Last week, actress Aurora Perrineau, who has appeared in such movies as Passengers, Jem and the Holograms, and the upcoming Blumhouse horror Truth or Dare, went to the police to accuse Girls writer Murray Miller of rape. The actress, who is now 23, accused Miller of forcibly penetrating her when she was 17.
She made a statement for a polygraph test she passed in September, which was acquired by The Wrap.
In the statement, Perrineau says she met Miller at the Standard Hotel.
'Girls' writer Murray Miller accused of sexual assault by actress Aurora Perrineau https://t.co/NO8NYUz8Qs https://t.co/8o08gT3NPQ— Variety (@Variety)1510962913.0
Once they arrived, everyone went to Miller's home. Perrineau says she did not want to go in, but felt pressured because everyone else was. Then things took a turn for the worse.
Is it just an ugly coincidence that the first woman Lena disbelieves is an actress of color? https://t.co/QwvpcCG0LN— Mindy Benson (@Mindy Benson)1510967270.0
Miller denied the claims via his attorney.
Murray Miller's attorney releases a statement: "Mr. Miller categorically and vehemently denies Ms. Perrineau’s outr… https://t.co/ccWTcaQcx0— The Hollywood Reporter (@The Hollywood Reporter)1510960301.0
That didn't deter Lena Dunham, who quickly defended Miller online.
Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner defend 'Girls' writer amid sexual assault claim: "We stand by Murray"… https://t.co/H2db6X9mE2— The Hollywood Reporter (@The Hollywood Reporter)1510964883.0
While our first instinct is to listen to every woman’s story, our insider knowledge of Murray’s situation makes us confident that sadly this accusation is one of the 3% of assault cases that are misreported every year. It is a true shame to add to that number, as outside of Hollywood women still struggle to be believed.
Keep in mind, this was the same Lena Dunham who has called for people to believe women.
Things women do lie about: what they ate for lunch. Things women don't lie about: rape.— Lena Dunham (@Lena Dunham)1501877719.0
Even up until a couple of weeks ago, Dunham was still all for supporting women.
When the Weinstein scandal unfolded, Dunham quickly reached out to Italian actress Asia Argentina, one of Weinstein's primary accusers.Argentino wasn't the only person incensed by Dunham's 180 turn. People were quick to call her out.
Many noted that Perrineau's race might have something to do with Dunham's change of mind. Perrineau is half-black, the daughter of Lost actor Harold Perrineau. As the Weinstein scandal and its fallout unfolds, it has not slipped people's minds that the in particular, it's been women of color's accusations that have been questioned.In fact, of all of Weinstein's victims, the only one he made a statement about not assaulting was Lupita Nyong'o.
The difference between Lupita and all the 79 other actresses he is accused of assaulting is that she's black. As historian Deborah Grey White stated, "Historically, African-American women have been perceived as promiscuous... Black women’s bodies, from Day One, have been available to all men." So Dunham was playing into a horrendous stereotype.Faced with aggressive backlash, Dunham tried to back peddle, but the damage was already done.
https://t.co/yhC2mvRn1V— Lena Dunham (@Lena Dunham)1511053037.0
No wonder people weren't buying Dunham's apology.
All the times Lena Dunham has apologized for her ridiculous shit https://t.co/NIN2SibhJf— Beñ (@Beñ)1511140701.0