After years of silence, Monica Lewinsky is writing about her experiences with Bill Clinton in a tell-all piece for Vanity Fair. The article hit the presses on May 8th. Inspired by the story of Tyler Clementi, the 18-year-old Rutgers freshman who committed suicide after being secretly filmed kissing another man, she also remembers being suicidal after her own scandal went public. She wanted to share her shame and scorn with the world to help others during their dark moments of humiliation.
Ms. Lewinsky’s affair with Former President Clinton occurred while she worked in the White House as an intern from 1995-1996. The affair eventually led to charges of perjury and obstruction of justice against Clinton, and his subsequent impeachment.
In the article, Ms. Lewinsky writes, “I, myself, deeply regret what happened between me and President Clinton. Let me say it again: I. Myself. Deeply. Regret. What. Happened.”
After the dust settled from the scandal, Ms. Lewinsky still had trouble recovering from the fallout. She obtained her Master’s degree in Psychology at the London School of Economics, but struggled to find a job afterwards because of her famous name and infamous reputation.
Her current goal, she says, “is to get involved with efforts on behalf of victims of online humiliation and harassment and to start speaking on this topic in public forums.”
Workplace relationships and your rights
Lewinsky and Clinton’s affair was admittedly consensual. While it may be morally reprehensible, having an extra-marital affair at work is not necessarily sexual harassment. To constitute sexual harassment, sexual advances must be unwelcome.
Even if your boss is in a position of power, do not be afraid to assert your boundaries. Let him or her know the requests, comments, and behaviors are unwanted. If your boss continues to harass you, speak with an NYC lawyer who can bring your case through the proper channels.
The New York City Employment Law Firm of Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC handles a multitude of cases that involve sexual harassment in New York City. For further information, please feel free to call us at 800-807-2209 for a free consultation or contact us online.
