Girls star Lena Dunham, EP Jenni Konner defend series writer amid ‘misreported' sexual assault allegations

Outspoken feminists and Girls creators Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner are speaking out against sexual harassment allegations made against series writer Murray Miller by Aurura Perrineau.

Actress Aurora Perrineau, daughter of Lost star Harold Perrineau, filed a complaint about the alleged attack with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, according to The Wrap, which first reported the news. But in their statement released Friday evening, Dunham and Konner defend Miller against the claims.

“During the windfall of deeply necessary accusations over the last few months in Hollywood, we have been thrilled to see so many women’s voices heard and dark experiences in this industry justified. It’s a hugely important time of change and, like every feminist in Hollywood and beyond, we celebrate,” the two say. “But during every time of change there are also incidences of the culture, in its enthusiasm and zeal, taking down the wrong targets.

“We believe, having worked closely with him for more than half a decade, that this is the case with Murray Miller. While our first instinct is to listen to every woman’s story, our insider knowledge of Murray’s situation makes us confident that sadly this accusation is one of the 3% of assault cases that are misreported every year. It is a true shame to add to that number, as outside of Hollywood women still struggle to be believed. We stand by Murray and this is all we’ll be saying about this issue.”

Perrineau alleges that, when she was 17, she met Miller while at L.A.’s Standard Hotel with friends. Admitting she “consumed some alcoholic beverages,” she says Miller, then 35, asked them for a ride home, where they all went inside, reluctantly on her part, after arriving. In her statement for a polygraph test taken in September, she claims she awoke naked in his bed where he was “having sexual intercourse with me,” against her consent.

Miller’s attorney, Matthew Walerstein, to The Wrap he “categorically and vehemently denies Ms. Perrineau’s outrageous claims,” adding that his legal team had “gathered overwhelming evidence directly contradicting these false and offensive claims.”

Reps for Miller did not immediately reply to EW’s request for comment.