Dunham has now released a statement apologising for her controversial “joke”.

Taking to Instagram, she explained: “My latest podcast episode was meant to tell a multifaceted story about reproductive choice in America, to explain the many reasons women do or don't choose to have children and what bodily autonomy really means.

“I'm so proud of the medley of voices in the episode. I truly hope a distasteful joke on my part won't diminish the amazing work of all the women who participated. My words were spoken from a sort of ‘delusional girl’ persona I often inhabit, a girl who careens between wisdom and ignorance (that's what my TV show is too) and it didn't translate.

“That's my fault. I would never, ever intentionally trivialize the emotional and physical challenges of terminating a pregnancy.”

Lena Dunham responds to backlash over “distasteful” abortion comments