Monica Lewinsky Speaks Publicly About President Clinton Affair, Cyber Bullying at TED2015
Cyber bullying is something that not only affects kids, but adults, and famous adults at that. Australian rapper Iggy Azalea has recently sworn off social media due to cyber bullying.
Monica Lewinsky, the notorious White House intern who had an affair with former President Bill Clinton, knows a thing or two about cyber bullying. She returned to the spotlight on Thursday, delivering an 18-minute TED talk about public humiliation and the "mistake" she cannot overcome decades later.
Lewinsky asked the audience for a show of hands. "Who didn't make a mistake at 22?" she asked.
Images of Lewinsky come to mind: The video clip of the 22-year-old wearing a black beret, reaching out of the crowd to hug President Clinton; later, a photograph of Lewinsky with her right hand raised as she was sworn in for Clinton's impeachment trial deposition emerged.
Lewinsky, now 41, talked about the media backlash that followed her 1998 White House romp with Clinton.
"Now I admit I made mistakes -- especially wearing that beret -- but the attention and judgment that I received -- not the story, but that I personally received -- was unprecedented," she said. "I was branded as a tramp, tart, slut, whore, bimbo and, of course, 'that woman.' I was known by many, but actually known by few. I get it. It was easy to forget 'that woman' was dimensional and had a soul."
She explained that in 1998, she "lost my reputation and my dignity" along with a sense of self.
"When this happened to me, 17 years ago, there was no name for it. Now we call it cyber-bullying," she said.
Lewinsky wants to see a "cultural revolution" on cyber-bullying. She said that public humiliation as a blood sport needs to stop, and that people need to practice compassion and empathy. Instead of people assuming the role of spectator when they see public humiliation, she wants them to be an "upstander."
"With every click we make a choice," she said. "But online showing empathy to others benefits us all ... Just imagine walking a mile in someone else's headline."
You can read more of Lewinsky's speech at TEDBlog.
TED2015 was the second time Lewinsky has spoken publicly since the White House scandal. She also spoke at Forbes' 30 Under 30 Summit in October.
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