The Reason Lena Dunham Deleted Her Last Instagram Will Make You Sad

Kimberly Wang
Aug 19, 2015

Every day, as women, we are bombarded with images of how we should look and how we ought to be shaped in order to be considered beautiful. But really, beauty comes anywhere you dare to look — be it the lovely Madeline Stuart, the young model with Down syndrome who is going to be walking NYFW or Project WomanKIND, a new body positive YouTube channel. Female celebrities are sometimes victims of their visibility due to Internet trolls who try to cut them down — but there are times when, just as Lena Dunham did not an hour ago on Instagram, they can use their visibility to fight back.

Lena posted this photo on her Instagram less than an hour ago in response to the trolls who were spewing some pretty awful stuff on another pic she had put up previously. She wrote in the caption:

“I just deleted a pic of me in my boyfriend’s underwear. Just an FYI, I don’t delete because I’m ashamed of my body — I delete because certain pics become hot beds for negativity. You think I want a teenager visiting my page and seeing a zillion comments about how fat I am? No, because that is hurtful to any person struggling, comparing, contrasting. So since the trollz came out, I will instead share a pic of me shining bright on my rightful throne (I’d wear any of these outfits btw).”

Yes, even an act of deletion can be an act of retaliation. Of course, we’re saddened that Lena had to delete the photos due to trolling, but we’re glad that she’s not doing it quietly. By responding to the haters in this manner, we think she’s leading by a better example for those teenagers who visit her page.

This isn’t the first time Lena has shown that she takes her role as a conspicuous celebrity quite seriously. Back in April, she’d put up this photo of herself stunning in workout gear. In the caption, she wrote:

Promised myself I would not let exercise be the first thing to go by the wayside when I got busy with Girls Season 5 and here is why: it has helped with my anxiety in ways I never dreamed possible. To those struggling with anxiety, OCD, depression: I know it’s mad annoying when people tell you to exercise, and it took me about 16 medicated years to listen. I’m glad I did. It ain’t about the ass, it’s about the brain. Thank you @tracyandersonmethod for showing me the light (and @bandierfit is where I bought my Florida mom inspired workout look.) #notsponsored #stillmedicated

True to her word, the girl is NOT ashamed of her body (and why would she be?). This is a photo Lena posted of herself two months ago in gorgeous green lacy lingerie. She captioned this one: “Love my @lonelylingerie and I think I will wear it to dinner with some boots & a smile because we are all very lucky to be free.”

Preach, Lena.

What do you think of Lena’s response? Tell us in the comments below!

(Photos via Eugene Gologursky/Getty + @lenadunham)

Lily Collins Is Starring In Lena Dunham's Polly Pocket Movie

Mattel is running full steam ahead to unlock more childhood memories after the success of Barbie. Shining a spotlight on '90s toys, Lena Dunham is teaming up with the mega brand to write and direct a movie about Polly Pocket.

The most exciting part about this is she's tapped Lily Collins to star as Polly P! She's spectacular in Emily in Paris so we can only imagine how she'll bring the tiny heroine to life. Good thing we won't have to imagine for long.

As part of Mattel's film lineup, the Polly Pocket movie is being written and directed by Lena Dunham. This means viewers can expect to see witty banter with a thought-provoking underlying message — and we can't wait! If you're just as excited as we are, keep reading for all the details about the upcoming Polly Pocket movie.

Is there a Polly Pocket movie?

Yes! Mattell is bringing another toy to life with the Polly Pocket movie.Varietyfirst shared the big news in 2021. Feel free to watch the PollyWorld cartoon while you wait for the new feature film.

What do we know about the plot?

So far we know the movie will revolve around the friendship that develops between Polly Pocket and a young girl.

“Polly Pocket was responsible for countless hours of childhood escapism for me,” writer and director Lena Dunham told Variety. Us too!

Who's in the Polly Pocket movie cast?

Right now, the only casting news we have is Lily Collins as the title character. Collins will also serve as one of the producers alongside names like Robbie Brenner and Kevin McKeon of Mattel Film.

What have Lily and Lena said about the movie?

Lily and Lena are ecstatic about bringing Polly Pocket to the big screen. In a statement to Variety, Lena made it clear she wants to create a film that resonates with young women.

She said "I’m so thrilled to bring to bear both my love of this historic property and also my deep-seated belief that young women need smart playful films that speak to them without condescension.”

For Lily, this film is "a real dream come true" and we couldn't agree more.

Is there a release date?

