*Writer Zinzi Clemmons has written a lengthy Twitter post calling on African American women to “divest” from “Girls” creator, writer and star Lena Dunham and her “hipster racism.” Clemmons also announced that shw will no longer write for Dunham’s publication, Lenny Letter.
This, from a woman who has known Dunham since college.
“It is time for women of color — black women in particular — to divest from Lena Dunham,” tweeted Clemmons, author of the critically-acclaimed novel “What We Lose.” In her attached statement, she revealed that she has known Dunham and “Girls” actress Jemima Kirke since they “ran in the same circles in college.” She said they had mutual acquaintances.
“Most of these acquaintances were like Lena–wealthy, with parents who are influential in the art world. They had a lot of power and seemed to get off on simultaneously wielding it and denying it.”
“Back in college, I avoided those people like the plague because of their well-known racism,” she continued. “I’d call their strain ‘hipster racism,’ which typically uses sarcasm as a cover, and in the end, it looks a lot like gaslighting — ‘It’s just a joke. Why are you overreacting?’ is a common response to these kinds of statements.”
She claimed that one female “in Lena’s circles” was “known to use the N-word in conversation in order to be provocative, and if she was ever called on it, she would say ‘it’s just a joke.’ I was often in the same room with her, but I never spoke to her, only watched her from far in anxiety and horror.”
Clemmons said her decision to leave Lenny Letter was sparked by Dunham’s support for “Girls” writer Murray Miller, who was accused of sexual assault by actress Aurora Perrineau.
Clemmons also wrote “one of my best friends was victimized in almost the exact same way by someone in Lena’s circle. It was never addressed, and he continues to move in those circles and has a powerful job.”
“Let’s hold Lena accountable, and to me that means sacrificing some comfort and a little bit of cash, in this moment,” she added.
Read Clemmons’ full statement below:
My statement on why I will no longer write for @lennyletter, and the behavior I witnessed firsthand from @lenadunham‘s friends.
It is time for women of color–black women in particular–to divest from Lena Dunham. pic.twitter.com/dxOWCLhTpA
— zinziclemmons (@zinziclemmons) November 19, 2017
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