Lena Dunham has spoken out about Kanye West’s new music video for his song Famous, describing
it as “one of the more disturbing ‘artistic’ efforts in recent memory”.
The video depicts the naked, unconscious bodies of various public figures, including Taylor Swift,
Donald Trump, George Bush, Rihanna, Caitlyn Jenner and the actor Bill Cosby, who has been
charged with sexual assault.
While some of the celebrities may have volunteered to appear in the video, others, such as Swift, are
featured in the form of lifelike waxworks.
Dunham, creator of the hit US TV series Girls, wrote in a Facebook post: “Let’s break it down: at the
same time Brock Turner is getting off with a light tap for raping an unconscious woman and
photographing her breasts for a group chat…”
“As assaults are Periscoped across the web and girls commit suicide after being exposed in ways they never imagined…While Bill Cosby’s crimes are still being uncovered and understood as traumas for the women he assaulted but also massive bruises to our national consciousness…Now I have to see the prone, unconscious, waxy bodies of famous women, twisted like they’ve been drugged and chucked aside at a rager? It gives me such a sickening sense of dis-ease.”
Dunham also spoke about how the model of Taylor Swift – who is a personal friend – “hurt to look at”.
“It makes me feel sad and unsafe and worried for the teenage girls who watch this and may not understand that grainy roving camera as the stuff of snuff films,” she added.Swift herself has allegedly criticised the video, according to an unconfirmed source close to the singer, and is planning some form of retaliation.
“She feels like she’s been assaulted,” the source told Hollywoodlife.com on Saturday.She knew he was unpredictable but didn’t think he would go so far. She’s strategising with her team as to what her next move should be. She’s weighing all her options and will then respond accordingly. Just writing a song dissing him isn’t enough payback for something like this.”