Lily Allen snubbed the Brit Awards on Saturday night, choosing a cosy night on the sofa instead of attending the star-studded ceremony in Manchester, despite being shortlisted for three prizes.
The 40-year-old singer ultimately walked away empty-handed, missing out on Best Album for West End Girl along with her other nominations.
If she was disappointed, Ms Allen wasn't appearing to let it ruin her night.
As the lengthy ceremony dragged on, her longtime friend Miquita Oliver posted a cheeky snap on Instagram showing Ms Allen mid-yawn on the sofa.
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Lily Allen snubbed the Brit Awards on Saturday night
| PAThe playful snap quickly made the rounds online, with fans interpreting it as a blunt verdict on the evening’s proceedings.
However, according to insiders, the Smile singer was "bitterly disappointed" not to have been offered a performance slot at the music spectacle and received advance indication that she would be leaving without any trophies.
A source told the Daily Mail: "She didn't want to be a storyline for attending and not winning. She anticipated the cameras pining for her reaction so it was best all round for her to just not make the trip to Manchester - especially as she wasn't even performing."
The insider added that Ms Allen had been "chuffed" about her nominations and had hoped to secure at least one award to celebrate her emotional comeback record.
Lily Allen's longtime friend Miquita Olive showed Ms Allen mid-yawn in an exaggerated display of boredom
|Ms Allen had been battling a cold in the days leading up to the ceremony, and with her first tour in seven years commencing today in Glasgow, both she and her management team were unwilling to risk a night of celebration.
The singer had previously informed fans via Instagram that she was feeling unwell and doing everything possible to be ready for her opening performance.
Her sold-out Lily Allen: Performs West End Girl tour continues with four additional dates this week before spanning throughout March, followed by North American shows in April.
The source noted: "It made sense to focus on tour preparations, that was always going to take precedence over an award show appearance in which she would leave empty-handed."
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Lily Allen and David Harbour split in early 2025
|GETTY
Organisers had fully anticipated Ms Allen's attendance, even incorporating her into the seating arrangements alongside a Madeline sponge cake, a playful reference to her track exposing her ex-husband David Harbour's alleged affair.
Ms Allen split from Mr Harbour in early 2025 after four years of marriage, with the allegations of infidelity said to have triggered the breakdown.
She channelled the fallout into her fifth album, West End Girl, released in October, a raw account of betrayal and non-monogamy.
The track Madeline appeared to reference an alleged emotional affair, which has been denied by the woman linked to the song.
Ms Allen has since confirmed she is in a new relationship and is set to tour the album later this year.
Host Jack Whitehall acknowledged the singer during his opening remarks, quipping that her album "was launched into the charts like a torpedo, only this torpedo didn't sink a ship, it destroyed a harbour."
Ms Allen is dating again and has officially confirmed her relationship with Jonah Freud, a 28-year-old London-based writer, artist, and founder of the bookstore/bar Reference Point.
Olivia Dean took home all of the awards that Ms Allen was nominated for
| GETTYAfter months of speculation, Ms Allen confirmed the romance in a Grazia interview in February 2026, where she referred to him as her "boyfriend".
Despite the fanfare, Olivia Dean dominated the evening, claiming victories in all four categories where she was nominated, including the Artist of the Year, Best Album and Best Pop Act prizes that Ms Allen had been competing for.