It has been three decades since Monica Lewinsky’s name became permanently inscribed in American history — however, at the age of 51, she is now taking back her narrative in her own terms.
In her appearance on Elizabeth Day’s podcast How To Fail, the former White House intern reflected on the highly publicized affair with then-President Bill Clinton, which not only shook Washington but also nearly destroyed her life.
Lewinsky was merely 22 when the scandal erupted. Clinton was 49 and held the position of the most powerful individual in the world. The relationship captured headlines, led to an impeachment, and unleashed a torrent of public humiliation — predominantly directed at her.
She reveals whether she had genuine feelings for Bill Clinton or not.
For the first time in many years, Monica is revisiting the emotional realities surrounding the entire situation.
“It was the love of a young woman aged 22 to 24,” she stated.
“I believe there was some limerence involved along with various other factors, but that was my perspective at the time. I also think it represented an abuse of power.”
Lewinsky was candid when discussing the harmful narrative propagated by the White House following the scandal’s revelation.
“My very first job after college was at the White House,” she clarified.
“I don’t believe that anyone anticipates that a decade or more later, that individual would struggle to find employment.”
A photograph of White House intern Monica Lewinsky meeting President Bill Clinton at a White House event, submitted as evidence in documents by the Starr investigation and released by the House Judiciary Committee on September 21, 1998.
After the affair was uncovered, Lewinsky stated that the Clinton administration crafted a humiliating portrayal of her—labeling her with the outdated and derogatory term: “bimbo.”
“I was not a foolish bimbo. I was depicted as such, and that was a significant challenge for me to confront.”
She noted that a considerable amount of the backlash originated from women, despite the fact that it was a narrative “designed and disseminated by the White House.”
“That burden was taken on by many women,” she remarked.
Became the subject of ridicule
Lewinsky has previously discussed the significant impact the media frenzy had on her. She became the subject of ridicule, was pursued by journalists, and sank into a profound depression.
“I love and appreciate who I am today, but for many reasons, I would have preferred a more conventional life,” she confessed.
“I would have preferred to have had a more typical trajectory.”
In a different appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast with host Alex Cooper, Monica delved even further into her experiences after becoming that intern.
“You were 22 years old, he was 49, you were an intern. He was the President of the United States,” Cooper framed.
Lewinsky replied:
“I was swiftly depicted as a stalker, mentally unstable, and not attractive enough.”
Highlighted one crucial aspect
The price of that reputation, she stated, was not only the loss of her anonymity but also her future.
“Due to the power dynamics and the power imbalance, I should never have been in that f***ing position,” she acknowledged.
Reflecting on the past, Monica asserts that the repercussions extended beyond her own life. She emphasizes one crucial aspect: it left enduring scars on an entire generation of women who witnessed her being publicly shamed and humiliated for a deeply personal error.
“There was immense collateral damage for women of my generation to observe a young woman being vilified on the global stage, being dissected for my sexuality, for my mistakes, for everything about me.”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=SzU9nzxSjnc%3Ffeature%3Doembed
Three decades later, Monica Lewinsky is not seeking sympathy. She is urging people to listen — and to finally recognize her as more than a mere footnote in someone else’s narrative.
Monica Lewinsky’s candid honesty compels us to question: Have we genuinely learned anything? In an era where public shaming has only intensified and accelerated, is society any more forgiving towards young women ensnared in the turmoil of powerful men and media hysteria? Or are we still repeating the same errors — merely with new hashtags?
