Lena Dunham supports the removal of scene where real cat corpses were used in new series Generation

Lena Dunham supports the removal of dissection scene where real cat corpses were used in upcoming HBO Max series Generation

The upcoming HBO Max dramedy series Genera+ion is expected to give a realistic look at high school life in the modern world.

But it appears the realistic premise of the show has gone too far in one instance, even for its high-profile executive producer, Lena Dunham.

The Girls creator and star has come out and denounced a scene set in a biology class, where actors dissected actual dead cats.

Speaking out: Lena Dunham denounced the use of real cat corpses in a scene of the upcoming HBO Max series Genera+ion, which touts the Girls star as an executive producer

The controversy seemingly went public when a tweet by @Lilith_Rosex was shared on Friday claiming the production team had ‘brought in real dead kittens for background to “dissect” on set. No warning, people had trauma responses.’ 

That same person shared a second tweet about how a cameraman on the show tested positive for COVID-19 but the production team didn’t disclose the information before the scene with the dead cats.

Dunham didn’t get word of the accusations in the tweets until the following day because she hasn’t been on set. She’s currently in London, England shooting her new film, Catherine, Called Birdy, which she wrote and is directing.

Taking charge: HBO Max revealed the scene in question will be removed from the episode, and Dunham maintains she was not on the set when it was shot; some of the young and largely unknown actors in the series are pictured

Taking charge: HBO Max revealed the scene in question will be removed from the episode, and Dunham maintains she was not on the set when it was shot; some of the young and largely unknown actors in the series are pictured

‘I am committed in my life and work to the principled, humane and ethical treatment of animals. I don’t use animal cadavers in any of my work, ever, and I was not on set or aware that they were used in a recently shot scene depicting a biology classroom assignment,’ Dunham said in a statement to Variety.

She ended by adding, ‘I fully support the scene being edited out of the show.’ 

Her statement came right after HBO Max confirmed that two of the extras left the set due to their discomfort and that the scene would be edited out of the show. 

‘Genera+ion depicts the unfiltered experiences of high school students and is drawn from many formative moments in the lives of the show’s writers. The production recently filmed scenes depicting a biology classroom assignment involving dissection of animal specimens. These were ethically sourced in consultation with American Humane via a biological supply company that works with schools,’ An HBO Max spokesperson said in a statement to Variety. 

Across the pond: Dunham has been in London, England of late, quarantining for 14 days ahead of filming for her new film Catherine, Called Birdy, which she wrote and is directing

Across the pond: Dunham has been in London, England of late, quarantining for 14 days ahead of filming for her new film Catherine, Called Birdy, which she wrote and is directing

It also noted that ‘everyone [in the scene] involved was informed in advance that this would be a sensitive scene involving a real dissection; the assistant directors checked in regularly with all participants on set, and two background actors who expressed discomfort were released with full pay.’ 

Sources did confirm that a member of the crew had tested positive for COVID-19, and has since gone into isolation, but that the production team had learned of the test results after the day had wrapped, which contradicted the second tweet.   

The series has been temporarily shut down as a precaution and will resume according to safety guidelines once it has been deemed safe.

Genera+ion was created by 19-year-old Zelda Barnz and her father Daniel Barnz. It stars mostly unknown actors along with established veteran Martha Plimpton and Justice Smith. 

Genera+ion is expected to premiere on HBO Max in the spring of 2021. 

Coming soon: Genera+ion is expected to premiere on HBO Max in the spring of 2021; Martha Plimpton (left) is arguably the most known actor of the cast

Coming soon: Genera+ion is expected to premiere on HBO Max in the spring of 2021; Martha Plimpton (left) is arguably the most known actor of the cast

Leave a Comment