Monica Lewinsky Is Back: 'He Should Have Resigned'
Monica Lewinsky at the Opening Night of "Good Night, and Good Luck" on Broadway, April 2025. Photo by PhilipRomanoPhoto under CC BY 4.0.
Monica Lewinsky, once the center of one of the most explosive political scandals in American history, is rewriting her story at 51. The young White House intern whose affair with President Bill Clinton ignited a firestorm of media frenzy and led to Clinton's impeachment is now stepping back into the spotlight — but on her own terms. After decades of silence and public humiliation, Lewinsky is relaunching her public presence through advocacy, media production, and storytelling, determined to reclaim her narrative and expose the brutal double standards and media cruelty that shaped her life.
The Scandal That Shattered a Life
In 1998, Monica Lewinsky's private relationship with President Bill Clinton became public in a way that no one could have anticipated. The affair, which began when Lewinsky was just 22 and Clinton was the most powerful man in the world, was thrust into the harsh glare of the media after her colleague Linda Tripp secretly recorded their phone conversations and handed them over to independent counsel Ken Starr. The tapes, transcripts, and Clinton's infamous denial — "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" — dominated headlines and late-night jokes, turning Lewinsky into a global symbol of shame and scandal, as reported by PEOPLE.
Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky in the Oval Office on the 28th of February, 1997. Photo courtesy of Barbara Kinney, White House Photograph Office. Public domain.
Lewinsky's life was obliterated overnight. She was hounded by paparazzi, cyberbullied relentlessly, and branded with cruel names. The public humiliation was so intense that she reportedly struggled with suicidal thoughts, and her mother feared she might be "literally humiliated to death," as reported by PEOPLE. Despite being granted immunity in the legal proceedings, Lewinsky was left to bear the brunt of the fallout alone, while Clinton remained in office and ultimately was acquitted by the Senate.
A Reckoning With Power and Responsibility
In a recent candid interview on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, Lewinsky broke new ground by saying President Clinton should have resigned during the impeachment rather than continuing to deny the affair and allowing her to be sacrificed, as reported by the New York Post. She criticized the imbalance of power in their relationship, pointing out that she was a young intern just starting out, while Clinton wielded immense authority. Lewinsky suggested that Clinton's dishonesty was a betrayal not only of her but of the public trust.
Her remarks mark a sharp departure from her previous reticence on the subject and highlight the lingering pain and injustice she feels. Lewinsky has said she lost her future because of the scandal and that few have ever asked her the truth about what really happened, as opposed to the distorted version presented by the media.
From Silence to Advocacy
For years, Lewinsky retreated from public life, moving to England to study social psychology and trying to rebuild her identity away from the scandal. But the stigma followed her, making it difficult to find traditional employment. Companies were reportedly wary of hiring her or wanted her only as a public spokesperson, limiting her opportunities.
Her return to the public eye began in 2014 with a viral Vanity Fair essay titled "Shame and Survival," where she openly discussed the trauma of public humiliation. Since then, she has become a leading advocate against online harassment and cyberbullying, issues she knows intimately. Lewinsky has worked with anti-bullying organizations and produced the documentary "15 Minutes of Shame," which exposes the devastating effects of public shaming and the gendered double standards that often accompany it.
Reclaiming Her Voice
Lewinsky's latest project, the podcast "Reclaiming," is a bold step in her mission to take control of her story. The show features conversations with guests who share how they have reclaimed parts of themselves lost to trauma, shame, or public scrutiny. Lewinsky's approach is deeply personal, and she admits to being terrified about opening up again. Yet, she sees the podcast as a way to connect with others and turn pain into purpose.
Her reflections reveal a woman who has wrestled with the long-term effects of trauma and public shaming. She still reportedly experiences PTSD from the scandal and the media's relentless coverage. Yet, she has found strength in healing and in using her platform to challenge the culture of humiliation that destroyed her anonymity and self-confidence.
The Lingering Shadow
Despite her efforts to move forward, Lewinsky acknowledges that the stigma of the past still shadows her. She has faced ongoing online abuse and notes that many people have never truly sought to understand her side of the story. The media circus that once defined her life continues to influence public perception, making her journey toward full acceptance an uphill battle.
Her nuanced view of the #MeToo movement reflects her evolving understanding of her experience as an abuse of power. She recognizes now how impossible it was for a young intern to navigate a relationship with the president, and how society's response was shaped by gendered double standards and political agendas.
The Comeback Nobody Saw Coming
Forget scandal and shame. Monica Lewinsky is back — and this time, she's the one holding the mic.
She's producing TV, hosting a podcast, and reportedly teaming up with Amanda Knox to develop a scripted series that's apparently about wrongful convictions. Yes, that Amanda Knox.
The intern who once made headlines for kneepads and blue dresses is now the one calling the shots — and she's not done talking. Her podcast "Reclaiming" isn't just therapy with a mic. It's revenge, with better sound design.
Still, the internet never forgets. Lewinsky says the trolls haven't stopped. But she's not hiding anymore. Not in London. Not in shame. And definitely not behind a president's legacy.
Call it a rebrand, call it a reckoning — just don't call her a footnote.
References: Monica Lewinsky on Surviving Scandal and Her New Podcast 'Reclaiming' | Where Is Monica Lewinsky Now? A Look at Her Life 27 Years After Bill Clinton Scandal | Monica Lewinsky says President Bill Clinton should've resigned after affair impeachment
