Dunham. (Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
It seems Lena Dunham is still learning about the boundaries of humour.
The "Girls" creator has issued a lengthy apology after making a quip about infamous Canadian serial killers Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, the couple that killed three girls (including Homolka's sister) in the early '90s.
"Hey @lenadunham @bjnovak are we set to go as the West Memphis Three for Halloween?" Mindy Kaling tweeted, in reference to three Arkansas boys who were wrongfully convicted of killing three children in 1994.
"@bjnovak @mindykaling You guys go as killer Canadian couple Paul Bernardo & Karla Homolka. I'll be her sister they murdered. Scariest! Luv U," Dunham tweeted back.
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Canadian lawyer Tim Danson, who represented the families of the victims in the Bernardo/Homolka trial, told the Toronto Star that his clients "would be extremely hurt and disturbed by this action."
"People like to sensationalize in an attempt to get attention," he said. "But they forget there are real people out there who are still suffering from this."
In fact, a woman named Heather (@LadySnarksalot), who claimed to be an acquaintance of one of the victims, wrote a reply to Dunham's tweet, calling it "disgusting."
Thursday morning, the 26-year-old HBO star tweeted an apology, confessing she only knew about Homolka and Bernardo because of the 2006 movie "Karla," starring Laura Prepon in the eponymous role.
"Generally not a proponent of apologizing for one's work but that tweet wasn't my work -- it was as throwaway as most 140 character thoughts," Dunham tweeted, adding, "Obviously didn't understand what a painful part of the Canadian identity the Bernardo/Homolka case was."
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"I don't mind creating debate with thoroughly considered artistic expressions but I don't want to offend with a tweet. Sorry Charlies," she continued, concluding with, "Part of the reason I was so concerned is that I've always dreamed of retiring to Canada #Canadaphile."
Dunham's Twitter misstep comes two months after she had to apologize for tweeting a photo of herself wearing an ersatz Muslim veil with the caption, "I had a real goth/fundamentalist attitude when I woke up from my nap."
After a number of angry responses, she admitted her mistake.
"Will spend tonight reading my pile of old NY Times, contemplating the boundaries of humor. I try and learn something new every day," she tweeted.
Perhaps she'll grab a Canadian newspaper this time.