Due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, a definitive release date hasn't been announced. We're happy to report that produce Robbie Brenner is loving the script so far.

She told Variety, "It's been an amazing collaboration" and she hopes they can make an announcement "in the future."

We're crossing our fingers and hoping more news will come soon!

While we wait for more news, start digging around in your attics for your Polly Pocket trinkets. (Just maybe don't chew on the shoes if they're 20 years old). We'll find ours too so we can have them with us when the movie premieres in theaters!

Are you excited about the Polly Pocket movie? Let us know in the comments and follow along on Facebook.

Header image via Dimitrios Kambouris / Staff

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Not Close With Your Family? Here's How To Have a Joyous And Connected Holiday Season

Last year, some of us celebrated the holidays apart from our families for the first time. COVID has brought with it many changes, some of them arguably positive (like increased flexibility to work from home), some difficult (such as the realization of vastly different political and social views between family and friends), and some horrible (obviously, the health implications of a global pandemic). However, for some of us, celebrating the holidays without family members isn't exclusively due to COVID. In addition to so many of us living in different areas than our families of origin, some of us simply don't have close bonds with the people we grew up around. Sometimes, this can cause loneliness.

If you're not close with your family members, the holidays can be a difficult time. This is doubly true if you don't have a close circle of friends to call upon. But make no mistake, if this sounds like your situation, you're not alone — there are thousands of other people going through the same struggles you are. We sat down with Irad Eichler, founder of Circles, a website that connects people who are sharing similar struggles, like heartbreak, grief, or loneliness. Here are some of Eichler's tips for coping — and even thriving! — during the holiday season when you're not planning on spending it with your family, for one reason or another.

Don't Fall For "Perfect Families" On Social Media

Laura Chouette

The first VERY important step to having a joyous holiday season when you're going it alone is to stop believing the narrative that others' family situations are perfect, Eichler says.

"Remember people only post a moment in time, and only the moments when they look their happiest and best."

In addition to the fact that everything you see on social media is curated for the 'gram, it's also important to remember that by focusing on what others have and you lack, you risk failing to see the great things at play in your own life.

"These holiday periods can become a time of focusing on who and what we don't have, rather than who or what we do, and can cause a negative spiral into depressing and dreadful feelings of inadequacy," says Eichler.

Gratitude is the reason for the season, after all. So instead of only seeing the negative, try some gratitude journal prompts to help you focus on what's actually really wonderful about your life right now.

Make An Effort To Deepen New Connections

Joel Muniz

While it may seem like everyone has friends and family to spend time with during the holiday season, that doesn't mean no one is available for deepening a blossoming relationship or new friendship.

"Make a list of people you can or would like to connect with, and try to reach out to at least one of them," advises Eichler.

Reaching out doesn't have to mean a big plan or an hour-long conversation. Even a quick text letting a friendly coworker know you're thinking about them can go a long way toward deepening the relationship and moving it in the direction of closer friendship.

Don't have an acquaintance in mind? Then it's time to make new acquaintances. What's more in line with the Christmas spirit than attending a Meetup or event full of people eager to make new friends?

"Join groups with similar interests to yours, such as hiking, baking, or games. Push your boundaries and be brave - you might find new people who have much in common with you."

Give Back

Priscilla Du Preez

The holiday season is a great time to focus on giving back to your community, and coincidentally, acts of generosity and kindness are known to reduce loneliness and help people feel happier. One study found that knowing a few of your neighbors and doing small acts of kindness for them — such as cheering them up, listening to them, mowing their lawn, providing advice about local business recommendations and job opportunities, and chatting over the fence — was statistically correlated with feeling less lonely and having a lower risk of depression.

Helping out elderly neighbors can be a particularly gratifying way to give back.

"Notice older lonely people in your neighborhood or community who might have no family at all, and offer to help them," says Eichler. "These can become mutually meaningful connections, and help you 'adopt' a grandparent."

Connect With Others Online

Thought Catalog

Finally, use the Internet for its highest and best purpose: to connect people. Whether you're using Meetup to find in-person events, digital forums for having conversations about special interests, or programs like Circle for getting support from others in your situation, the opportunities to create new connections are practically endless.

"There are many interest groups that can be found digitally, where or any person can connect with others in the same life stage, going through the same challenges, or who would like to explore the same interests," Eichler states. "Meaningful connections can be formed easily in these circumstances. The Internet enables us to find and connect to people all over the world who fit this, and to whom we can become more easily attached, as we are able to find people with the exact interests that energize us."

