Lena Dunham says she was unaware her HBO Max Generation series would use real dead cats for a dissection scene, causing two extras to leave

Variety

The Dunham-produced Generations is described as an ultra-realistic look at high school life. But Variety reports that the show "took verisimilitude too far" last Thursday with a biology class scene using of real dead cats, which reportedly prompted two extras to leave. An anonymous Twitter user said the cast wasn't told there would be dead cats -- they thought they were filming a frog dissection scene. HBO Max released a statement saying: "The production recently filmed scenes depicting a biology classroom assignment involving dissection of animal specimens. These were ethically sourced in consultation with American Humane via a biological supply company that works with schools. Everyone involved was informed in advance that this would be a sensitive scene involving a real dissection; the assistant directors checked in regularly with all participants on set, and two background actors who expressed discomfort were released with full pay. However, after subsequent discussion with the creative team, the scene is being reconceived and will not appear in the series. We deeply regret that this occurred.” Meanwhile, Dunham, who is in London filming movie, issued a statement saying she never imagined real animals would be used when she first read the script. “I am committed in my life and work to the principled, humane and ethical treatment of animals," she said. "I don’t use animal cadavers in any of my work, ever, and I was not on set or aware that they were used in a recently shot scene depicting a biology classroom assignment. I fully support the scene being edited out of the show.”