Lena Dunham faces Time's Up criticism from Tessa Thompson

Lena Dunham has been criticised for appearing in a Time's Up photo.

The campaign - which dominated the Golden Globe Awards - aims to raise awareness of sexual assault in the workplace.

Some say the Girls actress shouldn't be linked to it because of comments she's made about sexual abuse in the past.

Actress Tessa Thompson, who also appeared in the photo, says Dunham's presence was "a surprise to us all."

The criticism started when the photo was shared online.

The same picture appeared on both actresses' Instagram accounts.

The photo included Reese Witherspoon, Emma Stone and Michelle Williams - who had all worn black on the red carpet at the awards ceremony in support of Time's Up.

Alongside the photo Lena Dunham wrote: "Humbled to stand alongside these amazing women and say #TIMESUP on systemic oppression, underrepresentation, discrimination, abuse and violence in all industries."

But a string of negative comments followed on both actresses' accounts with the majority questioning why the Girls creator was included in the line-up.

On social media, some questioned whether the Girls' creator should have appeared in the photo.

Many asked whether Dunham should be linked to an anti-sex abuse campaign when she publicly supported Girls writer Murray Miller, who was accused of sexual assualt in November.

Mr Miller has denied the claims.

Dunham apologised at the time but has only just returned to Instagram following the controversy.

Stars at this year's Golden Globe Awards wore black in support of the Time's Up campaign

She hasn't responded to the negative comments but Thor actress and Time's Up campaigner Tessa Thompson has.

When asked by one follower why Lena Dunham was included in the photo she suggested the Girls star had only turned up for the photo and had played no part in the rest of the campaign.

"Lena was not anywhere present in our group during the countless hours of work for the last two months," she wrote.

"We hosted an open house for actresses for red carpet messaging and Lena's presence was a surprise to us all."

She went on to say: "I'm afraid it's too nuanced a conversation to have on this platform. But I hear you, and know that your thoughts and words are not lost on me. It's been discussed."

Her post has since been deleted and replaced with a similar picture that doesn't show Lena Dunham.

The original photo remains on Lena Dunham's Instagram, but the comments section has been switched off.

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