EXCLUSIVE: The Company Behind Lena Waithe’s, “Girls Rooms” Has Responded To Stealing Backlash

Dove, ATTN and Lena Waithe teamed up for a new scripted series titled, Girls Room. The series trailer was released last Friday and screenwriter, Nina Lee, who goes by the name Nina Serafina on Twitter out the called attention to the similarities to the upcoming show and her own that was promoted in 2017.

https://twitter.com/ninaserafina/status/1231378728271392771?s=21

This show was definitely a learning experience, thanks to everyone involved and to those who still believes in me! pic.twitter.com/zMyGLEFcep

— nina lee (@NinaSerafina) February 23, 2020

I made a lot of mistakes when it came to this show. Mistakes I can still feel. And I wish I knew then what I know now. We were young and didn’t know what we had on our hands. But thanks everyone involved! I’ve written 4 shows since then so if you’re an investor holla at me. pic.twitter.com/u3edwCbOm4

— nina lee (@NinaSerafina) February 23, 2020

And I have 2 short films and three 125 page feature films. I have content for days — I’m upset but I’m not worried (I’m a little worried haha) but my day is going to come.

— nina lee (@NinaSerafina) February 23, 2020

https://twitter.com/ninaserafina/status/1231628209562800130?s=21

😢 this is the last thing I post on this, I just always loved this photo. pic.twitter.com/BCMThxK2ax

— nina lee (@NinaSerafina) February 23, 2020

Dove has responded to the comparisons in an official statement to Where Is the Buzz.

“Dove started working on Girls Room with our partners in early 2017, and we’re proud to have teamed up with ATTN: and Lena Waithe to bring the vision to life. The name of the series was developed before Lena or ATTN: were added to the project and was selected because our scenes mainly take place in the “Girls Room,” any similarity to other creative projects is entirely unintentional.” 

And responded to us directly on Twitter. 

It’s important to us to provide clarity here. We started work on Girls Room in 2017 and named it before Lena and ATTN: were added to the project. The name was selected because our scenes take place in a “Girls Room,” any similarity to other projects is entirely unintentional.

— Dove (@Dove) February 25, 2020

We reached out to Nina Lee for her response to their statement. 

 “They’ve been reaching out to several people but have not reached out to me. We began our promo in 2017, the year they also claim working on there’s. It’s all very fishy, but I haven’t personally accused Dove or Lena Waithe of stealing. That’s an observation others have made and I appreciate them coming to my defense. I am a little disappointed no one has contacted me, even if it was all “coincidental”. I’m not looking for a quick claim to fame. I’m just a very talented independent filmmaker who wants to protect my ideas and have the funding and platform to release them. It’s sacred to me but it’s something the world deserves to see.”

Lena Waithe’s, Girls Room anthology-style series will debut on Wednesday, February 26th. 

We reached out to Lena Waithe’s camp and we have not had a response.