Did Lena Dunham compromise her feminist status with sleazeball Terry Richardson shoot?

Brett T. | 8:07 PM on December 19, 2013

The release of R. Kelly’s new CD, “Black Panties,” resulted in a lot of press (and tweets). Not all of it was fawning reviews; Slate ran a piece called “R. Kelly, Terry Richardson, and the Power of the Bankable Creep.” As Slate notes, Kelly “has been accused of raping dozens of teenage girls” and “indicted on child pornography-related charges.” (Kelly was acquitted by a Chicago jury.) He also has recorded a duet with Beyoncé and performed with Lady Gaga at this year’s AMAs.

As their headline suggests, Slate’s Amanda Hess also took on creepster photographer Terry Richardson, the man who recently convinced Miley Cyrus to ride a prop wrecking ball totally nude for a music video. As Slate notes, “[Lena] Dunham has, however, been photographed by Richardson; he is a hipster staple and also her friend.” So, has Dunham compromised her feminist credentials?

https://twitter.com/lenadunham/status/413803150261248000

https://twitter.com/lenadunham/status/413803399172194304

Some did more than just imply it. Take Michelle Malkin, for example.

.@lenadunham You had your pic taken w/your BFF's perv, sexist ex-boyfriend Terry Richardson…naked from waist down. http://t.co/mzPT6xl03v

— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) December 19, 2013

https://twitter.com/lenadunham/status/413803753733505024

Overnight?

.@lenadunham "Overnight?" Terry Richardson's perv record was known for years. http://t.co/mzPT6xl03v

— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) December 19, 2013

Any man who takes advantage of any woman sickens me. That's all and that's always. No debate.

— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) December 19, 2013

.@lenadunham You took your panties off for a long-accused predator/perv. Of course feminists should question u. http://t.co/mzPT6xl03v

— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) December 19, 2013

The silence is deafening. A depraved photographer accused of abusing and exploiting young models enjoys access to the entertainment industry’s hottest female stars, from Rihanna to Lady Gaga to Beyonce to Miley Cyrus. He counts “progressive” feminist celebs among his most intimate friends. He’s even photographed President Obama. But when confronted with his sordid history and career degradation of women, these elite friends of Terry have nothing to say.