Okay, so we’ve got some good news and bad news here, folks!
While we’re delighted to report that Howard Stern and Lena Dunham have resolved their differences – and actually now seem to have become pretty tight – the process of reconciliation ultimately resulted in the Girls creator offending the ENTIRE city of Detroit!
You may recall that the DJ initially criticized the HBO series for constantly having its star, whom he described as “a little fat chick,” take off her clothes!
And while he later genuinely apologized and Lena even joined him on air to show their was no hard feelings, she made sure to defend her weight, and asserted:
“I’m not super thin, but I’m thin for, like, Detroit!”
Yeah! We’re not going to lie, we thought it was a pretty good quip on her part!
Snappy and well-timed, just like her writing!
However, the comment has very much divided the inhabitants of Michigan’s most famous city, many of whom DO NOT appreciate their home being associated with obesity and are speaking out against what they claim to be an unfair representation in the media!
Here are some HIGHlights from various Detroitans(?):
Radio DJ Fantasy Blue:
“You know, I’m not surprised. People are always making jabs about Detroit. America loves to hate on it. I’ve heard so many times that the ‘girls are thick in Detroit.’ It’s unfortunate because the city has so much more to offer than is portrayed. We’ll roll with it, keep our heads up. We always do.”
BET writer Yesha Callahan:
“Her comments were borderline racist. Detroit isn’t known for its population of white people. She doesn’t want to be judged for her size, so she shouldn’t judge an entire city on theirs. [However] most people in the city of Detroit don’t know who she is.”
Twitter user Cocofro:
“From my understanding her show is supposed to be from a women’s perspective—showing girls that are comfortable in their own skin. Why couldn’t she have just told Howard Stern, ‘I’m curvy and I’m proud of it’? Why did she have to pick on our city? You’ve got to be comfortable in your own skin. A negative comment about women’s size in an area you haven’t been? That’s just plain rude.”
Blogger Bree Glenn:
├óΓé¼┼ôI think we├óΓé¼Γäóre madder at the prevailing stereotypes of Detroit her offensive comment represents, and the ‘shit on Detroit’ mentality the rest of the country seems to have. Now, I├óΓé¼Γäóm not saying that Detroit doesn├óΓé¼Γäót have its problems with obesity├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥just like a lot of other cities, but the last time I checked, the state of Michigan├óΓé¼Γäós obesity rate is the fifth highest. Not first, not second, not even third. So, what prompted her to diss Detroit?├óΓé¼┬¥
Photographer Jeremy Deputat:
“When I first heard it I thought it was funny, mostly because I think it’s true.”
Design Seeds creator Jessica Colaluca:
“It surprised me that a woman who could be a role model to many would say that. The comment had a ‘mean girls’ edge that raised my hackles. There are beautiful, healthy, and confident women in both NYC and Detroit. There are also anorexic and obese women in both cities. She is the size she is no matter who she compares herself to. She could have randomly chosen any city in the U.S. and it would be an inappropriate comment. I personally didn’t like seeing Detroit included in yet another dig on a national level. I was born and raised in Metro Detroit, and graduated from CCS. The city has struggled for decades, but there is a vibrant creative community despite the adversity.”
Sales director Christa Sarafa:
“It’s preposterous! She’s in the middle of trying to get someone else to apologize to her and then she completely bad-mouths an entire city?! I’d like her to spend one day in Detroit with me. Just one day. Then let’s see if she can find one obese person.”
Documentary film producer Kayla Ruble:
“My first reaction when I read it? I thought it was incredibly amusing. My first reaction when I go back to Michigan from New York is that, wow, everyone is so big. The Midwest as a whole has a weight problem; it’s undeniable. It’s not as if Megan Fox was talking about how Detroit people are fat.”
Former D12 member Bizarre:
“I think she’s a rock star, very edgy. Shout out to Justin Bieber!”
WTF on that last one?! LOLZ!
But yes! It certainly seems as though while opinions may be divided, the city of Detroit does NOT being called out on its obesity problem!
However, from our own perspective, we tend to think that Miz Dunham was probably not going out of her way to diss anyone in particular, but instead was merely trying to point out that Hollywood’s standard for the size of women is MUCH more skewered and unrealistic than the reality of most female bodies throughout the rest of the country!
So we sincerely hope that if she DOES choose to speak out on this latest controversy to essentially have stemmed from an issue that’s already been resolved, she expands upon THOSE issues instead of singling any person or place out!
What do U think?? Were Lena’s comments out of line or was she just misunderstood?
[Image via Tumblr.]