Fan Fare

British popster Lily Allen has issued a statement addressing remarks she made in a magazine interview about illegal drugs which caused a bit of a brouhaha in the media over the last 24 hours.

Speaking to “The Word” ahead of the launch of her new album “It’s Not Me, It’s You”, on the EMI label, she said: “The only story is that drugs are bad and they will kill you. You will become a prostitute or a rapist or a dealer. But that’s not true. I know lots of people that take cocaine three nights a week and get up and go to work every day, no problem at all.”

Some readers would think the comments fairly harmless, but a handful of voices expressing shock and outrage were enough to get the 23-year-old’s publicity machine grinding into action.

“At no point does she say that drugs are a good thing or that she condones drug use,” said a statement from the singer. It later adds: “Lily Allen would like to state unequivocally that she does not condone illegal drug use and has every sympathy with individuals and families whose lives have been blighted by drugs.”