Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty; Mike Coppola/Getty
Monica Lewinskyhas a more painful past than some people can even imagine, but she’s not shying away from it
The 45-year-old anti-bullying activist — who infamously had an affair with then-PresidentBill Clintonwhen she was a White House intern in the 1990s — revisited the troubled time in her life for an upcoming documentary series calledThe Clinton Affair.
TheMonica: Her Storyauthor wrotea piece forVanity Fair, published Tuesday,explaining her decision to participate in the documentary, starting with her belief that in order “to move forward,” she must “excavate, often painfully, what has gone before … That’s exactly where we need to start to heal — with the past. But it’s not easy.”
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Next, she dove into memories of impeachment testimonies, the Starr Report, news clippings and more. She also discussed her grief, distinct from depression, over the years she lost because society dismissed her as“That Woman”and demanded to know if she was really a “victim or vixen.” Then, she turned to the topic of apologies — and who truly deserved one in the wake of the scandal.
In June 2018, former president Clinton faced criticism for saying in an interview that he didn’t believe he should have to apologize directly to Lewinsky, because he had publicly apologized 20 years before.
But Lewinsky explains that, even though she has already apologized toHillaryandChelsea Clinton, she would be grateful for the chance to do it again.
Brian Doben
“I had a long list of things from which to chose,”she told PEOPLE in October.“Where I landed … is ‘Monica Chunky Slut Stalker That Woman Lewinsky.’ And that just scratches the surface … The core message is, don’t let the names that other people choose to call you define you. And don’t let being bullied define your future, either.”
Jim Spellman/WireImage
source: people.com
