Lena Dunham has apologised to Odell Beckham Jr after she accused the New York Giants star of ignoring her because he found her sexually unappealing.
In a discussion with Amy Schumer about the most recent Met Gala, Lena said she was seated near Odell, who she claimed was looking at his mobile phone instead of her because he found her unattractive.
I owe Odell Beckham Jr an apology. Despite my moments of bravado, I struggle at industry events (and in life) with the sense that I don't rep a certain standard of beauty and so when I show up to the Met Ball surrounded by models and swan-like actresses it's hard not to feel like a sack of flaming garbage. This felt especially intense with a handsome athlete as my dinner companion and a bunch of women I was sure he'd rather be seated with. But I went ahead and projected these insecurities and made totally narcissistic assumptions about what he was thinking, then presented those assumptions as facts. I feel terrible about it. Because after listening to lots of valid criticism, I see how unfair it is to ascribe misogynistic thoughts to someone I don't know AT ALL. Like, we have never met, I have no idea the kind of day he's having or what his truth is. But most importantly, I would never intentionally contribute to a long and often violent history of the over-sexualization of black male bodies- as well as false accusations by white women towards black men. I'm so sorry, particularly to OBJ, who has every right to be on his cell phone. The fact is I don't know about his state of mind (I don't know a lot of things) and I shouldn't have acted like I did. Much love and thanks, Lena
A photo posted by Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) on
Lena apologised on Saturday on her Twitter and Instagram accounts, saying she projected her personal insecurities on to the American football star and presented them as facts.
https://t.co/P3XMywtlGa pic.twitter.com/ye2WFyVOYd
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) September 3, 2016
She apologised for making “narcissistic assumptions” about his motivations.
She said she and the New York Giants star had never met and, “after listening to a lot of valid criticism” understands that it is wrong to ascribe misogynistic thoughts to a stranger.
