Celebrity News

Pals defend Lena Dunham over Terry Richardson shoot

Terry Richardson and Audrey Gelman at a Scott Stringer for Comptroller event in NYC August, 2013Tamara Beckwith

Friends are jumping to Lena Dunham’s defense following criticism of the “Girls” creator for working with Terry Richardson on a V mag shoot.

Slate ran a piece by Amanda Hess asking why women in entertainment continue to work with men who treat women poorly, calling out Dunham for condemning R. Kelly, but working with Richardson, who she notes has “been accused of sexually harassing models.” (Richardson strongly denies this.) Dunham replied, “I responded asking that my feminism not be picked apart because of one PR experience.”

Dunham’s longtime friend, Scott Stringer spokeswoman Audrey Gelman, who recently split with Richardson after three years of dating, stepped in. Gelman wrote: “@lenadunham tried to see the good i saw in someone & we both have regrets. the online discourse on these issues is vital and pushes us forward everyday . . . i see lena as a courageous champion of women, a critical voice who scrutinizes and challenges female representation in the media, and most of all, a wonderful and loyal friend.”