In a TED talk capped by an extended standing ovation Thursday, Monica Lewinsky said that she learned the “devastating consequences” of falling in love with her former boss — Bill Clinton — and that she considers herself cyberbullying’s “patient-zero.”
Monica Lewinsky: "At the age of 22 I fell in love with my boss and at the age of 24 I learned the devastating consequences" #TED2015
— Marsha Lederman (@marshalederman) March 19, 2015
"My public humiliation was excruciating. Life was almost unbearable. I felt like "patient-zero" for cyber-bullying." Monica Lewinsky #TED
— Bill Gross (@Bill_Gross) March 19, 2015
Lewinsky carried on a relationship with Clinton in 1995 and 1996 while she worked as his intern. She told her friend at the time, Linda Tripp, about the affair. The story was first reported by the Drudge Report and set off a massive scandal.
The 41-year-old did not go into detail about her relationship with Clinton or offer any thoughts on Hillary’s potential 2016 presidential bid. Instead she aired her grievances with how the media — especially online media — covered the story and affected her life.
"My scandal was brought to you by the digital revolution. My story broke online." Monica Lewinsky at #TED #TED2015
— Bill Gross (@Bill_Gross) March 19, 2015
Monica Lewinsky:"The attention and judgement I received … was unprecedented. I was branded as a tramp, tart, slut, whore, bimbo." #TED2015
— Marsha Lederman (@marshalederman) March 19, 2015
"The darkness, cyber bullying, and slut shaming I had experienced had mushroomed"-Lewinsky
— F. Bill McMorris (@FBillMcMorris) March 19, 2015
She also slammed the business model of news websites, which she said generate revenue by exploiting shame.
"someone is making money off of the back of someone else's suffering…every click is a choice"-Monica Lewinsky
— F. Bill McMorris (@FBillMcMorris) March 19, 2015
"The more shame, the more clicks. The more clicks, the more advertising." @Monica Lewinsky criticizing profiteering websites. #TED2015
— Susan McPherson (@susanmcp1) March 19, 2015
Lewinsky also told the audience in Vancouver that when her affair with Clinton was revealed in 1998, her parents worried that she would commit suicide.
She said she drew inspiration from the case of Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University student who committed suicide by jumping off of a bridge in 2010 after his roommate filmed him kissing another man.
Lewinsky: "Both my parents feared I would be humiliated to death. Literally." Mom slept by her each night, made her shower w door open #TED
— Jodie Martinson (@JodieMartinson) March 19, 2015
At #TED2015 Monica Lewinsky poignantly tracing her story from 1998 through cyberbullying and suicide of Tyler Clementi and so many others
— Ina Fried (@inafried) March 19, 2015
"Just imagine walking in someone else's headline. " Monica Lewinsky. "It is time to take back my narrative." #TED2015
— Jeff Lee (@SunCivicLee) March 19, 2015
Lewinsky’s TED talk comes during that organization’s annual week-long conference. Her presentation was part of a session titled “Just and Unjust.”