When Amy Schumer, a verifiable comedy queen, and Lena Dunham, Girls star and founder of Lenny Letter, start gabbing, no one expects it to be boring. And to be fair, when you’re chatting with a friend, you should be allowed to let loose a little. But a new interview released in Lenny has left some folks scratching their heads over their comments — certain sections in particular.
The interview was released to help promote Amy’s new book, The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo, and starts with some pretty normal musings before veering off into iffy territory. Then it continues with the two reminiscing about this year’s Met Gala, with a few different passages that have left readers cringing hard.
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Lena: “You and I were literally sitting across from each other at the Met Ball, and it was like a crazy countdown to when we could escape. You were like, ‘We’re honored to be here. We’re honored to be here.’”
Amy: “I left so early. When did you leave?”
Lena: “I attempted to grind my ass on Michael B. Jordan for an additional twenty minutes and then left right after you. I was sitting next to Odell Beckham Jr., and it was so amazing because it was like he looked at me and he determined I was not the shape of a woman by his standards. He was like, ‘That’s a marshmallow. That’s a child. That’s a dog.’ It wasn’t mean — he just seemed confused. The vibe was very much like, ‘Do I want to fuck it? Is it wearing a … yep, it’s wearing a tuxedo. I’m going to go back to my cell phone.’ It was like we were forced to be together, and he literally was scrolling Instagram rather than have to look at a woman in a bow tie. I was like, ‘This should be called the Metropolitan Museum of Getting Rejected by Athletes.’”
Amy: “You were dressed like a boy, and you looked sexy, and I really appreciated you showing me your tits several times.”
Jezebel gets it right, saying, “Dunham’s deployment of two black men here as both object — ‘I attempted to grind my ass on Michael B. Jordan’ — and misogynist — ‘Do I want to fuck it?’ — is telling, and deeply infuriating, particularly in her projection of an idea about black male athletes and their sexual prowess, all done to overemphasize how much she does not fit into a certain beauty or fashion ideal.”
But it didn’t end there. Lena and Amy go on to discuss the controversy around Inside Amy Schumer writer Kurt Metzger, who recently got a lot of flack for a viral Facebook post he wrote about whether rape victims should be believed. Many Schumer fans criticized the comedienne for employing Metzger, and those fans’ reactions made Schumer resentful (“I was resentful of the lack of trust.”). Then they go on to imply that women who found Metzger’s comments hurtful were somehow weaker than they are:
Lena: The other thing that I get really crazy about is this new world in which women aren’t just supposed to be protected from actions, they’re supposed to be protected from language. Women are so strong. My ovary has basically exploded in my stomach twice, and I was pretty chill about it. You think I can’t listen to some short comedy loser say something dumb about rape?
Amy: Right.
Lena: I’m not going to cry, I’m a fucking queen.
Amy: Yes!
Lena: I don’t think anyone should be a troll on the Internet, but I also get crazy about the idea of trigger warnings because a book isn’t what I have a problem with. What I have a problem with is actions in the world. I understand that art and public figures teach people how to behave, but I want to be outraged about what’s truly happening, because it’s always happening.
The interview continued, and the two also made some pretty insensitive comments regarding the murder of two women during a Trainwreck screening (“It is never some toothless f*cking crackhead who gets killed”).
We totally get that these ladies like to be funny and that being risqué is part of the biz, but there’s a chance that this time, they’ve crossed the line.
Did you find Lena and Amy’s convo funny or offensive? Tweet us @BritandCo!
(h/t Jezebel; photos via Jemal Countess, Larry Busacca/Getty)
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.