Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Lena Dunham apologises after saying she 'wished she had an abortion'

The actor and writer blamed the comments on her “delusional girl persona”.

THIS WEEK, LENA Dunham released an episode of her podcast, Women Of The Hour, entitled Choice.

The episode is devoted entirely to the matter of reproductive choice and features stories about everything from having an abortion to choosing to have 10 children.

The episode has caused controversy thanks to an ill-advised remark by Dunham about how she wishes she had had an abortion.

During the podcast, Dunham was discussing the stigma that still surrounds abortion and recounted an incident a few years ago in which she was realised that she was guilty of stigmatising abortion.

Here are her remarks in full:

I always thought that I myself didn’t stigmatise abortion. I’m an abortion rights activist, it’s a huge part of who I am. But one day when I was visiting a Planned Parenthood in Texas a few years ago, a young girl walked up to me and asked me if I’d like to be part of her project in which women shared their stories of having abortions.
I sort of jumped. ‘I haven’t had an abortion,’ I told her. I wanted to make it really clear to her that as much as I was going out and fighting for other women’s options, I myself had never had an abortion.
And I realised then that even I was carrying within myself a stigma around this issue. Even I, the woman who cares as much as anybody about a woman’s right to choose, felt it was important that people know that I was unblemished in this department.

“So many people I love – my mother, my best friends – have had to have abortions for all kinds of reasons,” she explained. “I feel so proud of them for their bravery, for their self-knowledge, and it was a really important moment for me then to realise that I had internalised some of what society was throwing at us and I had to put it in the garbage.

Now I can say that I still haven’t had an abortion, but I wish I had.

The comments were quickly picked up by media outlets.

thsi Twitter Moments Twitter Moments

lena Daily Mail Daily Mail

sffg EW EW

Many accused Dunham of trivialising a very sensitive, politicised issue for women, and ultimately doing more harm than good with her comments.

244f79da09183b8dc7f14227eff7b7ad

Dunham’s comments come in the wake of efforts by Republicans to roll back abortion access in the United States.

Roe versus Wade, a Supreme Court decision that recognises a woman’s right to access safe, legal abortion, is widely viewed as being in jeopardy under President-elect Donald Trump and a right-leaning Supreme Court.

Already, efforts are underway to pass anti-abortion legislation. Just last week, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Earlier this month, Oklahoma Republicans tried to pass a measure that would have required anti-abortion signage in all public bathrooms, although this was later abandoned.

Given the climate, Dunham’s flippant comment about wishing she had an abortion — a medical procedure that women choose to have out of necessity — aren’t exactly helpful.

‘Delusional girl persona’

Last night, Dunham apologised for her comments and claimed that she was merely inhabiting a persona.

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 said it was never her intent to “trivialise the emotional and physical challenges of terminating a pregnancy” but simply wanted to “increase awareness and decrease stigma”.

My life is and always will be devoted to reproductive justice and freedom.

She pledged to donate money to abortion funds in New York, Texas and Ohio by way of apology.

DailyEdge is on Snapchat! Tap the button below to add!

Written by Amy O’Connor and posted on DailyEdge.ie

[image alt="" src="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2016/12/img2-thejournal-562.png" width="600" height="115" credit-url="" credit-source="" credit-via="" credit-via-url="" wp-id="wp-image-3153593" class="alignnone" /end]

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
30 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter keogh
    Favourite Peter keogh
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 4:00 PM

    I know very little about this woman and I have never met her but I can honestly say I absolutely hate her

    214
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The_Techno_Mage
    Favourite The_Techno_Mage
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 4:33 PM

    When is she moving to Canada?

    118
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Cantwell
    Favourite Chris Cantwell
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 4:36 PM

    Lena Dunham is a disgusting Human Being and as sexist as one can be.
    I delighted she got a backlash from her comment.

    110
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alex Falcone
    Favourite Alex Falcone
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 4:01 PM

    And the ‘Idiot of the year’ award goes to….Lena Dunham (a pro choice activist)

    106
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dell
    Favourite Dell
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 10:54 PM

    @Alex Falcone: was it hard for you to hand over the award? Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure you will win it again next year.. Alex, Noah, cal, topcat, eunuch Burke.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matt F
    Favourite Matt F
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 5:00 PM

    2016 has cut-down so many talented celebrities in their prime, meanwhile there’s Lena.

