Accusations of Aggression Surface as Lena Dunham Claims Adam Driver Hurled a Chair on ‘Girls’ Set

Lena Dunham is speaking openly about her past experience working with Adam Driver on the HBO series Girls. In her new memoir Famesick, released on April 14, she shares details about their working relationship and makes several serious accusations about his behavior during filming.

Dunham, who created and starred in the show, describes Driver as someone who could be difficult to work with. She writes that he could be “verbally aggressive” and at times intimidating on set. At the same time, she says their connection as actors was very strong, which made their dynamic intense from the beginning.

She explains this mix of emotions in the book, writing, “I spent an inordinate amount of time wondering if Adam liked me. He could be short-tempered and verbally aggressive, condescending and physically imposing. He could also be protective, loving even.” She adds, “I reasoned that the intensity of his anger at me, anger that could make him spit and throw things, was proportionate to the intensity of our creative connection.”

One of the most serious moments she describes is an incident during rehearsal. According to Dunham, Driver became angry when she forgot her lines. She writes, “Late one night, as we practiced lines in my trailer, I found that mine were suddenly gone.” The situation escalated quickly, and she claims, “Adam screamed, ‘F******* SAY SOMETHING’ and hurled a chair at the wall next to me.” She also recalls him shouting, “WAKE THE F*** UP… I’M SICK OF WATCHING YOU JUST STARE.” Dunham says she did not report the incident at the time.

She also writes about filming intimate scenes, saying she felt her directions as a director were not always respected. According to her, Driver ignored planned movements and instead “hurled me this way and that.” She describes feeling shocked and unsure in that moment, adding, “Stunned, I couldn’t speak for a moment, unsure of what had happened.” She later reflects, “It wasn’t that I felt violated… But I felt that something intimate, confusing and primal had played out in a scenario I was meant to control.”

Dunham also shares that their connection almost became personal off-screen. She claims there was a moment when they nearly crossed a line, even though Driver was in a relationship at the time with Joanne Tucker, who is now his wife. She recalls a phone call where he said, “You still home alone, Dunham? … I’m riding down to you. But I’m warning you, if I come up, I’m not leaving this time.” In the end, she chose not to answer the door, saying she felt it would complicate both her work and emotions.

She later learned that Driver got engaged shortly after that moment. Reflecting on it, she writes, “It was absurd to be heartbroken… I was his scene partner, sure… But in life? It would never be me who kept him in line.”

Dunham’s story gives a look at how complicated working relationships can become, especially when emotions and power dynamics are involved. In my opinion, this situation shows how important clear boundaries are on set, especially when actors and directors work closely together. It also raises questions about how such situations should be handled in the moment. What do you think about these accusations? Do you believe more actors should speak openly about their experiences? Share your thoughts in the comments.