.
It feels like there’s a line between your Springsteen and Carmy on “The Bear,” two men carrying generational trauma and emotional baggage they have no idea how to deal with. Do you see that? For sure, you can draw that line. They’re cousins. And they’ve both got their art, something they feel confident about. What Bruce was feeling in his relationship with his father and the environment he grew up in, is he felt incredibly unsafe. And that made it difficult for him to trust people and form real connections. For a long time, the only connection he felt was in that three hours he spent on stage.
But then what do you do the rest of the time? Absolutely. And I’m familiar with those feelings. But my home life as a child was more loving and supportive, so I had to do some creative work to find that tether to Bruce.
You mentioning Springsteen’s dad just popped a thought into my head. Is Carmy’s dad alive? [Long exhale] We don’t know. That’s a decision that’s up to [showrunner] Chris [Storer].
It’s above your pay grade. Well above.
You’re really good at playing men who have trouble articulating their feelings, which puts a lot of weight on your shoulders to convey an interior life through close-ups. Do you like that kind of acting? I do. You have to have an understanding. The camera knows. If you’re just staring at a wall and you don’t have anything going on, the camera will know. The audience will, too.
You do also get to rock out and sing “Born to Run” and “Born in the U.S.A.” How did your vocal chords feel afterward? I spent an afternoon singing “Born in the U.S.A.” and I got a migraine and I lost my voice. I saw Bruce afterward and he asked, “What’d you do today.” And I said [affecting a hoarse voice], “Uh, I recorded ‘Born in the U.S.A.’” And he smiles and says, “Sounds about right.”
Most of your singing is the “Nebraska” songs, these delicate acoustic songs about despairing characters who have lost hope. Putting across their stories in these songs feels like its own imposing challenge. I was so focused on just sounding like Bruce and my coach, Eric [Vetro], asks, “What are you singing about? What’s the story? Where’s Bruce coming from? Is he singing from his perspective? Is about his childhood? Is he playing a character?” All these questions that, for an actor, should be right at the front of mind. Because I was so anxious about sounding like him, I found myself blocked by the real thing, which was: How can I just sing the song as honestly as possible?
What song was the breakthrough? “Mansion on the Hill.” Bruce listened to it and said, “You do sound like me. But it’s you singing the song.” And that gave me permission, not just in recording the music, but making a film where I could tell his story but not be afraid to bring myself to it.
Did you have a favorite song? Probably “My Father’s House.” It seemed like a warning for me. There’s regret in it. What I heard is a song about a young man not wanting to regret that he didn’t reach out for his father, who he had a love and connection with earlier. There was an immediacy to it, which you then see with Bruce and his father in the film.
Did it make you want to call your dad? I called him right after recording that song in Nashville. Like many fathers and sons, we have a loving relationship, but we’ve also gone through periods where things have been difficult and it was hard to communicate. Making this film and singing this song has given me another perspective. It also coincides with getting older and having children of my own.
I’m glad you made the call. You can’t have those conversations after a certain point. That’s what I mean about the warning of that song.
You told me yesterday that you and Springsteen had a debate about “Reason to Believe.” What was the source of the disagreement? It’s the last song on the album and Bruce says people confuse it as being hopeful. He says that’s not correct. The song is about a woman whose husband has left her and she stands at the end of the driveway every day, waiting for him to come home. And I hear that, and I think, “Oh, that’s real love. That’s romance. Someone’s gonna drive down that road at some point.”
Either that or this poor woman is just going to be walking up and down her driveway the rest of her life. And no one’s gonna be there. It depends how your ear is on a song.
But you choose to believe. I choose to walk to the end of the driveway. Absolutely.
Would you call yourself an optimist? No. [Laughs] Not really.
“Nebraska” came out in 1982 and was informed by the idea that there was a growing divide between the wealthy and the poor and that what we think of as the American Dream was becoming more elusive. Where do you think the album sits more than four decades later? People are angry. That’s what seems to define our country right now. Anger. And it doesn’t seem to be going away. The songs on “Nebraska” are still going to be speaking to us four decades from now. They’re timeless.
Jeremy Allen White in the movie “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.”
(Macall Polay / 20th Century Studios)
Did your early dance background help you with the physicality of the role, the way he carries himself on stage or even just walking around? For sure. Finding the way he holds his gravity was important. I put little lifts in the boots and that made my posture change, my legs a little longer. Wearing the pants up to here [he points to a spot above his hips], that gets your gravity in your belly button, where I’m crouched over all the time.
There’s a lot of scenes in diners where he’s sitting with one arm over the back of the booth … … like he’s on his way out almost all the time. One foot in, one foot out.
