Dunham claims to have “insider” information about the assault claims
Since accusations of sexual assault and misconduct exploded with Harvey Weinstein, a wave of Hollywood women are coming forward with their experiences of abuse and harassment. The list of accused men seemingly grows by the week and now you can add Girls writer Murray Miller to that list.
Actress Aurora Perrineau is accusing Miller of raping her in 2012 when she was 17 years old, according to The Wrap. The publication claims to have obtained a passed polygraph test of Perrineau’s where she details a night at the Standard Hotel where she had some drinks.
“He was flirting with me. I told him repeatedly that I was 17 years old,” Perrineau said in the statement. Miller was 35 at the time. Perrineau allegedly says she was with a group of friends who drove Miller home that night and everyone went into his home, but she didn’t want to. She says she felt like she had to go along with everyone else.
“At some point, I woke up in Murray’s bed naked. He was on top of me having sexual intercourse with me. At no time did I consent to any sexual contact with Murray,” she said in the statement.
Perrineau is now 23, and known for her role in Jem and the Holograms, Passengers, and other big and small screen productions.
Miller and his legal team vehemently deny the allegations and even claim that Perrineau and people close to her tried to ask for large sums of money from him. If this isn’t enough of a nightmare, Lena Dunham, Girls creator, decided to immediately defend her co-showrunner.
Dunham and other co-showrunner Jenni Konner, said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter:
“During the windfall of deeply necessary accusations over the last few months in Hollywood, we have been thrilled to see so many women’s voices heard and dark experiences in this industry justified. It’s a hugely important time of change and, like every feminist in Hollywood and beyond, we celebrate. But during every time of change there are also incidences of the culture, in its enthusiasm and zeal, taking down the wrong targets. We believe, having worked closely with him for more than half a decade, that this is the case with Murray Miller. While our first instinct is to listen to every woman’s story, our insider knowledge of Murray’s situation makes us confident that sadly this accusation is one of the 3 percent of assault cases that are misreported every year. It is a true shame to add to that number, as outside of Hollywood women still struggle to be believed. We stand by Murray and this is all we’ll be saying about this issue.”
Then there’s what she said on Twitter.
I believe in a lot of things but the first tenet of my politics is to hold up the people who have held me up, who have filled my world with love.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) November 17, 2017
Honestly, it’s a bizarre choice for the irreverent, so-called feminist that she claims to be because one of the tenets of feminism is to believe and validate women first (especially because we’re never believed). Or she could’ve just shut up and let the legal process take its course as she may be way too close to the situation to make an unbiased opinion, let alone comment.
Either way, she’s in deep shit on the internet and Twitter is dragging her.
I don't know the truth of this situation, but neither does Lena Dunham. She could've supported her friend w/o disparaging his accuser. If there is evidence let it come out. #LenaDunham does a disservice to sexual assault victims everywhere. #Girls https://t.co/Zk8V3OqBHJ
— micki (@mickisuzette) November 18, 2017
"Believe women, unless they say something about a friend of mine, in which case they are liars."
— Best Protect Ya Neck (@xeronius) November 18, 2017
Someone who filled your world with love can easily fill someone else’s world with trauma.
— Roslyn Talusan (@rozzybox) November 18, 2017
Your experience of a person is not universal.
lena dunham: women coming forward about sexual assault are so important this is so necessary but only if it's about a known scumbag and not someone i know personally, please
— jor (@menopausekink) November 18, 2017
Of course they fucking are. Lena Dunham and her ilk are perfect examples of opportunist white feminism. She doesn't exactly have a stellar record in confronting those within her circle. And citing false rape accusations in his defense? Disgusting. https://t.co/nXD7M5bvoD
— Melissa (@somehowfurious) November 18, 2017
It is hard to imagine a better avatar for white liberal capitalist feminism than Dunham. Truly this is *kisses fingers* spot on for that brand. https://t.co/O8Z1hI18zn
— Tressie Mc (@tressiemcphd) November 18, 2017
Please stop letting Lena Dunham speak for my generation. https://t.co/n9Dq4Cwnof
— Kate Feldman (@kateefeldman) November 18, 2017
i never want to see any publication hail lena dunham as a feminist icon ever again https://t.co/F89YvP7BHM
— jor (@menopausekink) November 18, 2017
Lena Dunham, just another white feminist throwing a woman of color under the bus to protect a white man. #lenadunham https://t.co/tuko8YU5F7
— Behemothlolcat (@Behemothlolcat) November 18, 2017
I’ve said this before, but #lenadunham needs to understand that a dude can be a nice guy to you, while also being a guy who has raped someone else. Those two realities can coexist.
— (@Lkpbronski) November 18, 2017
This isn’t the first time Dunham has been accused of being anti-feminist, or the textbook example of whitewashed, mainstream feminism. As a public figure and proclaimed feminist she certainly has opened herself up to judgements and critiques from the masses. Let’s just hope for the sake of victims everywhere (and her dignity) that this time, she really listens.
As for the case against Miller, it is being investigated by the Los Angeles police department.