Lily talks about sexual assault

London: Singer Lily Allen has claimed she was sexually abused by a music industry executive. Allen has given her first detailed account of a record industry executive sexually assaulting her as she slept, warning that similar abuse is "rife" in the music business, reports theguardian.com.

Describing a hierarchical world that "allows and sometimes even endorses toxic behaviour by men towards women", Allen details an industry which trades in "a potent mix of sex, youth and availability" in her memoir 'My Thoughts Exactly', to be published later this month.

The 33-year-old, who has previously discussed in general terms an incident where a powerful industry figure abused her, recounts the details of her experience with a record industry executive who assaulted her after she had fallen asleep in his hotel bed.

Allen alleged: " I could feel someone trying to put their penis inside my vagina and slapping my arse as if I were a stripper in a club. I moved away as quickly as possible and jumped out of the bed, full of alarm...I found my clothes quickly...and ran." Allen says she blamed herself for the assault because she had been drinking, reports theguardian.com. She expressed her frustration that she did not confront or report the man's behaviour, because he had more power and money than her, and that she feared being labelled "hysterical" and a "difficult woman".