Lena Dunham's 'I wish I had [an abortion]' comment angers fans and podcast listeners
Lena Dunham has been a feminist advocate for as long as she has been under Hollywood’s spotlight -- no matter how controversial her opinions have been. Her latest issue, which she spoke about in her podcast “Women Of The Hour,” revolved around abortion and a woman’s right to a choice.
In the podcast, the 30-year-old “Girls” actress and creator discussed how she had never had an abortion, but that she wished she had.
“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 a part of her project in which women share their stories of abortions,” she shared. “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 realized then that even I was carrying within myself 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 I was unblemished in this department.
“Now I can say that I still haven’t had an abortion, but I wish I had.”
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The statement did not go well with her listeners, who quickly went online to speak up against Dunham. Some criticised her insensitivity to women who have actually gone through an abortion.
.@lenadunham FYI an abortion is not something you "get to have." It's an awful experience one SHOULDN'T wish for like a gift from Santa __
— s a s h a (@kisslow) December 20, 2016
I can't even imagine how offensive Lena Dunham's comments are to women who actually had to go through abortions
— KFC (@KFCBarstool) December 20, 2016
@lenadunham should never be able to brag about having an abortion it's sad that u think this would make u more authentically pro-choice
— s i h (@Susanna_I_H) December 20, 2016
Others went on the record to say they understood Dunham’s point, but requested that she be more careful about the way she phrases her comments.
Oh Lena Dunham, I understand what you're trying to say about stigmas but please try not to say dumb things
— M E S S Y (@soberclassic) December 20, 2016
I'm pro-choice but those Lena Dunham comments are just not right.
— Vinny Guarino (@vinnyg5697) December 20, 2016
@KFCBarstool I can't tell if her consciously making these comments would be worse or being so out of touch she doesn't even realize it.
— Andrew Rodriguez (@RodriguezAJ100) December 20, 2016
Dunham has not gone on record with a response to clarify her earlier statements
