David Harbour on Lily Allen’s Divorce Album: “That Was Not My Experience”

David Harbour on Lily Allen’s divorce album: “That was not my experience.” The “Stranger Things” star broke his silence for the first time since the release of his ex-wife’s provocative album and declined to confront the allegations of infidelity and a toxic relationship. This was not the only piece of dirty laundry to come out, and in the same interview Harbour also brushed off reports about the harassment complaint filed against him by Millie Bobby Brown: “I had a breakdown.”

Actor David Harbour responded for the first time in an interview published today, Wednesday, to the ugly divorce album his ex-wife, singer Lily Allen, released eight months ago. “Heartbreak is a gift,” he said. “Lily Allen is not seeking revenge.” Report: The “Stranger Things” star complained about harassment by actor David Harbour.

Allen’s much-discussed album, West End Girl, dealt with the painful breakdown of the marriage between the two and included detailed descriptions of a toxic, deceitful relationship and emotional manipulation. The British singer described the songs on the album as a mixture of fact and fiction, and it was released less than a year after the two separated.

“It was strange,” Harbour said for the first time in an interview with Variety. “I believe every artist has the right to use their life experiences to create art, so I respect her for that.”

Harbour chose not to go further into the matter. “I can’t really say much more than that because it’s my private life. Even though a lot of people don’t allow me privacy, I value it. And I also value the lives of the people I have private relationships with. I just won’t talk about it.”

When asked whether he wanted to refute some of the claims in the album, he replied: “Stories are complex. That’s why I say I respect her artistic work and the way she channeled her experience into it. It just was not my experience.”

The song about the “mistress” Madeline: in an interview with Vogue, Allen said at the time, “There are things on the album that I experienced within my marriage, but that doesn’t mean everything is absolute truth. It is definitely inspired by what happened in the relationship.” Since its success, the British star has gone on tour, and she is also in talks to develop a stage play based on the album’s songs. In any case, West End Girl.

This was not the only piece of dirty laundry that came out and Harbour, the star of “Stranger Things” and more recently the series DTF St. Louis, had to deal with. Days after the album’s release, the British tabloid Daily Mail reported that Millie Bobby Brown, the lead actress in “Stranger Things,” had filed “pages upon pages” of a bullying and harassment complaint against him. The report came at a particularly awkward time, about three weeks before the fifth and final season of the Netflix hit was set to premiere, alongside a massive publicity campaign.

Advertisement David Harbour | Photo: Michael Buckner, Variety via Getty Images

“I had a breakdown”

In the latest interview, the 51-year-old Harbour described the publication as false and said: “I had a breakdown.” He noted that the timing was “strange,” since it came just one week after Allen released the much-discussed album, which included sharp criticism of him, and when his name was already making negative headlines in the gossip columns.

“Millie and I worked together for ten years, throughout her teenage years, playing father and daughter,” said Harbour, who has previously spoken about his struggle with bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression. “I don’t know if people have family or friends they spend that much time with, but from time to time there are arguments and disagreements. In a family that’s okay, because you argue and then make up. The problem is that when it’s a series worth billions of dollars, there are hundreds of people who want to get involved.”

Advertisement Millie Bobby Brown | Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage, Getty Images

However, Harbour admitted that at times he behaved in ways he considered “embarrassing” on set. “I think a lot of people have a friend, brother, or co-worker who struggles with mental health, and they’re probably pretty confused when that person goes into depression, mania, or has an episode. In times of extreme stress, that can lead to somewhat unstable behavior, and it’s embarrassing and I’m ashamed of it. It’s not my choice, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. I feel that sometimes our talents are inseparable from our illnesses. A nervous system that reacts to the world too sensitively can allow me to create moments I love so much as an actor, but also cause me, in moments of extreme stress, to behave a little strangely.”

About his current relationship with Brown, he said: “Millie and I are working together on several projects. You’ll see more from me and her. Ten years wasn’t enough. There is a special bond between us. I love her, and she loves me.”

Brown herself, 22, also issued a positive statement about their relationship, while acknowledging that there were also complicated moments during their time working together: “Over time our relationship became much more collaborative creatively. When you work with someone for so many years, you can push each other emotionally within the scenes. Although the series ended, there is still a lot of gratitude. The experience I shared with him over all those years is something I will always remember and appreciate.”