Singer Lily Allen Stirs Up Heated Parenting Debated After 'Hurtful' Comment About Having Children

Lily Allen and her daughters, Marnie Rose and Ethel

Lily Allen's recent comments on parenting as a pop star are stirring up some strong feelings.

Today shared a quote from the singer's interview with Radio Times Podcast, where she opened up about the impact having kids has had on her music career, on the program's own Instagram account, leading to a heated debate between followers after stating that her daughters "ruined [her] career."

She added, "It really annoys me when people say you can have it all because, quite frankly, you can't," before clarifying "I love them and they complete me. But in terms of pop stardom, totally ruined it."

“Some people choose their career over their children, and that’s their prerogative," she continued, discussing the balance—or sometimes lack thereof—between being a mother and maintaining fame. But the "Smile" songstress grew up with "absent" parents, which left her with "some nasty scars" she doesn't plan to "repeat" on her own kids.

Fans were notably torn by the comments, with many feeling as though she were overreacting—not to manage potentially hurting her girls with her comments.

"So now this will be out there forever and now her kids could see this and feel crappy," one comment read. "You can’t say things like that."

"Yikes. That’s pretty hurtful," another said, questioning how it makes her any "different from her own parents in saying this?"

"Don’t blame your kids honey," another said, "plenty of stars have kids and success."

Some pointed to famous mothers like Beyoncé, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Whitney Houston, who've all had "a successful career" after having kids, while other accused them of not "momming full time," leaving their kids with nannies instead.

"People are missing the boat," they said. "She doesn’t regret her kids. She’s saying she chose to be present and RAISE her kids...The point of this quote is that women CANNOT have it all- society just isn’t built that way. Preach girl! So true."

Others agreed that the quotes were "taken out of context," and "sounded so cruel in reading it" in comparison to listening to it. "...she’s saying she doesn’t regret her children but chose them over pursuing her career further. What’s wrong with that?" one questioned.

"She’s spot on," another agreed. "She’s just calling out the brutal honesty of how having children completely sacrifices your life, body, finances & career for a good chunk of time. I think it’s great to be so honest about this."

Many followers wished others would follow in Allen's footsteps and open up about "the challenges of being a woman in the music industry."

"I feel like she actually honors how much of yourself you have to dedicate when you have kids to actually actively parenting," another comment read. "Sometimes that means other dreams die. That doesn't mean you've lived less. That just means you've dedicated your best effort to one aspect of your life you decided mattered to you more."

Next: Gwyneth Paltrow Recalls Her 'Difficult' Relationship With Stepkids