Lily Allen casts Dakota Johnson as Madeline on SNL

Lily Allen added a new wrinkle to the Madeline mythology during her performance on Saturday evening live.

When Allen, 40, sang “Madeline” as her second song SNL on Saturday, December 13, she was joined on stage by Fifty shades of gray star Dakota Johnson. Johnson’s identity was hidden behind curtains for most of the performance, while Allen sang about having “an appointment” with a partner.

“Be discreet and don’t be blatant / And there was a price to be paid,” Allen sang. “It had to be with strangers / But you’re not a stranger, Madeline.”

Johnson relayed Madeline’s response via text message: “I hate that you are in so much pain right now. I really don’t want to be the cause of any upset. He told me that you knew this was going on and that he had your full consent. If he is lying about that, please let me know. Because I have my own feelings about dishonesty.”

“Lies are not something I want to get involved in. By the way, you can always contact me,” Johnson read. “If you need any more details or just want to vent or something. Love and light, Madeline.”

Johnson stepped on stage to kiss Allen on the cheek at the end of the performance.

Allen was married to Stranger things actor David Haven from 2020 to 2024 and then chronicled their separation on her fifth studio album West End girlwhich was released in October.

“I made this record in December 2024 and it was a way for me to process what was happening in my life,” Allen said. British Vogue that same month. “There are things that I went through in my marriage, but that doesn’t mean it’s all gospel. It’s inspired by what happened in the relationship [and] confusion, sadness, sadness [and] helplessness.”

There has been endless speculation about repeated references to Allen’s unnamed romantic partner having an affair with a woman named “Madeline” on the Internet. West End girl.

“So I read your lyrics, and now I regret it / I don’t understand how you played tennis,” Allen sings in the “Tennis” chorus. “If it was just sex I wouldn’t be jealous / You don’t play with me and who is Madeline?”

On the song “Madeline,” Allen writes about confronting the other woman: “I know none of this is your fault / Messaging feels kind of offensive / Saw your text, that’s how I found out / Tell me the truth and his motives.”

Allen told London The times that Madeline is “a fictional character,” or, more accurately, a construct of several people.

“I just feel like we’re living in really interesting times — in terms of how we define intimacy and monogamy, whether people are disposable or not,” she explained. “The way we are intimate with each other is changing as people. Many young women no longer find the idea of ​​marriage or even a long-term relationship so attractive.”

Allen continued, “I don’t know [that] it is necessarily bad. Many people from my parents’ generation stayed together forever and were miserable. You didn’t have endless choices, so maybe you worked on something more difficult. But now that is no longer necessary.”

Harbour, 50, has not yet commented on his divorce from Allen other than making a brief statement GQ in April.

“I protect the people and the reality of my life,” he said. “That form of involvement makes no sense [with rumors] because it is all based on hysterical exaggeration.”

Although he didn’t discuss his divorce directly, Harbor later opened up Esquire UK that he hoped to find ‘love’ again.

“There are personal things that I want to do, and people that I want to love, and be good to, and cherish, things like that,” he said in November.

Allen’s performance has begun Saturday evening live this week marked her return to the show after an 18-year hiatus. She previously performed on the sketch comedy show in February 2007.

Saturday evening live airs its holiday show on December 20 on NBC at 11:30 PM ET with host Ariana Grande and musical guest Cher.