Lena Dunham apologizes for 'distasteful joke' about abortion Published By Tribute on Dec 21, 2016


Lena DunhamControversy monger Lena Dunham is on trial by social media once again.

Following a lengthy conversation about abortions during the Dec. 14 episode of her Women of the Hour podcast, the Girls star remarked, "I can say that I still haven't had an abortion, but I wish I had."

The actress is now facing harsh criticism for the self-described "distasteful joke," which immediately set off a social media firestorm after it was published by Fox News and various other outlets. One outraged Twitter user called her comment "offensive," while another said a person shouldn't wish for an abortion like "a gift from Santa."

Lena, who is no stranger to public apologies, took to Instagram on Tuesday (Dec. 20) to clarify her comments.

"My latest podcast episode was meant to tell a multifaceted story about reproductive choice in America, to explain the many reasons women do or don't choose to have children and what bodily autonomy really means. I'm so proud of the medley of voices in the episode," she wrote. "I truly hope a distasteful joke on my part won't diminish the amazing work of all the women who participated. My words were spoken from a sort of 'delusional girl' persona I often inhabit, a girl who careens between wisdom and ignorance (that's what my TV show is too) and it didn't translate. That's my fault."

She continued, "I would never, ever intentionally trivialize the emotional and physical challenges of terminating a pregnancy. My only goal is to increase awareness and decrease stigma. I take reproductive choice in America more seriously than I take literally anything else, and therefore own full responsibility for any words I speak that don't convey this truth clearly." ~Shelby Morton

What do you think about Lena's comment and her subsequent apology? Sound off below!




My latest podcast episode was meant to tell a multifaceted story about reproductive choice in America, to explain the many reasons women do or don't choose to have children and what bodily autonomy really means. I'm so proud of the medley of voices in the episode. I truly hope a distasteful joke on my part won't diminish the amazing work of all the women who participated. My words were spoken from a sort of "delusional girl" persona I often inhabit, a girl who careens between wisdom and ignorance (that's what my TV show is too) and it didn't translate. That's my fault. I would never, ever intentionally trivialize the emotional and physical challenges of terminating a pregnancy. My only goal is to increase awareness and decrease stigma. I take reproductive choice in America more seriously than I take literally anything else, and therefore own full responsibility for any words I speak that don't convey this truth clearly. I know plenty of people will never like a thing that leaves my lips, mea culpas or no, but this apology is for the women who have placed their trust in me. You mean everything to me. My life is and always will be devoted to reproductive justice and freedom. You know how in some households you curse and have to put money in a jar? Well in mine, if you mess up your pro-choice messaging you have to give a sizable donation to abortion funds (https://abortionfunds.org/need-abortion) in New York, Texas and Ohio 💰I look forward to fighting with you all for the next four years and beyond.


A photo posted by Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) on


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Comments & Discussion

  • Teresa - 12/21/2016 7:03:09 PM
    Even pro-choicers hate what she said, which may have given the anti-choice brigade a significant amount of ammunition in their crusade. Dunham has repeatedly shown herself to be thoughless, selfish, imbecilic, reprehensible. Possibly sociopathic. She needs to remove herself from public life immediately and permanently.
  • Maddie - 12/21/2016 9:58:24 PM
    She's such a troll. I cannot understand how this vapid piece of crap got famous.
  • Samantha - 12/21/2016 10:23:17 PM
    Omg look at her bangs! She needs a stylist pronto! Who lets her out in public looking like this? Her dress is hideous, her arms should be covered and it looks like her wig slipped, or she let a blind five year old cut her hair!
  • Cat - 12/22/2016 12:39:37 PM
    This woman, and I use that term loosely, should be boycotted. Her idiotic show, where she runs around naked showing off her ugly body is in it final season and I hope that this will be the end of her. There are so many better shows to watch and so many better actors, why waste your time watching and listening to her. What a total loser
  • Lulu - 12/22/2016 4:53:31 PM
    I just think she comes from a very privileged background and hasn't yet figured out how to think before she speaks.
  • Summer - 12/22/2016 10:01:04 PM
    I think she comes from white trash and hasn't yet figured out how to form a coherent sentence. People from upper class backgrounds don't walk around looking like they just climbed out of a dumpster and they are taught from a young age to have some class. She needs to take some etiquette classes in how to speak and look like a decent human being.

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