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Lena Dunham faces criticism over article comparing Jewish men and dogs Lena Dunham faces criticism over article comparing Jewish men and dogs
(34 minutes later)
Girls creator and author Lena Dunham has once again courted controversy around her writing, this time fielding accusations of playing into anti-semitic tropes in a satirical article that compared Jewish men to dogs. Girls creator and author Lena Dunham has been accused of playing into antisemitic tropes in a satirical article that compared Jewish men to dogs.
“Dog or Jewish Boyfriend? A Quiz”, a listicle-style article published online in The New Yorker, attempted to make a satirical connection between the two entities. But few seem to be laughing. “Dog or Jewish Boyfriend? A Quiz”, a listicle-style article published online in the New Yorker, attempted to make a satirical connection between the two entities.
While some of the comparisons are fairly innocuous (“We love to spend hours in bed together on Sunday morning”), others, such as “he doesn’t tip” and “he doesn’t bring his wallet anywhere”, have been seen as evoking historical stereotypes against Jewish people. While some of the comparisons Dunham makes are fairly innocuous (“We love to spend hours in bed together on Sunday morning”), with others, such as “he doesn’t tip” and “he doesn’t bring his wallet anywhere”, she has been accused of evoking historical stereotypes against Jewish people.
Dunham has previously described her heritage as “half-Jew, half-WASP.” The author, actress and director is currently dating Jack Antonoff, who is Jewish. Antonoff is the lead singer of the band Bleachers and the lead guitarist of Fun. Dunham has previously described her heritage as “half-Jew, half-Wasp.”
Dunham had previewed the Shouts and Murmurs column on Instagram earlier in the week, calling it a “A love letter to@jackantonoff & Lamby”, her dog. The author, actress and director is currently dating Jack Antonoff, who is Jewish. Antonoff is the lead singer of the band Bleachers and the lead guitarist of Fun.
Dunham had previewed her Shouts and Murmurs column on Instagram earlier in the week, calling it a “A love letter to@jackantonoff & Lamby”, her dog.
The Anti-Defamation League, an antisemitism watchdog, said that Dunham’s piece was “tasteless”.The Anti-Defamation League, an antisemitism watchdog, said that Dunham’s piece was “tasteless”.
“Some will certainly find Lena Dunham’s stereotypes about cheap Jews offensive,” national director Abraham H Foxman said in a statement. “Others will take issue with the very idea of comparing a dog and a Jewish boyfriend. The piece is particularly troubling because it evokes memories of the No Jews or Dogs Allowed signs from our own early history in this country.” “Some will certainly find Lena Dunham’s stereotypes about cheap Jews offensive,” national director Abraham H Foxman said in a statement. “Others will take issue with the very idea of comparing a dog and a Jewish boyfriend.
Others on social media questioned the storied magazine’s editorial judgement. “Did no New Yorker editor ponder the wisdom of literally comparing Jews to dogs?” tweeted one user. “The piece is particularly troubling because it evokes memories of the No Jews or Dogs Allowed signs from our own early history in this country.”
“Not even Jewish & number nine made me want to riot,” tweeted another. Others on social media questioned the magazine’s editorial judgement. “Did no New Yorker editor ponder the wisdom of literally comparing Jews to dogs?” tweeted one user.
As of writing, Dunham, a prolific Twitter user, had not tweeted a link to the article to her followers, nor had she publicly responded to criticism of the piece. “Not even Jewish & number nine made me want to riot,” tweeted another, referring to a section in which Dunham describes her boyfriend as being “judgmental about the food I serve him” because “this is because he comes from a culture in which mothers focus every ounce of their attention on their offspring and don’t acknowledge their own need for independence as women” and so “expects to be waited on hand and foot by the women in his life”.
Although she previewed the article on Instagram, at the time of writing, Dunham, a prolific Twitter user, had not tweeted a link to the article to her followers, nor had she publicly responded to criticism of the piece.
Dunham is no stranger to stirring up outrage with her provocative writing and statements. Last year, controversy surrounded the launch of her memoir Not That Kind of Girl. One passage prompted accusations that she had molested her sister, causing Dunham to issue a statement that she does “not condone any kind of abuse”.Dunham is no stranger to stirring up outrage with her provocative writing and statements. Last year, controversy surrounded the launch of her memoir Not That Kind of Girl. One passage prompted accusations that she had molested her sister, causing Dunham to issue a statement that she does “not condone any kind of abuse”.
Another segment of the book that detailed Dunham’s alleged sexual assault while in college required her publishers to clarify that the name of the alleged perpetrator had been changed when an individual who bore a similar description threatened legal action.Another segment of the book that detailed Dunham’s alleged sexual assault while in college required her publishers to clarify that the name of the alleged perpetrator had been changed when an individual who bore a similar description threatened legal action.