Lena Dunham has skillfully dodged questions about her “complicated relationship” with former co-star Adam Driver, following shocking claims in her new memoir that the actor was prone to violent outbursts on set.
During an awkward appearance on Today with Jenna and Sheinelle this Wednesday, the 38-year-old creator of Girls was pressed to explain the stressful workplace dynamics she detailed in her book, Evil of fame.
Rather than rehash specific allegations of anger and violence, Dunham steered the conversation toward her own development as a boss, telling hosts Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones that she wanted readers to understand her experiences in their full context.
The interview became tense when Bush Hager pointed out that Dunham was Driver’s employer and manager during the times she alleges there was both aggression and potential romantic feelings.
Dunham smartly sidestepped, explaining that she spent more than eight years being “super intentional” with every word in the book and felt it was difficult to reexamine those moments on live television.
She suggested that the dynamic she wrote about is something that many young women in the workplace would find relatable, describing the story as a journey toward understanding one’s own power rather than simply a list of grievances against a colleague.
These comments follow a series of powerful extracts from the memoir, published on April 14.
In an account shared with The guardianDunham claimed that Driver, who played her on-screen boyfriend Adam Sackler, had been “spectacularly rude” and once threw a chair at a wall right next to her.
She further alleged that the actor punched a hole in the wall of her trailer and frequently shouted in her face.
Reflecting on her time in her 20s, the showrunner admitted she didn’t yet have the skills to tell him he couldn’t talk to her that way, confessing she wrongly believed “great male geniuses” were meant to eviscerate.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Dunham maintained a diplomatic stance when asked if she ever hoped to stay in contact with Driver.
She refused to give a direct answer on their current communication, instead choosing to talk about the Girls molded as a whole.
She noted that her memoir highlights many “magical moments” from that time in her life, saying the entire cast shares a bond that she believes can never truly be broken.
Although the “complicated” nature of her relationship with Driver remains a central topic of discussion on her book tour, it’s clear that Dunham chooses her words carefully to stay focused on her personal growth.
