Lena Dunham faces Severe Criticism for comparing Jewish Boyfriend to Dog

Lena Dunham wrote an article for the New Yorker over which she faces severe criticism for its antisemitism. The boyfriend-dog comparisons simply take matters too far and are in bad taste.

Lena Dunham wrote a lengthy article for the New Yorker in which she denigrated her Jewish boyfriend, Jack Antonoff, by comparing his behavioral repertoires and entrenched habits with that of a pet dog. She began by saying that the readers ought to guess whether the following statements were about her dog or her Jewish boyfriend.

Then began a litany of sentences that included: “he likes cream cheese”, “he has an overprotective mother who doesn’t have any aspirations to independence herself and who smothers him with affection”, “he is constantly seeking the affection of his spouse and gets whiny when he doesn’t receive it”.

There were other one-liners such as: “spends all day in bed with me” and “spends time sleeping with my underwear when I am gone” not to mention “doesn’t tip at restaurants and forgets to take his wallet with him”.

These of course count as big-time insults that have major consequences. The Anti-Defamation League has issued a statement to the effect that Lena Dunham’s words are tasteless and offensive to Jewish traditions, heritage and culture. 

Writer Jordana Horn also wrote an article in response to Dunham’s article on Kveller. “Lena’s characterization of a Jewish boyfriend, then–the crux from which the humor in this piece is supposed to derive–should. Basically, the boyfriend of whom she paints a picture is a weak, cheap, complaining, ungrateful, whiny jerk. To say that these qualities are obviously Jewish–and doglike?–offends me deeply,” Horn wrote in his article.

The funny thing is that both Lena and her boyfriend Jack Antonoff are Jewish. Why would someone want to denigrate their own history and cultural-racial milieu? That is the big question!

Just because you happen to be living in The Big Apple, you start thinking that you have a right to say whatever you like about Jews for it is the “in” thing to insult them. In fact, anything goes as far as Jews go…from jokes about circumcision to the stereotypical Jewish Mama who is portrayed as the overprotective, smothering type.

The fact that a sign outside a gentleman’s club in Nazi Germany proclaimed in bold clear letters that “No Jews or Dogs Allowed” is proof that such negative stereotypes have always flourished in times of trouble.

And in today’s high-stress environment of rampant pollution, mindless consumerism and random rudeness, people like Lena Dunham get their kicks from pointing out the similarities between animals and people.

Imagine @lenadunham had used word “Black” in place of “Jewish” would she have written that racist piece? Would @NewYorker have printed it?— The Israeli Outlook (@israelioutlook) March 27, 2015

Lena Dunham continues her reign as supreme white feminist with this amazingly brazen anti-semitic comedy… http://t.co/vzs5sw8kPB— MeredithAncret (@MeredithAncret) March 24, 2015

.@NewYorker Wow. Do you post every piece of anti-Semitic drivel that gets submitted, or only if its written by @lenadunham?— Andrew Jablon (@avj73) March 26, 2015

Ignorant, anti-Semitic piece in @NewYorker by @lenadunham. Dating a Jewish man does not mean you can compare them to dogs. Obviously.— Matt Pais (@MattPais) March 27, 2015

I am horrified by the casual anti-semitism in @lenadunham‘s article. It’s just not funny comparing Jews to dogs, period. Shame on you.— Leehee Kanne (@Leeheek) March 27, 2015

If @lenadunham does have a Jewish boyfriend his mom hates her now. http://t.co/NrIndiEx2N— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) March 27, 2015

However, some people have actually come to Dunham’s rescue by pointing out that what she said in the article was not anything new. Several comedians have already used such mean and snide references against the Jews. And black comedians have done the same about their African American community without any reaction forthcoming from the ebony crowd. 

I laughed so hard at this @lenadunham piece. Dog or Jewish boyfriend? Genius. http://t.co/z84EPbD9Wb— Shauna James Ahern (@glutenfreegirl) March 24, 2015

As a Jewish man (of the atheist stripe) I have ZERO problem with the @lenadunham N’yer piece. Made me laugh. What could be wrong with that?— Brian Koppelman (@briankoppelman) March 27, 2015

There is no chance @lenadunham is antisemitic. If we lose the ability to laugh at ourselves, we lose one of the great joys we have.— Brian Koppelman (@briankoppelman) March 27, 2015

Lena Dunham has not yet commented on the situation but editor of The New Yorker, David Remnick, issued a statement on Twitter in response to The ADL’s statement. See the tweet below.

There has been some discussion about @lenadunham’s comedic piece in this week’s issue. David Remnick has this to say: pic.twitter.com/bxogvBSTCq— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) March 27, 2015