Monica Lewinsky clapped back after she was uninvited to an event Bill Clinton was attending
This past Wednesday, May 9th, Monica Lewinsky clapped back at an unnamed organization for inviting her to a “social change” event only to rescind her invitation after Bill Clinton expressed interest in attending. In a follow up tweet, Lewinsky told the organization in question not to “ameliorate the situation” by insultingly offering her an interview in their magazine.
"Dear world," Lewinsky tweeted, "Please don't invite me to an event (esp one about social change) and — then after i've accepted — uninvite me because Bill Clinton then decided to attend/was invited. It's 2018. Emily post would def not approve."
Although Lewinsky did not outwardly name the organization nor the event, HuffPost learned that Lewinsky was referring to the Town & Country annual philanthropic summit. Former President Bill Clinton attended the Wednesday summit, where he introduced gun control advocate and Parkland survivor, Emma Gonzalez. Clinton’s press secretary, Angel Unreña, tweeted that Clinton had no knowledge that Lewinsky’s invite had been rescinded.
dear world:
please don't invite me to an event (esp one about social change) and –then after i've accepted– uninvite me because bill clinton then decided to attend/was invited.
it's 2018.
emily post would def not approve.
✌🏼Me— Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@MonicaLewinsky) May 9, 2018
p.s. …and definitely, please don't try to ameliorate the situation by insulting me with an offer of an article in your mag.
— Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@MonicaLewinsky) May 9, 2018
In the wake of the Me Too movement, Lewinsky has gained support from those who have since acknowledged that she, too, was a victim of workplace power-dynamic abuse long before it was a publicly discussed issue. The move by Town & Country plays into the almost 20-year sexist narrative that proclaimed Lewinsky as less than and villainous compared to the “respectable” former president.
Many fellow Twitter users stepped in to show their support for Lewinsky and to call out the publication. One such Twitter clapback was from writer and director Judd Apatow. He tweeted,
"This is what everyone is fighting against. @townandcountry should be ashamed of themselves. Do they let their heads of the magazine prey on their interns? Would they disinvite them after abusing their power to get what they wanted from them?"
This is what everyone is fighting against. @townandcountry should be ashamed of themselves. Do they let their heads of the magazine prey on their interns? Would they disinvite them after abusing their power to get what they wanted from them? https://t.co/7y5r878JSM
— Judd Apatow 🇺🇦 (@JuddApatow) May 9, 2018
Town & Country tweeted an apology to Lewinsky early Thursday morning, May 10th. The publication stated they “regret the way the situation was handled.”
We apologize to Ms. Lewinsky and regret the way the situation was handled.
— TOWN&COUNTRY (@TandCmag) May 10, 2018
Lewinsky has yet to respond to the apology (at least via Twitter).