Musician friends turned you on to “Nebraska” in your early 20s. What music were you listening to then? My folks are a little older so I grew up listening to a lot of music that Bruce listened to — Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, the Beatles, the Stones, Aretha Franklin.
Your parents had a strong record collection. Still do. And I grew up in in Brooklyn in the ’90s, so I got really heavy into hip-hop in my teenage years. I discovered Nas and Jay-Z and Big L and Wu-Tang. Tribe. De La Soul. And then I was around for an exciting time in the New York scene. I was young so I couldn’t really experience it, but the Strokes were coming out and LCD Soundsystem. I felt lucky to be close that stuff as it was happening.
The way you’re talking about all this, it feels like music is a fundamental part of your life. Absolutely. I love that it’s always with you. I’ve taken a couple of cross-country trips, and I love putting on Motown. I go through periods where I listen to the same 20 songs for a couple of weeks. But then I’ve got thousands of “liked” songs. And the nice part about a long drive is you can shuffle that and it’s like you’re traveling in time. I love getting to visit past versions of myself through music.
Springsteen takes an eventful cross-country trip in the film. What’s your most memorable one? I did one by myself when I was about 24. I thought I was going to give myself about two weeks to go from New York to L.A. The first week was great. I was enjoying my solitude, listening to a lot of music. Then when I hit Utah, I got incredibly lonely.
Did the landscapes get to you? Maybe. I had a certain amount of anonymity, which I enjoy on a road trip. You don’t know anybody in these towns and that allows you to be whoever you want to be, passing through. I remember getting to Utah and just being desperate to see somebody who knew who I was. And I got a flat in St. George, Utah. It was a disaster. My phone had died. I didn’t have a spare. I was out on the side of the road trying to borrow somebody’s phone. I took that as a sign. After I got it repaired, I raced to have dinner with a friend, because I felt this this crazy loneliness.
Springsteen says everyone has their “genesis moment,” an experience that charts your path. His was watching Elvis Presley perform on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1956. What’s your genesis moment? I had been dancing on stage but I didn’t act until I was 14 when I got up in front of a group in middle school. I had this great teacher, John McEneny, and he was having us do this improvisational exercise — two characters, one speaking, one quiet. And my friend, Yael, was playing a mother and I was playing her child who didn’t know how to speak yet. So I wasn’t speaking, like so much of my work [Laughs].
It’s Carmy’s genesis moment too. Yes. And I remember feeling a presence. I had a hard time focusing as a child, a hard time being present. Still do. But I remember even in silence feeling so at ease and present. And of course I remember the eyes. And even without me doing anything or speaking, I felt attention, people waiting to see what I would do next. And I went, “Whoa.” I felt at peace. I felt present and people were interested. And I thought, “Let me follow this a little bit and see where we can go.”
There’s a scene in the movie, taken from real life, where Springsteen is flipping through the channels one night and stumbles upon Terrence Malick’s “Badlands,” a movie that ultimately influences “Nebraska.” With streaming, we don’t really have those serendipitous discoveries any more. Have you ever had a moment like that? I can’t think of one. But “Badlands” was a favorite of my parents and they showed it to me when I was 13 or 14. Martin Sheen was cool as hell in that role, and I was so impressed with his commitment to that character. And Sissy Spacek conveys so much with so few words.
And like “Nebraska,” “Badlands” was difficult to make. There was a lot of pushback against Malick and what he was trying to do. There was a lot of confusion going on. They weren’t on the same page. Like with Bruce, it took a lot of diligence on Terrence Malick’s part to realize his vision. It’s so beautiful when you hear about the process of making a film is so difficult, and then something so beautiful and perfect comes out.
Where do you like to see movies in L.A.? I love the New Beverly. I saw “2001: A Space Odyssey” at the Egyptian not long ago. The Aero, if I’m on the Westside. I miss the Cinerama Dome and the Arclight. New movies, probably the Sunset 5. My favorite thing is go to a movie on a Tuesday at like one in the afternoon. You’re there by yourself. I like seeing movies by myself. Some people get out of a movie and like to start talking about it. I like getting out of a movie and being quiet for awhile.
Did you see “Weapons”? That was my favorite movie theater experience this summer. I loved “Weapons.” And obviously, it’s a great horror film and funny at times and that ending is just crazy. But also I found myself very emotionally affected. To me the horror of the movie was about, from the child’s perspective, looking at all these adults who were totally incapable, whether it was due to addiction or narcissism.
Bringing this full circle, I’m watching this movie about kids feeling unsafe and I thought of the times in Bruce’s upbringing where he felt a similar way and how that made it so difficult to grow up and be trusting. That he ultimately got to that place is so beautiful. I hope people come away from watching this movie feeling that and, if they’re in a place that’s not so good, maybe thinking that connection can still be possible.
