As an anti-bullying activist and creative voice in “American Crime Story’s” upcoming take on the Clinton impeachment, Monica Lewinsky has been systematically reclaiming her voice and her story in recent years. By reminding the public about the sexist media coverage and slut shaming she endured, she’s also been deconstructing the entire Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. What once seemed to be just a tawdry political sexcapade turned out to be a whole lot more complicated — and misogynist.
Lewinsky is set to take on other aspects of our culture’s “public shaming epidemic” in the documentary “15 Minutes of Shame.” She will appear in and exec produce the HBO Max doc, a press release has announced.
An examination of “our collective need to destroy one another,” “15 Minutes of Shame” hails from “Catfish” host Max Joseph and producer Six West. “Using follow-doc storytelling, social experiments, and the examination of social behavior, this documentary film will feature individuals from around the globe who have been publicly shamed — while exploring the bullies, the bystanders, the media, psychologists, politicians, and experts in between,” the release details. “’15 Minutes of Shame’ is about one of the most pressing and unaddressed issues of modern life, brought to you by the people who know it best” — Lewinsky among them.
“Monica Lewinsky is an anti-bullying activist with unparalleled authority, making her the perfect partner for this project,” said Sarah Aubrey, HBO Max’s head of original content.
Lewinsky is producing “Impeachment: American Crime Story,” set to premiere in fall 2020. On-screen, she will be portrayed by “Booksmart” star Beanie Feldstein. Her other work includes the TED Talk “The Price of Shame,” which has netted more than 16 million views, and docuseries “The Clinton Affair.”
“Throughout history women have been traduced and silenced. Now it’s our time to tell our own stories in our own words,” Lewinsky has said. “Almost all the books written about the Clinton impeachment were written by men. History literally being written by men.”
