Monica Lewinsky reveals it took her '20 years' to heal from public humiliation of Bill Clinton scandal

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Monica Lewinsky has opened up about her long journey of healing after enduring intense public humiliation in the wake of the Bill Clinton scandal that dates back to 1998.

On the latest episode of 'Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky' podcast, the 51-year-old activist and writer shared her thoughts on the collective nature of both shame and recovery, US Weekly reported. 

Monica Lewinsky reflects on being 'publicly humiliated'

Speaking with 'Wicked' director Jon M Chu on the March 25 episode, Lewinsky drew parallels between her own experience and a powerful scene in the upcoming film adaptation of the beloved musical.

"There is an interesting thing about both the experience of public humiliation and the healing from it – that it doesn’t happen alone," she explained.

Lewinsky became a subject of global scrutiny in 1998 when it was revealed that she had engaged in an affair with then-President Bill Clinton while working as a White House intern from 1995 to 1997.

Forced to testify before a grand jury in exchange for immunity from prosecution, she faced relentless public ridicule.

"You actually cannot be publicly humiliated in a vacuum. Someone has to do something, or something has to happen, or you f**k up. If you f**k up when you’re by yourself, you’re not publicly humiliated," she pointed out.

She added, "It’s that social dynamic that’s really interesting. You know, my experience, Elphaba reclaimed it in one song [in 'Wicked'] and it took me 20 years, but I think I’ve just seen for myself how it’s been, really, a social and collective process for me of being able to heal and reclaim that way.”

Monica Lewinsky connects ‘Wicked’ scene to her own experience 

Monica Lewinsky then reflected on how 'Wicked’s themes of shame and redemption resonated with her deeply.

She specifically highlighted the Ozdust Ballroom scene, where Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo) is mocked but defiantly reclaims her power through dance.

"For me, what was so powerful was the Ozdust Ballroom scene," she told Chu.

"I was seeing it with my friend … I could not stop sobbing. It was so much because of what [Chu], and Cynthia and Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda did, but I think the magic between you and Cynthia in that scene, you captured public humiliation in a way that I think is hard to do.”

She continued, "Since that movie, there were times when people will say, ‘What was 1998 like?’ It was a lot of f**king humiliation but, basically, I can point to [Wicked’s Ozdust Ballroom scene] and say, ‘It was this, over and over and over again.’ But [the scene] captured [Lewinsky’s experience] in such a way."

Monica Lewinsky says 'many of us experience this'

While her scandal was on an unprecedented global scale, Monica Lewinsky noted that public humiliation is something many people experience, whether on a small or large scale.

"I think so many of us experience public humiliation in ways that [don’t] have to be on the front page of the New York Times," she said.

"It can be in big and little ways in our community. I think, to feel seen in that way, when there’s so much shame in being publicly humiliated, it just, to me, is one of the many gifts this film [Wicked] gave us.”

This isn’t the first time Lewinsky has spoken about the lasting impact of the Clinton scandal.

During a February appearance on the 'Call Her Daddy' podcast, she reflected on the ways public shaming has evolved, and in some cases, worsened, over the years.

"What I experienced and now why I care so much about anti-bullying with young people, because I understand what this is online and with social media, there is no border," she said.

She added, "It literally feels like the entire world is laughing at you. And it is devastating.”