Woke actress Lena Dunham claims US culture has 'fatphobia,' 'racism' that shapes every 'dynamic with our bodies'

Left-wing actress and writer Lena Dunham spoke about her body image issues in a recent interview with BBC News, saying that today's "fatphobic" and "racist" culture has shaped every "dynamic with our bodies” in the US. It's also why Dunham has stepped out of the spotlight, pursuing more behind-the-scenes roles as she expressed fatigue with having her overweight body "dissected."

Dunham, 39, addressed her frustrations with Hollywood's rigid beauty standards and has spent the past few years writing projects that don't feature her as a main actor. She told the paper that while society has made strides in welcoming plus-size people under the guise of the "body positive" movement, today's culture remains "deeply fatphobic, misogynistic, racist, and ageist, and that is forming our dynamic with our body, whether we like it or not."

"Everybody has to take their whole life's journey in this one body that they've been given," Dunham continued. "And I think one of the gifts for me of having issues with my health has been realizing how hard our body is working for us all the time."

Despite the challenges, the outspoken comedian said, "I've been able to have a relationship with my body that exists outside of the those things [cultural pressures], and I feel lucky for that."

The conversation also touched on Dunham's recent projects, including her upcoming Netflix romantic comedy, "Too Much," which is loosely based on her life over the past few years.

The film follows a woman named Jessica, played by actress Megan Stalter, who moves from New York to London (just as Dunham did in 2021), and falls in love with a punk rocker after breaking up with her boyfriend. The film also explores body dysmorphia and societal pressures.