If you're struggling with loneliness, you're not alone. Connect with our digital community of makers and creatives here at Brit+Co by following us on IG and signing up for our newsletter!

This post has been updated.

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It’s Not Up to Women to Defend Men Accused of Assault

It seems as if every day, there is another sexual misconduct accusation against another male celebrity. Stemming from the downfall of Harvey Weinstein, the #MeToo movement has supported victims and opened floodgates to a conversation about the harassment and assault of women by powerful men. But responses from women in Hollywood have been mixed. While most have thrown their support toward their colleagues (and other women, in general), others have made epic mistakes, like Lena Dunham’s controversial statement in defense of former Girls writer Murray Miller (which she later retracted).

With the accusations against Senator Al Franken coming up in the news last week, 36 Saturday Night Live staffers — all women — wrote a letter of support for the comedy show’s famous alumnus. But here’s the thing: It shouldn’t be up to women to defend men accused of terrible acts. Even if you feel torn about the behavior of a man you love or respect, it’s okay to be unsure of how to process it without giving him a pass just because he’s your friend.

In a November 16 episode of Sarah Silverman’s Hulu show, I Love You, America, the brash comedian asked outright, “Can you love someone who did bad things?” She was, of course, referencing her friend, Louis C.K., whose admission of sexual misconduct involving a number of women has left many in the comedy world reeling.

While Silverman didn’t want to have to talk about the allegations specifically, she admitted that breaking open the way women are treated is like “cutting out a tumor,” which can be messy, but is necessary for our health. “If it’s mentionable, it’s manageable,” the comedian said, admitting that while she’s still processing everything, the reality of what the victims went through is more important than how she feels about it.

“I believe with all my heart, that this moment in time is essential,” she said. “It’s vital that people are held accountable for their actions.”

Of course, Silverman isn’t the only person with complicated feelings about allegations against male friends and colleagues. After a number of women came forward this week to accuse CBS This Morning host Charlie Rose of harassment, his cohosts, Gayle King and Norah O’Donnell, addressed the allegations head-on after Rose was suspended from the show (he was later fired).

“I am not okay,” King said. “After reading that article in The Washington Post, it was deeply disturbing, troubling, and painful for me to read. That said, I think we have to make this matter to women — the women that have spoken up, the women who have not spoken up because they’re afraid. I’m hoping that now they will take the step to speak up, too, that this becomes a moment of truth.”

She went on to express the difficult emotions about her former friend and longtime cohost, saying, “I’ve enjoyed a friendship and a partnership with Charlie for the past five years. I’ve held him in such high regard and I’m really struggling because how do you, what do you say when someone that you deeply care about has done something that is so horrible? How do you wrap your brain around that? I’m really grappling with that. That said, Charlie does not get a pass here. He doesn’t get a pass from anyone in this room. We are all deeply affected, we are all rocked by this.”

While it can be easy to dismiss accusations against a friend, it is important to remember that fewer than two percent of assault allegations are false. While we may want to protect friends or people we admire from the small chance that allegations against them are false, by speaking in favor of abusers, we refuse to hold men accountable for their actions, giving them a pass.

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This (accurate as fuck) little hoop is headed to @sararobeymakeup. ✋🏼🔪 #boyswillbeboys #boyswillbeheldaccountablefortheiractions #boyswillbeheldaccountablefortheirfuckingactions #embroidery #embroideryart

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Instead of congratulating male friends and family members for giving women basic human respect, we need to remember that all people who harm others should be held accountable for their actions. And yes, it can be challenging to learn that someone we love and admire has done a terrible thing to another person, but with one in every six women having experienced rape in our lifetime, and with the majority of those causing the assaults being a person we know, there is bound to be someone you may love or admire on the growing list of abusers.

Because if we throw our support behind the person committing the act, and not the victim, it’s simply another way to remind victims of assault that they won’t be believed or that their position makes their allegations unimportant. Just because something bad didn’t happen to you, it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

How do you support victims of abuse? Tell us @BritandCo!

(Photo via Nicholas Hunt/Getty)

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Zach Bryan & Brianna Chickenfry's Break Up Is COMPLICATED — Here's What To Know

Zach Bryan and Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia's explosive breakup is everywhere right now. From his seemingly one-sided social media posts to all the bombshell revelations she keeps dropping, it's clear this split is NOT amicable. Both parties are dropping tons of lore, info, and everything in between — including new music?! — right now, so it makes sense if you can't keep up. Luckily, I'm here to help break this breakup down for you! Here's everything you need to know about Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry's relationship...or lack thereof.

