“Girls” co-showrunner Jenni Konner revealed an “inappropriate” conversation imposed on Lena Dunham while dining with some crew members after a shoot.
In the latest Lenny newsletter, Konner states a producer/director of “another TV show that shoots nearby” “cornered Lena,” and showed her an “iPhone photo of a mutual friend with a c–k next to her face, ostensibly a still from his TV show but shown at a completely inappropriate time.”
According to Konner, the director then asked Dunham to have dinner with an actress on his TV show to persuade the actress to “show her tits, or at least some vag” on TV.
“Surely Lena could make a compelling argument,” added Konner. “After all, he continued, ‘You would show anything. Even your a–hole.’
Evidently shocked, Konner added, “This is something a man felt compelled to say to a Golden Globe-winning actor, showrunner and best-selling author who just happens to be female … Despite Lena’s obvious discomfort, he then went on to critique and crudely evaluate the bodies of all the women on his show.”
The men in their group suggested the director seemed extremely drunk, to which Konner wrote, “Phew, that explains everything.”
She then punch-lined that set-up: “When women get drunk, they are asking for it. When men get drunk, they don’t mean it.”
Konner shared this story to highlight the continuing and pervasive sexism in Hollywood, adding that this is “
“In my most generous moments, I can see their nervousness, their familiarity with her frank sexual work, and their desire to make a connection,” Konner wrote.
At the end of the essay, Konner asked for people to stand up against the misogyny.
“The only thing standing between men and outdated, hideous behavior is their ability to get away with it,” she wrote. “Our voices are our superpower.”
“Girls” is currently filming its last season, which will return to HBO next year.