Monica Lewinsky is portrayed by Booksmart's Beanie Feldstein in Impeachment: American Crime Story, with the real-life Lewinsky serving as a co-producer on the series. The series is a dramatization of the Lewinsky-Clinton scandal, told from the perspective of the women involved. Over two decades have passed since her affair with Bill Clinton came to light in 199 but where is Monica Lewinsky today? Newsweek has everything you need to know.
Where is Monica Lewinsky Today?
In January 1998, White House intern Monica Lewinsky's world was turned upside down when her affair with Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, became public knowledge.
Just 24 years old, Lewinsky was thrown in the media spotlight and found herself at the center of the second impeachment trial in History.
The House of Representatives impeached Clinton on the grounds of committing perjury and obstruction of justice, after evidence—including taped phone conversations of Lewinsky disclosing details of her relationship with Clinton and the existence of a blue dress stained with Clinton's sem*n—came to light.
Clinton had previously denied having "sexual relations" with Lewinsky in a deposition in the Jones v. Clinton civil case.
Lewinsky had signed an affidavit stating she had never had a sexual relationship for the same lawsuit. Clinton was acquitted by the Senate on impeachment charges on February 12, 1999.
Today, Lewinsky is an activist against cyber-bullying and a strong voice in the #MeToo movement.
On her Twitter bio, Lewinsky describes herself as an "anti-bullying activist, ted talks giver, Vanity Fair contributor, rap song muse, ex-beret model and knitter".
In 2014, she took her first public stand against cyberbullying, referring to herself as "patient zero" of online bullying in an interview at the Forbes' 30 Under 30 summit.
She has since continued to speak out publicly against cyberbullying and serves as an ambassador and strategic advisor for the anti-bullying organization Bystander Revolution.
Lewinsky famously gave a TED Talk titled "The Price of Shame" where she partially recounted the impact of scandal had on her. The talk went viral.
Lewinsky has also taken up a career in television production, starting Alt Ending Productions, signing a first-look deal at 20th Television in June 2021.
She served as a co-producer and the main consultant on Impeachment: American Crime Story. She recently opened up on Today about her story being brought to life.
She said: "I've really worn two hats in this project, so as a producer I'm very proud of the project, of the show.
"And as a subject, I'm nervous. I'm nervous for people to see some of the worst moments of my life and a lot of behavior that I regret."
Lewinsky added: "I do not recommend watching your early 20s be dramatized on TV, especially in this instance where the truth really was stranger than fiction."
Executive producer Ryan Murphy told The Hollywood Reporter he wanted the woman at the center of the story to be involved in the show.
He said: "I told her, 'Nobody should tell your story but you, and it's kind of gross if they do'
"If you want to produce it with me, I would love that; but you should be the producer and you should make all the goddamn money."
Read more
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After the scandal in 1998, while Clinton remained in public office, Lewinsky gained celebrity status. She embarked on a series of ventures—from her own handbag line to publishing her biography with Andrew Morton, Monica's Story, in 1999.
She appeared on several television talk shows, hosted her own dating program, Mr. Personality on Fox, and appeared as herself in two sketches of Saturday Night Live in May 1999. Lewinsky also had her own TV show in the U.K. called Monica's Postcards, where she reported on U.S. culture.
In 2005 she moved to the U.K. to study for a master's degree in psychology at the London School of Economics.
For several years, Lewinsky stayed out of the spotlight, returning in May 2014 with an essay in Vanity Fair called "Shame and Survival", where she discussed her life over the past decade and the scandal itself.
She appeared in her first interview for more than 10 years in a three-part special on the National Geographic Channel, The 90s: The Last Great Decade, in July 2014.
Impeachment: American Crime Story airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on FX
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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