It’s been nearly a year since Lena Dunham took to the desert mesas of Sedona, Arizona for a “spiritual journey” in order to recover from Hillary Clinton’s loss. But according to her Twitter account, she’s still suffering from some residual “emotional distress” after Donald Trump’s election — and she’s finally ready to take action.
In court.
In a hyperbolic Tweet posted Saturday, Dunham suggested that feminists and other assorted leftists should join together in a “class action lawsuit” and sue Donald Trump for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
What if 30 million women or so filed a class action suit against the president for emotional distress? Just spitballing here.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) November 4, 2017
Because nothing says self-reliant, empowered, modern female like “mass torts litigation.”
Lena was, of course, joking; there’s little chance a lawsuit of that nature would succeed, even if class action lawyers forum shopped their way into a friendly judge. Emotional distress is difficult to prove, after all, and typically such claims come attendant to a more specific harm — like assault, battery, or murder of a close friend or family member. Feeling a little queasy during daily press conferences and having a “general sense of unease” at the possible, yet unlikely, reality of The Handmaids Tale doesn’t really count.
But that didn’t stop other feminists on Twitter from taking Lena very seriously. It turns out, there are real people out there who are on anti-depressants and in almost-daily therapy because Donald Trump happens to be president.
Can the UK get in on this two? 4am and I can’t sleep for fretting about that dude.
— Lianne Marie Mease (@LianneMarieB) November 4, 2017
My vagina would like to file its own claim. It lives in constant fear.
— Traci nutter (@TraciNutter) November 4, 2017
Others “experts” in international law suggested they take Trump to the International Criminal Court.
Actually, yes. There are grounds under UN. He has openly discriminated and sexually harassed women. Refer to https://t.co/1yX6P0ATrV
— Amy Morison (@AmeWrites) November 4, 2017
The good news is, some have found ways to handle their problems without resorting to the legal system — like art therapy.
Ugh!!!! Who says stuff like this ? “Losers do” pic.twitter.com/5nerOJwBv1
— norma mckee (@normamckee) November 4, 2017
Trump may not be America’s most effective first-term president, but he certainly succeeds in living rent free in a lot of people’s minds.