Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
ACTRESS LENA DUNHAM, the creator of HBO series Girls, has apologised to fans after she backed one of her show’s male writers, who has been accused of sexual assault, and cast doubt on the claims.
Dunham – who faced serious backlash over the comments – said it was the “wrong time” to make such a statement, adding: “Every woman who comes forward deserves to be heard, fully and completely”.
Dunham drew widespread criticism over the weekend after actor Aurora Perrineau claimed Murray Miller raped her when she was 17 in 2012. Miller has “categorically and vehemently” denied the claim.
In a joint statement with Girls’ executive producer Jenni Konner, Dunham said that she stood by Miller.
“Our insider knowledge of Murray’s situation makes us confident that sadly this accusation is one of the 3% of assault cases that are misreported every year. It is a true shame to add to that number, as outside of Hollywood women still struggle to be believed. We stand by Murray and this is all we’ll be saying about this issue.”
Critics pointed out that Dunham is a high-profile feminist and in August tweeted that women don’t lie about rape.
💎 Lena Dunham 💎 / Twitter
💎 Lena Dunham 💎 / Twitter / Twitter
The statement drew widespread backlash from across the internet, with writer Zinzi Clemmons quitting from Dunham’s feminist newsletter Lenny.
Last night, following the backlash, Dunham apologised for her comments, but not to the woman who accused Miller.
“As feminists, we live and die by our politics, and believing women is the first choice we make every single day when we wake up.
Therefore I never thought I would issue a statement publicly supporting someone accused of sexual assault, but I naively believed it was important to share my perspective on my friend’s situation as it has transpired behind the scenes over the last few months.
“I now understand that it was absolutely the wrong time to come forward with such a statement and I am so sorry. We regret this decision with every fiber of our being.
“Every woman who comes forward deserves to be heard, fully and completely, and our relationship to the accused should not be part of the calculation anyone makes when examining her case. Every person and every feminist should be required to hear her. Under patriarchy, ‘I believe you’ is essential.
“Until we are all believed, none of us will be believed. We apologise to any women who have been disappointed.”
Transparent
Separately, Emmy-winning actor Jeffrey Tambor announced yesterday he is leaving the Amazon series Transparent after two women accused him of sexual harassment.
“Playing Maura Pfefferman on ‘Transparent’ has been one of the greatest privileges and creative experiences of my life,” Tambor told Deadline Hollywood magazine about the transgender role.
“What has become clear over the past weeks, however, is that this is no longer the job I signed up for four years ago.”
Deadline said the show had already been considering writing off the character played by the US actor, who has also won a Golden Globe for the role, after allegations first emerged against him earlier this month.
“I’ve already made clear my deep regret if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being aggressive, but the idea that I would deliberately harass anyone is simply and utterly untrue,” Tambor said.
“Given the politicised atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don’t see how I can return to Transparent.”
Tambor has won critical acclaim for his portrayal of a transgender woman whose family is coming to terms with the transition.
The claims against him have been brought by his former assistant, transgender actress Van Barnes, and another transgender actress featured on the show, Trace Lysette.
With AFP reporting
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The most interesting thing I heard today was Peter Mandelson being interviewed with Nigel Lawson on BBC Radio 4′s Today programme. He said that he only met her once after he was appointed Secretary for Northern Ireland.
She came up to him and said “You cannot trust the Irish. They are all liars. Just do not forget it.”
If true it says a lot about Thatcher. I say if true, after all it was Peter Mandelson.
If she was referring to the politicians (most likely as they were the only irish she would have dealt with), could anyone disagree?
In the same interview, he also said
“Lord Mandelson, one of the central architects of New Labour, has criticised the scale of the funeral but accepted the Iron Lady “reframed British politics”.
“I think what she was right to do was to bring home to us the reality that Britain could not afford rampant inflation, that state monopolies needed commercialising, that personal tax rates were too high and that enterprise was too unrewarding,” he said.
“She was also right to argue that deregulation can be a valuable spur to innovation and efficiency and of course she tackled what was then a very disruptive and irresponsible trade union culture.
“But the truth is also that in cutting back the state necessarily, she overlooked what the state can also do successfully.”
She was referring to Haughey and his ilk. To suggest CJH was untrustworthy. God forbid!
We’ve all made our opinions one way or another over the week. Time to move on….she gone!
No but her policies are more alive than ever. Thats what i think most people have an issue with.
Agreed, but she’s gone..
man, cameron has a beor of a wife
Ye would never think she’s had four kids….homina homina.
My hate for her has died with her.
Seemed pretty dignified to me
A charade foisted on the British people. A unique opportunity for the Establishment to exert their authority over the common man. The usual plethora of people dressed in funny hats, wigs and medieval garb. It seemed fitting that the chief mourner was a convicted criminal and the church had the required smattering of right wing politicians, homophobics and reactionaries. Wonder what the old queen said to Philip as the coffin passed her by? She didn’t seem too happy with the whole shebang. Anyway, as someone said above, it’s over and as the incumbent government has not experienced the Thatcher bounce, hopefully Thatcherism, which has blighted so many people’s lives has heard its death knell.
We’ve literally heard the death knell but Cameron and his cohorts are attempting to outdo her.
Surely the best way to protest the iron lady’s funeral would be to show up with a giant magnet?
Yeeeeeugh – a monster.
A who’s who of war criminals and tyrants attended. Solve a lot of the worlds problems by sending half of the people there with her.
They can’t all be like sunshine and ice cream like El Comandante Hugo Chavez now can they?
Chavez a war criminal amd tyrant?? Good one. Come back 2 me when u know what the f**k ur talking about.
300,000 dead people. He killed them. The man was a tyrant.
Explain how he killed 300,000 people ?
You should say PINOCHET instead
I think the initial hype of the hatred towards her has faded during the week and these “rot in hell” people have become tiresome. She’s dead and that it end if story!
Margaret Thatcher is dead,when did this happen ???
Everyone will come, everyone will come
To her funeral to make sure that she stays dead
Everyone will come, everyone will come
To her funeral to make sure that she stays dead, dead DEAD
(Marilyn Manson – Rusted Horses )
Does anybody know who was invitied from Ireland?
Ruairí Quinn I think….
Go dté tú Slán
“There was twice as many security as mourners with some 4,000 police officers deployed at the event”
250,000 people turned out to mourn and pay their respects [ plus a handful of misfits].
The unattended crowd barriers (photo 2) would remind you of a certain other individual’s funeral…. closer to home?? Maybe they’ll be comparing turnout figures tonight…
have your say