Lena Dunham, known for her resilience, recently shared her story of being raped nearly ten years ago by a Republican Oberlin student in her memoir, “Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s ‘Learned.'”

Following her revelation, a blog investigated her claims, sparking various news outlets and online commentators to question Dunham’s credibility.

One Oberlin alum even claimed to have been mistaken for the assailant.

In a BuzzFeed essay published on Tuesday, Dunham clarified that she used a pseudonym to protect her attacker’s identity.

She apologized to the Oberlin alum who shared the same name and asked people to be more empathetic.

The actress explained that her motivation for speaking out was to expose her shame and not her attacker.

She stated that she did not want to initiate a criminal investigation or have any contact with her assailant.

Dunham did not report the rape to her college or the police, fearing disbelief, blame, and retaliation.

Eight years later, she realized that these fears are common among assault victims and deter the majority of college women from reporting their assaults.

With the support of her friends, family, and fans, Dunham hoped that sharing her story would inspire others and aid in the healing process.

However, her disclosure was met with skepticism.

Dunham was aware that her essay would not receive unanimous support, but she hoped that the sensitivity of the subject would be respected.

Since going public, her character and credibility have been questioned, leading to online attacks, attempts to reveal her attacker’s identity, and criticism of her work.

Dunham and her loved ones have also been contacted, and she has been made to feel as if she is to blame for her assault.

Despite the backlash, Dunham remains committed to speaking about her experiences and ensuring that her story is not used to discredit other sexual assault survivors.

She believes that discussing the realities and complexities of sexual assault is crucial in protecting one another.

Dunham emphasizes that survivors have the right to share their stories, regain control, and choose their path to healing. Support and belief in survivors are essential.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dunham’s publishers will modify the pseudonym notice in future copies of her memoir.

Random House will also compensate the real-life Barry for the legal fees incurred as a result of being mistakenly identified as the alleged rapist in “Not That Kind of Girl.”