'You'd show anything!' Lena Dunham's Lenny Letter details moment the Girls star was 'cornered' by a male director who wanted her to 'persuade' another actress to get naked on camera

  • Girls producer, writer and director Jenni Konner said the incident occurred on Monday night when they bumped into another TV crew at a restaurant
  • Jenni, 45, who also co-founded Lenny Letter with Lena, said the director claimed the 30-year-old would be well-placed to influence the actress 
  • He asked her to convince a star of his TV show to expose her breasts on screen or 'at least' her vagina
  • Lena, who has performed numerous nude scenes, has been praised for her honest portrayal of sex in the hit HBO series

Girls producer, writer and director Jenni Konner has told of her anger after revealing that actress Lena Dunham was approached by a male director who wanted her to convince another actress to agree to on-screen nudity.

The man, who is not named but is said to direct another television show, allegedly 'cornered' the 30-year-old actress, writer and director and asked her to have dinner with the actress to persuade her to 'show her tits, or at least some vag [sic]'.

Writing in Lenny Letter, which Jenni founded with Lena, the 45-year-old said the director told the Girls creator and star that she would be well-placed to convince his actress, telling her: 'You would show anything. Even your a**hole'.

Targeted: Girls producer, writer and director Jenni Konner, 45, pictured right on set with Lena Dunham, 30, claims the creator of the hit HBO series was 'cornered' by a male TV director

Targeted: Girls producer, writer and director Jenni Konner, 45, pictured right on set with Lena Dunham, 30, claims the creator of the hit HBO series was 'cornered' by a male TV director

Invitation: She said the man asked Lena, pictured on Girls, to have dinner with a female actress on his show to get naked on screen

Invitation: She said the man asked Lena, pictured on Girls, to have dinner with a female actress on his show to get naked on screen

She said the incident occurred on Monday night when the pair were out with co-workers at a restaurant and bumped into the crew of another show. 

But 'within five minutes' of them introducing themselves to the group, Jenni said the 'producer/director' had already made a beeline for Lena and swiftly showed her a photograph 'of a mutual friend with a c**k next to her face'.

Jenni said although it could have been a still from his television show it was 'a completely inappropriate time.'

She added: 'It saddens me to say this isn't the party of the story that even upset me.' 

Jenni claimed it is a 'fairly common' way for strangers to approach Lena - who has performed numerous nude scenes and has been praised for her honest portrayal of sex in her hit HBO series.

Desperate: He asked Lena to convince the actress on his TV show to expose her breasts on screen or 'at least' her vagina

Desperate: He asked Lena to convince the actress on his TV show to expose her breasts on screen or 'at least' her vagina

Brave: Lena, pictured on set filming the final season of Girls in August, has been praised for her honest portrayal of sex in her hit HBO series

Brave: Lena, pictured on set filming the final season of Girls in August, has been praised for her honest portrayal of sex in her hit HBO series

After he showed her the photograph, Jenni said Girls writer Sarah Heyward responded by telling the director: 'Of course, that's the only kind of picture you can show Lena Dunham.' 

After that, Jenni said 'things really started to devolve' and he asked Lena to have dinner with the actress the following night.

She wrote: 'Not because he thought they should meet, but because he wanted Lena to persuade the actress to “show her tits, or at least some vag” on TV. 

'Surely Lena could make a compelling argument. After all, he continued, “You would show anything. Even your a**hole.”'

Chauvanist: Jenni, pictured in July, said 'despite Lena's obvious discomfort,' the director went on to analyse and criticize the physiques of all the female actresses on his show

Chauvanist: Jenni, pictured in July, said 'despite Lena's obvious discomfort,' the director went on to analyse and criticize the physiques of all the female actresses on his show

Annoyed: Afterwards, Jenni, pictured with Lena in June, left, and in May, right, said even 'loving and sensitive men' from their party - tried to explain away his behavior with alcohol
Annoyed: Afterwards, Jenni, pictured with Lena in June, left, and in May, right, said even 'loving and sensitive men' from their party - tried to explain away his behavior with alcohol

Annoyed: Afterwards, Jenni, pictured with Lena in June, left, and in May, right, said even 'loving and sensitive men' from their party - tried to explain away his behavior with alcohol

She added: 'This is something a man felt compelled to say to a Golden Globe–winning actor, show-runner, and best-selling author who just happens to be female.

'So it’s easy to speculate what might be said to women working with him, under him, dependent on his approval.'

She said 'despite Lena's obvious discomfort,' the director went on to analyse and criticize the physiques of all the female actresses on his program. 

Afterwards, she said people - including 'loving and sensitive men' from their party - tried to explain away his behavior by pointing out that he was inebriated. 

Meanwhile, she said when women get drunk they are perceived to be 'asking for it'. 

She said she is often asked about her experiences of sexism in the industry but that she sometimes answers by saying: 'It is better than it used to be'.

But Jenni said this latest experience has given her a 'new answer' to questions on the issue, adding that it 'sickens' her. 

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