    101
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Karl Bauer
    Favourite Karl Bauer
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 4:28 PM

    Never heard of this woman but I bet shes as outrageously hilarious as Amy Schumer!

    71
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O'Driscoll
    Favourite John O'Driscoll
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 5:15 PM

    So mad to be PC she wishes she’d been able to end a human life just for the Likes. That in itself tells you all you need to know about the mindset behind the useful idiots of Planned Parenthood that vastly lucrative component of the Rough Beast, the Iron Triangle, the Military-Industrial-Political Death Complex.

    71
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eyepopper
    Favourite Eyepopper
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 4:12 PM

    Whats a Lena Dunham?

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Congress Tart
    Favourite Congress Tart
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 4:15 PM

    @Eyepopper: there’s an entire article on her right above you, and you still don’t know who she is? lol – thick.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alex Falcone
    Favourite Alex Falcone
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 4:20 PM

    @Eyepopper:
    A Lena Dunham – An ethical faux pas perhaps?

    31
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eyepopper
    Favourite Eyepopper
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 4:20 PM

    @Congress Tart: I got lost in a massive haze of attention seeking.

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emeralds
    Favourite Emeralds
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 7:26 PM

    A Lena Dunham is a very popular professional feminist

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 4:10 PM

    Hang on, which side are the snowflakes constantly looking to be offended again?

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mrs M
    Favourite Mrs M
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 5:06 PM

    Who F***ing cares !

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hugh Mannatee
    Favourite Hugh Mannatee
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 3:59 PM

    Daily Edge? You ain’t seen nothing like this.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hugh Mannatee
    Favourite Hugh Mannatee
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 4:01 PM

    Nobody wants an abortion, you moron: Daisy Chainsaw.. It’s a deeply personal choice made by a woman and her GP, given serious thought.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hugh Mannatee
    Favourite Hugh Mannatee
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 4:04 PM

    Poor Lena. Left out of the gang. Not a proper feminist yet.

    71
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alex Falcone
    Favourite Alex Falcone
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 4:14 PM

    @Hugh Mannatee:
    One would not at all be surprised to discover that her remark generated a surge of social media support from the pro choice sisterhood.

    40
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hugh Mannatee
    Favourite Hugh Mannatee
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 4:18 PM

    Nothing surprises me anymore

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O'Driscoll
    Favourite John O'Driscoll
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 5:16 PM

    @Hugh Mannatee: which is why in Russia abortion’s been used as contraception for years yeah? Serious thought?

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kristine Wahl
    Favourite Kristine Wahl
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 7:19 PM

    @Alex Falcone:
    Why would you think anyone pro choice would support her for that remark?

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daisy Chai NSaw
    Favourite Daisy Chai NSaw
    Report
    Dec 22nd 2016, 12:07 AM

    @Hugh Mannatee: Tha fock?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emeralds
    Favourite Emeralds
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 7:30 PM

    The most interesting thing in this article is the author’s obvious horror at the bill banning abortion after five months. Five months! Very revealing

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dell
    Favourite Dell
    Report
    Dec 22nd 2016, 2:28 AM

    @Emeralds: you do realise that late term abortions are carried out for medical reasons, in cases of FFA or where the mothers health is at risk?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute meltyface
    Favourite meltyface
    Report
    Dec 22nd 2016, 6:50 PM

    @Dell: Would having a mental crisis about never having an abortion qualify as a health risk?

    1
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dell
    Favourite Dell
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 9:00 AM

    @meltyface: can you show me where someone had an abortion because of this? No? Didn’t think so. Do you know women who would have an abortion and in the case of emeralds statement a late term one because of this reason? how far removed from reality are you right now? I’m guessing a stratosphere!

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darren Bates
    Favourite Darren Bates
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 7:56 PM

    She speaks before she thinks. She’s also admitted to sexually abusing her younger sister. Thankfully she doesn’t speak for all of us fighting to #repealthe8th

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Murphy
    Favourite Shane Murphy
    Report
    Dec 21st 2016, 7:52 PM

    Bet her parents share her view

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nam Oosh
    Favourite Nam Oosh
    Report
    Dec 22nd 2016, 1:30 AM

    Publicity seeking EEJIT!!!

    10
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.