Tessa Thompson said Lena’s presence was a ‘surprise’ given that she hadn't actually done anything to help
We’re not shocked. Thor: Ragnarok actress Tessa Thompson has claimed that Lena Dunham was not involved in the Times Up movement but showed up for the photo op.
Dunham posted the picture on her own Instagram with the caption: “Humbled to stand alongside these amazing women and say #TIMESUP on systemic oppression, underrepresentation, discrimination, abuse and violence in all industries.”
When Thompson also posted the image on her account it drew criticism from commenters given Dunham’s recent statement defending alleged rapist Murray Miller, a writer on Girls. She claimed to have “insider knowledge of the situation” and said his accuser, Aurora Perrineau, was lying. Understandably, it made things a bit sour, including her in a women’s movement against industry-wide sexual assault.
As one person asked in the IG comments: “Is it appropriate to have Lena Dunham there when it was literally just a few weeks ago she said a young black woman lied about being raped by her employee/friend?”
Thompson quickly replied saying other actresses in the movement had already discussed it. “We hosted an open house for actresses for red carpet messaging and Lena’s 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. 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.”
She continued: “Lena was not anywhere present in our group during the countless hours of work for the last two months.”
— Tessa Thompson (@TessaThompson_x) January 9, 2018
Thompson has since backtracked on Twitter to say she doesn’t want to “create conflict where there isn’t any” but, still didn’t clarify whether Dunham was actually involved.
Is it possible Lena Dunham made a feminist movement all about her without actually contributing anything? Yes.