Actress and Girls showrunner Lena Dunham came under fire on social media Friday after attributing sexist comments to NFL player Odell Beckham, Jr. during an interview with fellow actress Amy Schumer — but Beckham never made the comments, because Dunham and Beckham did not interact with each other during the time the actress describes.
In the interview, published in Dunham’s “Lenny” newsletter Friday morning, the 30-year-old actress described the time she and New York Giants wide receiver Beckham spent sitting together during the Met Ball earlier this year.
“I was sitting next to Odell Beckham Jr., and it was so amazing because it was like he looked at me and he determined I was not the shape of a woman by his standards. He was like, ‘That’s a marshmallow. That’s a child. That’s a dog.’ It wasn’t mean — he just seemed confused,” Dunham said.
Dunham continued by apparently projecting sexist thoughts onto Beckham Jr.: “The vibe was very much like, ‘Do I want to f*ck it? Is it wearing a … yep, it’s wearing a tuxedo. I’m going to go back to my cell phone.’ It was like we were forced to be together, and he literally was scrolling Instagram rather than have to look at a woman in a bow tie. I was like, ‘This should be called the Metropolitan Museum of Getting Rejected by Athletes.'”
It wasn’t clear if the all-pro wide receiver said or intimated any of the things Dunham claims.
Social media users were quick to criticize and mock the actress for putting words in Beckham’s mouth.
Lena Dunham just really tried to slam Odell Beckham jr. Over a conversation she had with herself in her head 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
— Anthony Morrow (@MrAnthonyMorrow) September 2, 2016
Lena Dunham rips Odell Beckham Jr. for allegedly rejecting her – Odell you made the right decision there.
— Deplorable Will (@espowill123) September 2, 2016
Lena Dunham yesterday: "I'm a feminist! Stop objectifying women!"
Lena Dunham today: "Odell Beckham is a sexist! He didn't objectify me!"
— John Binder 👽 (@JxhnBinder) September 2, 2016
Lena Dunham can't fathom a world where men don't want to talk to her because they simply have no interest in doing so.
— ℂℙ.* (@uncletypewriter) September 2, 2016
Imagine being so full of yourself that you assume Odell Beckham, Jr. even watches your piece of shit white girl screed, @lenadunham.
— Return of the Milksteak & Jellybeans (@Tallulahs_Ghost) September 2, 2016
Lena Dunham, the disgusting woman who faked her own rape, is mad at Odell Beckham Jr because she's ugly.
— zach (@zakirksey) September 2, 2016
Let's praise Odell Beckham Jr for "ignoring" Lena Dunham🙏🙏👍 https://t.co/beydJUBQsg
— eye give my All. (@gerkateCSS) September 2, 2016
@lenadunham so because he didn't interact with her he must be thinking sexist things….wow this broad is a whack job.
— Black Rides Matter (@okie1011) September 2, 2016
So Lena Dunham mad at Odell Beckham cause he didn't talk to her at a party? 😂 pic.twitter.com/YCoamdg4Me
— Jonathan Mitchell (@Jon_Mitchell3) September 2, 2016
Odell Beckham was sat at a table with Lena Dunham & Amy Schumer….we understand why he was scrolling on IG
— Bob Esponja (@BionicBombshell) September 2, 2016
Lena Dunham calls out Odell Beckham for failing to be sexually attracted to herhttps://t.co/GsmMTGY36Y
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) September 2, 2016
The only people who think they get to decide on what other people find sexually attractive are Lena Dunham and Westboro Baptists.
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) September 2, 2016
If you had "Odell Beckham Jr." in the pool of what would finally turn everyone on Lena Dunham… well, congratulations, my friend.
— David A. Graham (@GrahamDavidA) September 2, 2016
Perhaps feeling the tsunami of social media rage against her, Dunham backpedaled late Friday, sending a series of tweets to clarify the points she was trying to make in her interview.
.@OBJ_3 is talented, stylish, seems super awesome and wasn't into chatting with me at a fancy party.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) September 2, 2016
My story about him was clearly (to me) about my own insecurities as an average-bodied woman at a table of supermodels & athletes.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) September 2, 2016
It's not an assumption about who he is or an expectation of sexual attention. It's my sense of humor, which has kept me alive for 30 years.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) September 2, 2016
Glad the outrage machine roars on though, right @amyschumer?
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) September 2, 2016
ps I'll try and dance myself onto @michaelb4jordan if I have the chance, even when I'm a married grandma. I'm a red blooded str8 woman!
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) September 2, 2016
Beckham Jr. has not yet responded.
Read Dunham and Schumer’s full interview here.
Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter @jeromeehudson
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