Monica Lewinsky has spent much of her adult life navigating the weight of public scrutiny. Once unwillingly thrust into the global spotlight in the late 1990s, she has in the past decade rebuilt her career and reputation on her own terms. Today she is known not simply as the central figure in a political scandal but as an advocate, writer, and producer who has chosen to tell stories about shame, survival, and resilience. Her latest project, The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, places her in the producer’s chair once again, working closely with Amanda Knox on a dramatization of Knox’s experiences and the media frenzy that surrounded them.Knox, you may remember, was a student in Italy and was charged and tried for the murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher. Knox spent nearly four years in prison but was subsequently cleared of all charges.
For Lewinsky, the series is a continuation of a producing career that has steadily expanded in scope. She served as a producer on Impeachment: American Crime Story, the FX anthology series that dramatized the events of the Clinton impeachment, offering a perspective that highlighted the ways in which power, gender, and politics intersected to define her life. In discussing that project, Lewinsky acknowledged the difficulty of revisiting her past but stressed the importance of reclaiming the narrative. “I felt it was critical for me to be involved,” she explained at the time, noting that for decades her story had been told by others.
Her work on The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox is driven by similar principles. Knox, who was convicted and later acquitted in Italy of a murder she has always denied committing, endured years of sensational media coverage that painted her in ways she has long argued were inaccurate and harmful.
Lewinsky, who has described herself as one of the first people to have their life “completely destroyed by the internet,” shares an understanding with Knox about the personal cost of being reduced to caricature. “I know what it’s like to be reduced to a headline,” Lewinsky has said in describing her broader mission as a producer. By collaborating with Knox, she aims to ensure the series tells the story with nuance and empathy, rather than through the distorting lens of tabloid sensationalism.
Beyond her work in television, Lewinsky has become a prominent advocate against cyberbullying and online harassment. In 2015, she delivered a widely viewed TED Talk titled The Price of Shame, in which she spoke candidly about the devastation caused by public humiliation in the internet age. Her talk argued for more compassion in digital spaces and highlighted the real-world consequences of online cruelty. She has since partnered with organizations that promote digital safety and has been outspoken in calling for accountability from both individuals and platforms. Her activism has been praised for turning personal experience into a broader campaign for change, demonstrating how empathy and advocacy can emerge from even the most painful chapters of one’s life.
That focus on empathy and accountability threads through her producing work. With Impeachment, she was involved in shaping scripts, ensuring accuracy, and advising on the emotional truths of the story. With The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, she is taking those lessons further, advocating for a production that reflects Knox’s voice and lived reality. Rather than allowing the project to become another speculative retelling, Lewinsky has emphasized collaboration and fidelity to Knox’s own perspective. For Knox, who has written and spoken extensively about her ordeal, the opportunity to co-create a dramatization with someone who understands what it means to be vilified in the public eye represents a chance to recast her story.
Lewinsky’s emergence as a producer has also been noted within the entertainment industry as part of a larger trend toward giving people who were once silenced or misrepresented the tools to retell their own stories. Her involvement lends authenticity to projects that might otherwise be seen as voyeuristic. By aligning with figures like Knox, she has positioned herself not only as a producer but also as an advocate for dignity in storytelling.
The arc of Lewinsky’s career illustrates a striking transformation. Once known only as a symbol of scandal, she is now respected as a commentator on culture, an activist for safer digital spaces, and a producer committed to centering the voices of those who have been misrepresented. Her producing choices align with her advocacy, reinforcing her belief that stories matter not only in how they are told but in who is empowered to tell them.
As The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox moves forward, it represents more than just a new television drama. It is part of a broader cultural shift in which individuals who were once defined by others are reclaiming control of their narratives. For Lewinsky, the project underscores the distance she has traveled since her own name was synonymous with scandal. It also highlights the work she continues to do to shape conversations about shame, accountability, and compassion. By partnering with Amanda Knox, she extends her mission to give voice to those who have lived through the crucible of public judgment, ensuring that their stories are told with the honesty and complexity they deserve.
The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox is now streaming on Hulu.
