Lena Dunham apologises for 'distasteful' abortion comments following backlash

This year has seen Lena Dunham land herself in trouble on more than one occasion, with the actress facing fresh backlash after saying that she “wishes” she’d had an abortion.

The star, who is childless, made the shocking comment in the latest episode of her ‘Women of the Hour’ podcast, admitting that she’d have liked to have experienced an abortion in her life.

Lena was recalling a time she visited Planned Parenthood in Texas when she was asked about her experiences with abortion.

The ‘Girls’ creator 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 that it was important that people know that I was unblemished in this department.

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

Needless to say, Lena’s insensitive comments stunned listeners and it wasn’t long before people were taking to Twitter to slam her trivialisation of such a serious topic:

Taking to Instagram following the public outcry, Lena has apologised for her remarks, writing: “My latest podcast episode was meant to tell a multifaceted story about reproductive choice in America, to explain the many reasons women do or don’t choose to have children and what bodily autonomy really means.

“I’m so proud of the medley of voices in the episode. 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.

“I would never, ever intentionally trivialize the emotional and physical challenges of terminating a pregnancy. My only goal is to increase awareness and decrease stigma.”

Lena went on to add that she had donated to abortionfunds.org in light of the comment, continuing: “I take reproductive choice in America more seriously than I take literally anything else, and therefore own full responsibility for any words I speak that don’t convey this truth clearly.

“I know plenty of people will never like a thing that leaves my lips, mea culpas or no, but this apology is for the women who have placed their trust in me. You mean everything to me. My life is and always will be devoted to reproductive justice and freedom.

“You know how in some households you curse and have to put money in a jar? Well in mine, if you mess up your pro-choice messaging you have to give a sizable donation to abortion funds in New York, Texas and Ohio.

“I look forward to fighting with you all for the next four years and beyond.”

Earlier this year Lena faced even more backlash after claiming that Odell Beckham Jr. didn’t speak to her at the Met Gala because he didn’t find her attractive.