Monica Lewinsky reveals whether she loved Bill Clinton and reflects on the ‘abuse of power’ and ‘Bimbo’ narrative that was forced upon her

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Thirty years after a well-known scandal made her a household name, Monica Lewinsky openly acknowledged having strong feelings for Bill Clinton, referring to the relationship they shared.

At age 51, this individual became well-known worldwide following a controversial relationship with President Bill Clinton that caused a stir.

Now, this American advocate acknowledges that initially, it seemed like genuine affection, but later recognized it as a misuse of authority as well.

Monica clarified, on Elizabeth Day’s podcast “How To Fail,” that the affection she experienced was a young woman of around 22 to 24 years old’s love.

I believe there was a strong crush or infatuation, along with numerous other factors, and that’s what my perception was at the time. I also feel it was a misuse of authority.

Monica additionally pondered over the fact that the White House pushed a narrative labeling her as a ‘bimbo’, even though she had earned her position based on merit prior to her affair with Bill.

She shared that directly after graduating from college, she began working at the White House. However, she finds it surprising when people assume that someone who has such a start in their career won’t have opportunities for employment 10 or 12 years later.

After that, I too took up a job at the Pentagon, and accompanied my supervisor – who serves as the Pentagon’s spokesperson – on various global trips. We were often traveling alongside the Secretary of Defense.

I may not be a genius or top performer, but I’m certainly not unintelligent or lacking in common sense. I’m not someone who is merely superficial or lacking intellectual depth.

‘So I was portrayed to be, and that was a big struggle for me to deal with that.’ 

Elizabeth added: ‘And you were often portrayed as that by other women.’

In my perspective, a narrative was constructed and disseminated by the White House, which was then embraced by many women. However, it’s essential to recognize that this narrative wasn’t organically formed among us; rather, it was a role they bestowed upon us.

Monica’s infamous affair with former president Clinton eventually led to his impeachment.

On August 17, 1998, following numerous refusals, the ex-leader made a public appearance on TV and admitted that he was entirely and wholly accountable for the affair.

Monica has talked about the affair numerous times since it was made public.

Initially, I found myself withdrawing from the limelight due to the overwhelming scrutiny and criticism from the media. The relentless barrage of questions from reporters and mockery on talk shows left me feeling emotionally drained and contemplating my existence.

After facing a lot of negative attention and criticism in public, I chose to step back for a while because it made me feel suicidal.

Additionally, Monica admitted that she longed for an ordinary existence, and when host Elizabeth inquired, “If given the chance, would you erase this phase of your life during which anonymity was impossible, and opportunities were limited due to past events, would you do so?”, Monica agreed.

Monica responded, ‘Indeed, I cherish myself as I am, but if given the chance, there are various factors that make me wish for a more typical lifestyle. A smoother pathway, perhaps, is what I yearn for.’

More recently, Monica clarified that she feels like she “lost her path” or “future direction” following the publicity surrounding her relationship with Bill Clinton during a conversation on the Call Her Daddy podcast.

The conversation between Alex Cooper explored the aftermath that Monica Lewinsky faced following her involvement in one of America’s most notorious extramarital relationships.

In this scenario, Alex presented the context as follows: ‘At that time, you were only 22 while he was 49. You held an internship position, whereas he led as the President of the United States.’

Later on, Monica expressed that she was rapidly labeled as an obsessive stalker, deemed mentally unbalanced, and perceived as lacking appeal.

She now realises her mistakes and how it cast a negative view of both herself and other women.

She expressed to Cooper that given the disparity in power, she shouldn’t have found herself in such an inappropriate situation due to the power imbalance.

It was heartbreaking to witness a young woman from our generation being publicly criticized and judged harshly in the global arena, her personal aspects like sexuality, errors, and even her entire identity, being scrutinized.

How to Fail with Elizabeth Day is available wherever you get your podcasts.

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2025-06-25 04:05