Lena Dunham: Kanye’s “Famous” Video “Disturbing,” “Sickening”

Last week, Kanye West unveiled the video for his The Life of Pablo single “Famous.” It depicts some extremely famous people (most likely wax or prosthetic models) lying in a bed together: Kanye, Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Amber Rose, Donald Trump, Caitlyn Jenner, Bill Cosby, Ray J, Chris Brown, Anna Wintour, and George W. Bush. Since its debut, West explained that “it’s not in support or anti any of [the people in the video]. It’s a comment on fame.” He also asked, “Can somebody sue me already.” Now, Lena Dunham has spoken out against the video, which she has called “one of the more disturbing ‘artistic’ efforts in recent memory.”

In a Facebook post, Dunham wrote:

Let’s break it down: at the same time Brock Turner is getting off with a light tap for raping an unconscious woman and photographing her breasts for a group chat… As assaults are Periscoped across the web and girls commit suicide after being exposed in ways they never imagined… While Bill Cosby’s crimes are still being uncovered and understood as traumas for the women he assaulted but also massive bruises to our national consciousness… Now I have to see the prone, unconscious, waxy bodies of famous women, twisted like they’ve been drugged and chucked aside at a rager? It gives me such a sickening sense of dis-ease.

 She also wrote:

I’m sure that Bill Cosby doll being in the bed alongside Donald Trump is some kind of statement, that I’m probably being trolled on a super high level. I know that there’s a hipper or cooler reaction to have than the one I’m currently having. But guess what? I don’t have a hip cool reaction, because seeing a woman I love like Taylor Swift (fuck that one hurt to look at, I couldn’t look), a woman I admire like Rihanna or Anna, reduced to a pair of waxy breasts made by some special effects guy in the Valley, it makes me feel sad and unsafe and worried for the teenage girls who watch this and may not understand that grainy roving camera as the stuff of snuff films.

Several of the depicted celebrities have spoken out since their inclusion in the “Famous” video. Chris Brown jokingly complained about his pose, and called West “CRAZY, talented, but crazy.” And reps for George W. Bush confirmed to TMZ that, duh, it was not actually him in the video. They said, “In case there was any doubt … that is not President Bush,” adding “[W] is in much better shape.” Reps for Donald Trump also confirmed to TMZ that, sadly, he is not actually in the video either.

Tonight, those who were not at the L.A. premiere and do not have a Tidal subscription (where the video has been streaming exclusively) will be able to (legally) watch the “Famous” visual when it make its television debut at 7 p.m. Eastern on E! News. (There will be a repeat broadcast at 11.) After the video, E! will show “an exclusive reaction to the clip from Kim.” It has not been confirmed if the video will be censored for the E! broadcast.

Read some more thoughts from Kanye on the video, and watch it below with a Tidal subscription.

Comments are closed.