After Jezebel “leaked” six digitally altered photographs of Lena Dunham’s February Vogue spread this morning, Lena responded to the backlash this afternoon via Slate and Twitter.
She tells Slate:
“I understand that for people there is a contradiction between what I do and being on the cover of Vogue; but frankly I really don’t know what the photoshopping situation is, I can’t look at myself really objectively in that way. I know that I felt really likeVogue supported me and wanted to put a depiction of me on the cover. I never felt bullied into anything; I felt really happy because they dressed me and styled me in a way that really reflects who I am. And I felt that was very lucky and that all the editors understood my persona, my creativity and who I am. I haven’t been keeping track of all the reactions, but I know some people have been very angry about the cover and that confuses me a little. I don’t understand why, photoshop or no, having a woman who is different than the typical Vogue cover girl, could be a bad thing.
A fashion magazine is like a beautiful fantasy. Vogue isn’t the place that we go to look at realistic women, Vogue is the place that we go to look at beautiful clothes and fancy places and escapism and so I feel like if the story reflects me and I happen to be wearing a beautiful Prada dress and surrounded by beautiful men and dogs, what’s the problem? If they want to see what I really look like go watch the show that I make every single week.”
Lena’s happy with her photos. They’re a bit photoshopped. No one is ever going to change Vogue’s perception of what is beautiful and the distorted “fantasy” they portray. And why should we try to change them now? It’s VOGUE. It’s the state of fashion–it’s years and years worth of putting out a certain message and receiving a clearly successful response. As sad as it may be, it is what it is. Only actresses like Lena Dunham, by simply being out there, will help balance out all of the warped female representations we see in the media every single day. Lena, Lamby, and Adam all looked great, and she seems happy with the photographs, so why the big deal? You will see her on Sunday, just as she is, and she is totally proud of that.
I must admit, I do enjoy viewing the “before” and “after” shots, but any before and after shot is appealing, simply because it’s miraculous what you can do with Photoshop.
She said on Twitter:
“@emilynussbaum 10k? Give it to charity then just order HBO.”
–Lena Dunham, @lenadunham January 16, 2014
Agreed.
(Photo by Vogue/Jezebel)
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