Tessa Thompson felt compelled to clear up a comment she made about Lena Dunham, and her involvement in the “Time’s Up” campaign that took place at this year’s Golden Globes. The initiative was launched to combat sexual misconduct against women and men in Hollywood and around the world.
In an original Instagram post (that’s now been deleted) Thompson was challenged by a user to speak out on Dunham’s participation in the campaign considering her turbulent history with not supporting a friend who was reportedly sexually assaulted by one of her male friends/colleagues. The post featured a picture of Dunham with other actresses.
“I support this initiative and the fight for gender justice and am really glad that the movement is growing,” the user commented. “I, however, am perplexed by the inclusion of Lena Dunham, a woman who publicly accused a young sexual assault survivor of color, Aurora Perrineau, of lying about her assault.”
Then she proceeded to ask Tessa: “Would greatly appreciate your thoughts on this as it gravely discredits your efforts to include Lena without holding her accountable.”
In turn, the actress responded with: “Lena was not anywhere present in our group during the countless hours of work for the last two months,” Thompson revealed. “We hosted an open house for the actresses for red carpet messaging and Lena presence was a surprise to us all. This is a time of reckoning.”
“And for many, a re-education. So many women also have real work to do,” she continued. “I’m afraid it’s too nuanced a conversation to have on this platform. But I hear you and know that your thoughts and words are not lost on me. It’s been discussed.”
Yet somehow in this exchange, Thompson wanted to clear up what was said, The Root reports. She took to Twitter to clarify her statement, however, it seems like the Girls creator only joined the initiative out of convenience, and didn’t do the actual work it took to plan for it. Still, Thompson chose to act with grace.
“I, in no way, want to diminish Lena Dunham and her work, her voice, and her importance. We have spoken and she knows my heart,” Thompson wrote. “I feel a responsibility to women that have sometimes felt ignored, dismissed, and underrepresented. They are my beacons.”
— Tessa Thompson (@TessaThompson_x) January 9, 2018
It’s worth noting that Dunham has consistently been in hot water for her reported lack of cultural sensibility and blatant tone-deaf views on feminism. Many argue her women empowerment initiatives only protects white women, and they are not intersectional. Not to mention she’s allegedly fetishized sexual harassment in her memoir, Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s “Learned,” where she discusses engaging in sexual acts while her little sister was present.