Lily Allen reveals James Corden was once her 'beg friend' and claims he was 'flirtatious' with her

LONDON, UK: Lily Allen has shed light on her early friendship with James Corden, describing the TV host as once being "flirtatious" and a "beg friend."

During a recent episode of her podcast 'Miss Me?' the singer recounted how Corden, now 45, used to seek her attention when they first met in 2008, as reported by the New York Post.

Lily Allen reveals James Corden was once ‘flirtatious’ and ‘beg friend’

"James Corden was a bit of a beg friend for me,” Allen shared while answering a listener's question about famous "beg friends." The term "beg friends" refers to individuals who are overly eager to gain someone's favor, often perceived as sycophants.

Allen, 39, and her co-host Miquita Oliver, 40, reminisced about their experiences with Corden. The 'Smile' singer recalled that the 'Prom' actor was a guest on her 2008 talk show 'Lily Allen and Friends,' where he displayed flirtatious behavior and quickly integrated into her social circle.

"He was very flirtatious with me, and we sort of made friends. I introduced him to a group of my friends," Allen said. She humorously noted that their dynamic has since changed, "He’s not begging me anymore. I’m not begging him either. I can’t do anything for him now. He’s good.”

Allen further explained her definition of a "beg friend," describing it as someone who persistently seeks attention despite being ignored. She acknowledged that both she and Oliver have been guilty of such behavior in the past, even admitting she has "beg-friended" fellow singer Charli XCX.

The podcast episode also touched on Allen's strained relationships with former collaborators.

Reflecting on a past partnership from her 2014 album 'Sheezus,' Allen discussed how personal and professional conflicts intertwined, particularly during her divorce from Sam Cooper.

“We were working together, but we were also close friends, and then it sort of coincided with the breakdown of my marriage,” Allen said.

Allen, who was married to builder and decorator Sam Cooper from 2011 to 2018 and has two daughters, Ethel and Marnie, tied the knot with actor David Harbour in 2020 after they met during the filming of 'Black Widow' in 2019.

Reflecting on a past relationship, Allen shared, “That person was quite happy to sort of sit and point the finger at me, and watch my demise, and point and laugh about what a downward spiral I was on.”

She added, “And then recently, since this podcast has been going quite well, I’ve heard from several people that they have been asking, ‘How’s Lily? I really miss her. It’d be really great if we could get back in touch again, and I really regret what happened.'”

Although the individual hasn’t directly reached out, Allen stated, “I’m not into it. I don’t need it. I’m really happy with my life and friends. I don’t need that energy.”

James Corden’s ‘flirtatious beg friend’ label by Lily Allen triggers online reactions

Lily Allen's recent revelation about James Corden being a "flirtatious beg friend" has sparked a variety of responses on social media. 

Online users have been quick to share their thoughts on Allen's comments. One user remarked, "The British really like being dramatic."

Another user humorously advised, "Dear Kevin Bacon, stay clear of this one. More than the usual 6 degrees."

Not all reactions were light-hearted. Some comments took a more critical tone towards both Allen and Corden. One user wrote, "So she is a chubby chaser and now she's sad?" while another commented, "Sheezus, what a shallow lonely Brit."

"I can understand why he would be a begger, he has absolutely no talent," another user wrote.

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