Thirty years have passed since Monica Lewinsky’s name became a household word, forever linked to one of the most sensational scandals in American political history. Now 51 years old, Lewinsky is reclaiming her narrative and reflecting openly on the affair with then-President Bill Clinton that changed her life forever. In a heartfelt and candid interview on Elizabeth Day’s How To Fail podcast, Lewinsky delved into how the scandal affected her identity and the profound experience of public shaming that followed. She is no longer willing to let the media or society define her story; instead, she demands a nuanced understanding of her experience and the consequences that rippled far beyond her alone.
At just 22 years old, Monica Lewinsky began her White House internship. Bill Clinton, then 49, held the most powerful office in the world. Lewinsky described the relationship as marked by a complicated mixture of feelings. “I think there was some limerence there and all sorts of other things, but that’s how I saw it then,” she explained. “It was a 22-to-24-year-old young woman’s love. I think it was also an abuse of power.” The scandal that erupted from their affair led to Clinton’s impeachment trial, relentless media coverage, and relentless public humiliation—yet Lewinsky found herself bearing the brunt of the blame and vilification.
She recalled how the Clinton administration shaped the public narrative, deliberately branding her a “bimbo.” “I wasn’t a dumb bimbo,” she emphasized. “I was portrayed to be—and that was a big struggle.” Even more troubling was how many women embraced this harmful stereotype, perpetuating the narrative that had been crafted and pushed by the White House itself. “That mantle was picked up by a lot of women,” Lewinsky noted, highlighting how the shame was not just enforced by political forces but also accepted and amplified by society at large.
Though Clinton initially denied the affair for months, he eventually admitted to it on August 17, 1998, taking full responsibility. However, by then, the damage to Lewinsky’s personal life and reputation had already been done, and the consequences were severe.
Lewinsky described the aftermath as a “media circus” where she was mercilessly mocked, stalked, and emotionally crushed. “I love and appreciate who I am now,” she said, “but I would’ve liked a more normal life. A more normal trajectory.” On the Call Her Daddy podcast with Alex Cooper, she further revealed how quickly public perception twisted her image. Cooper remarked, “You were 22 years old, he was 49, you were an intern. He was the President of the United States.” Lewinsky’s blunt response: “I was very quickly painted as a stalker, mentally unstable, not attractive enough.”
Looking back, Lewinsky emphasized one devastating truth: her experience caused widespread collateral damage, especially for women of her generation. “There was so much collateral damage for women of my generation,” she said. “To watch a young woman be pilloried on the world stage—for her sexuality, her mistakes, her everything.” The scandal didn’t just strip her of her anonymity; it stripped away her future and potential opportunities. “Because of the power dynamics and the power differential,” Lewinsky reflected, “I never should’ve been in that f***ing position.”
Despite the intense public scrutiny and personal suffering, Lewinsky isn’t asking for pity today. Instead, she calls for perspective and understanding, urging society to see her as more than the scandal that defined her early life. Her raw honesty challenges us to ask difficult questions: Have we really learned from this? Are we genuinely kinder and more empathetic toward women now, or have we just developed new ways to shame them, disguised under the latest social media trends and hashtags?
Three decades after the scandal rocked the nation, Monica Lewinsky remains a powerful voice pushing us to reconsider how women caught in the crosshairs of power and public opinion are treated. Her story is not just about personal redemption; it serves as a broader call for compassion, fairness, and critical reflection on how society wields judgment and controls narratives about women’s lives. Through her courage and honesty, Lewinsky invites us to rethink, relearn, and recognize the humanity behind headlines and hashtags.