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

October 22, 2024 – Zach Bryan Announces His Breakup With Brianna Chickenfry

On October 22, 2024, after some recent speculation that Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry split up, Zach took to his Instagram stories. The country star said, "Addressing something: Brianna and me have broken up with [each other] and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart. She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I'll always thank her."

He continued, noting, "I have had an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things. I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways. I am not perfect and never will be. Please respect Brianna's privacy and space in this and if you have it in your heart, mine too."

To wrap it all up, he closed by apologizing to his fans. He said, "With everything I am and to anyone I let down, I am sorry. I try my best in everything. I failed people that love me and mostly myself."

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

Brianna hopped on her own Instagram stories shortly there after. She posted, "Hey guys I'm feeling really blindsided right now. Gonna hop off social media for a while and attempt to heal privately, when I'm ready I'll be back and ready to talk. I love you guys so much thank you for all of your kind words. Remember you are so loved and everything's always gonna be okay 🫶"

The Brianna got on Youtube next, posting a raw, emotional video about the situation. Sitting on the floor of her bathroom, she opened up as much as she could in the moment about her breakup. She said, "I just woke up to Zach posting on his Instagram that we broke up and I had no idea that post was going up. He didn't text me, he didn't call me. I just woke up to a bunch of texts, like, 'Are you okay?'"

Brianna, with her teary eyes and red face, explained she's been crying for "five days straight." She said, "I'm at the point where it's like, how can you give someone everything and love them so unconditionally, like through stuff that you shouldn't because you just love them and you want them... like you see the good in them?"

The internet personality said that this is all "so embarrassing" and "really, really heartbreaking." She elaborated that the couple broke up on October 21, but wanted to process on her own and "didn't want it to be public."

Much like her Instagram story, she told her audience that she'll come back when she's ready.

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

November 7, 2024 — Brianna Claims Zach's Emotionally Abusive, Wanted $12Mil NDA

Well, it appears this week, Brianna decided she's ready. On Barstool Sports' BFF's Pod November 7, 2024, Brianna gave an inside look at the breakup unlike any other. Not only did she claim Zach was abusive, but she also alleged that he offered her a $12 million NDA to "not talk about the relationship."

After saying it's been the hardest year of her life, she said. "I'm still scared right now because I'm scared of him. My brain's rewired and I'm scared to make him mad and last week, I didn't want to talk about it 'cause I was scared."

Brianna then described the alleged emotional abuse. She noted that everything was cyclical and that he would build her up only to break her back down again. "There was always another excuse as to why he was treating me so poorly and why I'm crying myself to sleep every night, why he's screaming at me," she said. "And then you wake up, it's the apology, it's the 'I'm going to be better like I need you in my life,' but if you've been through this — I don't expect people to understand emotional abuse if you haven't been through it. I hope you never have to go through it but if you've been there you know what I'm talking about."

Not only does Brianna allege she was offered an NDA, but she said that other women that came before her had to sign their own agreements. She declined the offer because she didn't want to "sign away [her] experiences and what [she] went through to protect someone that hurt [her]." She also wanted to share this experience for other women who've suffered something similar.

And when it comes to the logistics of losing out on the famous lifestyle and alleged $12 million? She said, "It was never about the money — I was with the dude because I loved the dude."

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival

November 8, 2024 — Zach Quit Touring Amid Abuse Allegations

On November 8, 2024, Zach posted on Instagram — where he clearly loves to share all his big news — that not only is his new single "High Road" out today, but that he's also ending his tour early. Read his full statement here:

After not being home for a year and a half I drove out to my mothers gravestone in the dead of night a few days back on familiar Oklahoma roads and I came to realize just like in the past, that she never would call me again

Told her I quit touring because I got accepted to get my masters in Paris next year, I told her I was back in Oklahoma, told her about all my best friends in New York and all the nights we howled with the moon, told her about the immeasurable laughter my band and me have shared these last five years, all the calluses on my finger tips, every tear shed, told her about making it on The Rolling Stone and most importantly told her about porch swinging with my beautiful sister.
I wrote the chorus for this song a month or two back and finished it when I realized I was blessed with all these things.

I figured it was about time I released it.

Thank you guys for listening to ‘This Worlds a Giant’ last night and thank you to all the people who love me; who have truly carried the weight with me.

Seems that all these Quiet Dreams have gotten much too heavy but I’m home now and I’ll hold you through the pain.

High Road is out today and I appreciate all of you"

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