Monica Lewinsky’s advice to people with an outdated mindset—”Same old joke for 30 years… Oh my God! Find some new jokes.”
"People often view resilience—or the ability to rise above adversity—as a straight line, but it is actually more like a spiral. You move forward, step back, move forward again... and then step back again. I think, in such situations, people need to be patient with themselves."
LOS ANGELES:- Much has changed in Monica Lewinsky’s life in the 30 years since the White House scandal, and she hopes that one day her critics will undergo a similar transformation.
Speaking on the “All the Cool Girls” podcast, the 53-year-old Lewinsky noted that time and patience have helped her cope, while urging those with outdated mindsets to move forward with the times and adopt new ways of thinking.
Monica Lewinsky said on the “All the Cool Girls” podcast, “I think entering my fifties has been really pleasant and has freed me from anxieties. You know that joke about ‘not caring anymore’? Well, over time, people really do start to care less and embrace a kind of acceptance—and that has been very reassuring for me.”
Monica says earnestly, “Regarding people who still cling to that old mindset, I wish they would come up with some new jokes; because the same joke for 30 years… oh my God. Or let’s say 28 years—we haven’t quite reached the 30-year mark yet.”
Lewinsky was 21 years old when she began her internship at the White House in July 1995. She turned 22 that same summer, and in November 1995, her sexual relationship with then-President Bill Clinton began.
This relationship became a matter of public interest only after she confided in her Pentagon colleague Linda Tripp; Tripp had secretly recorded their conversations, and the recording was later presented as evidence in the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Clinton by Paula Jones.
(Bill Clinton was impeached while serving as the 42nd President. Photo: House Judiciary Committee-Getty Images)
At a press conference held at the White House in January 1998, Clinton explicitly denied the relationship, stating, “I did not have any sexual relations with Ms. Lewinsky.” Following that, Lewinsky was forced into seclusion due to public humiliation.
The impeachment trial of the 42nd President began in January 1999 and concluded on February 12. Although he was impeached by the lower house (the House), he was acquitted of the charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.
While this scandal remained a topic of discussion for years, it was only in the last decade that Lewinsky began to reclaim her identity.
Reflecting on those days, Monica Lewinsky said, “I feel truly grateful. I am deeply thankful and excited. When I step back and view my story objectively—or rather, as objectively as possible—I find it truly extraordinary to still be here, to be physically present, and to be able to shape the way people see, understand, and meaningfully connect with me. It feels almost unbelievable.”
Levinsky says, “People often view resilience—or the ability to rise above adversity—as a straight line, but it is actually more like a spiral. You move forward, step back, move forward again… and then step back again. I think, in such situations, people need to be patient with themselves.”
