Lena Dunham believes Cecile Richards should have won TIME Magazine‘s “Person Of The Year Award,” not Angela Merkel.
Dunham interviewed the CEO of Planned Parenthood for her “feminist newsletter” Lenny because she said she was amazed by Richards, “who stood strong in the face of unprecedented attacks on reproductive freedom.”
Richards recently testified in front of Congress on behalf of Planned Parenthood after many wanted to defund it. (VIDEO: Hillary Clinton To Lena Dunham: ‘I’m Puzzled When Women Aren’t Feminists)
(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Dunham repeatedly praised Richards throughout the interview.
“Reader demand for this interview since the first day we launched has been so massive,” Dunham said. “So this is very exciting. I wanted to start out by saying how sorry we are about what happened in Colorado, and how painful that must be for Planned Parenthood.”
“Thanks,” Richards responded. “I appreciate it.” (RELATED: Lena Dunham Quits Twitter Because Of Bullies)
(Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The New Yorker)
“As a leader, how do you deal with these challenging and even tragic moments?” Dunham later asked. “So many of us have trouble just making a lunch order. What is it like for you to have had to lead Planned Parenthood through these historically challenging moments this year?”
Richards said Planned Parenthood has “always been under pressure.”
“The two things that keep it going are one, the unbelievable team here at Planned Parenthood,” Richards said.
“Nobody just happened to come here to work. Everyone’s here because they care about what we do, and so that helps people go through tough times. And then the other thing is just the overwhelming need and support of our patients.”
Dunham said when Richards testified before Congress she “went in a heroine and emerged a total goddess.” (PHOTOS: Lena Dunham Goes Too Far While Supporting Planned Parenthood)