Lena Dunham apologizes again for defending accused rapist: 'I did something inexcusable'
Another day, another Lena Dunham apology.
The Girls creator published an essay in The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday focused on her defense of a Girls writer and producer who was accused of rape. Last year, actress Aurora Perrineau alleged that Murray Miller raped her in 2012 when she was 17 and he was 35, The Wrap reported at the time. She filed a police report but Miller, who denied the allegation, was ultimately not charged. When the report first surfaced, Dunham released a statement standing behind Miller and suggesting she knew the accusation wasn't true because of "insider information" she had, per Variety.
But in her Wednesday essay, Dunham admitted she never had any insider information at all. Instead, she had "blind faith in a story that kept slipping and changing and revealed itself to mean nothing at all." Dunham says defending Miller, someone she "had loved as a brother," was "inexcusable," adding, "There are few acts I could ever regret more in this life." She released her statement coming from a place of wanting to "feel my workplace and my world were safe," she says, which was "a privilege in and of itself."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Dunham had previously apologized for her defense of Miller and said in an interview with The Cut last month that she wrote her statement while "high as a f---ing kite" recovering from surgery.
Speaking directly to Perrineau, Dunham writes that she will "always work to right that wrong," also thanking the actress for making her "a better woman and a better feminist." Read the full essay at The Hollywood Reporter.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The influencer court case shaking up social media
Under The Radar TikTok star accuses her rival of stealing her beige 'aesthetic' but are there shades of grey in US copyright law?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Mitch McConnell's legacy?
Talking Point Moving on after a record-setting run as Senate GOP leader
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'A man's sense of himself is often tied to having a traditionally masculine, physical job'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published