Lena Dunham Apologizes After Comparing Website To Abusive Husband

Photo by Broadimage/REX Shutterstock

Girls star Lena Dunham is apologizing to fans after making insensitive comments in which she compared the website Gawker to a physically abusive husband.

Dunham made the comments during an hour long interview with Re/code to promote her new newsletter, Lenny and was explaining why she doesn’t actually run her own Twitter account. “I used to read Gawker and Jezebel in college and be like, ‘I can’t wait to get to New York where people will be welcome to me.’ And it’s like, it’s literally. if I read it, it’s going back to a husband who beat me in the face… it just doesn’t make any sense.”

As to be expected, fans and social media users quickly fired back at Dunham for her choice of words, causing the actress to post a lengthy Instagram post with a drawn picture saying “Sorry” and then trying to explain her comments in the caption.

“When I heard my own quote I was like, ‘Jesus, Leno, no.’ I wasn’t making a joke about domestic violence, I was over emphatic in my attempt to capture how damaging the Internet can be (not just to celebrities,).” She added, “But I regret that earlier comparison because it doesn’t accurately describe the condition of being attacked online AND it appears to make light of domestic violence, which ain’t my style. Sleep tight and thank you for the @lennyletter love today.”

In a recent interview I compared reading certain websites that have repeatedly insulted me to returning to a physically abusive husband again and again. When I heard my own quote I was like “Jesus, Lena, no.” I wasn’t making a joke about domestic violence–I was over emphatic in my attempt to capture how damaging the Internet can be (not just to celebrities.) When I first discovered the world wide web as a teenager it felt like salvation. I’ve met a lot of my best friends there. It’s allowed for so much magic. But it also makes room for so much hate and a new kind of violence. I’m not the first to say it. I shan’t be the last. But I regret that earlier comparison because it doesn’t accurately describe the condition of being attacked online AND it appears to make light of domestic violence, which ain’t my style. Sleep tight and thank you for the @lennyletter love today.

A photo posted by Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) on Sep 29, 2015 at 9:33pm PDT

Telisa Carter

Telisa enjoys learning and writing about all things entertainment in the world of Hollywood. When she isn't catching up on her favorite TV shows, she likes to read, and obsess over all things football.