One of the most well-known pieces of evidence in the case was a blue dress Lewinsky kept, which contained traces of Clinton’s DNA. This physical evidence contradicted the president’s initial denial of the affair, eventually leading to his impeachment by the House of Representatives in 1998, though he was acquitted by the Senate.

Amid the heightened media attention, Andy Bleiler, Lewinsky’s former boyfriend, came forward with his own statements, feeding further into the tabloid coverage. His comments, viewed by many as opportunistic, exacerbated the scrutiny Lewinsky faced at the time.

Efforts Toward Reinvention

Following the scandal, Lewinsky faced difficulties in establishing a stable career path due to her public persona. She remained unmarried and spoke openly about the personal challenges resulting from the scandal, including stigma in both her professional and private life.

She explored fashion design and briefly launched a handbag line under her name. However, media coverage frequently fixated on her past, hindering her ability to reinvent herself professionally. Many entertainment outlets, including popular comedy shows, mocked her attempts to move forward—a reality that exemplified the struggles she would describe later in addressing cyberbullying and public shaming.

Seeking a new direction, Lewinsky relocated to the United Kingdom and earned a Master’s degree in Social Psychology from the London School of Economics in 2006. In various later interviews, including a widely cited Vanity Fair essay, she expressed regret over her past choices while also critiquing the power imbalances and media frenzy that shaped public perceptions of the affair.

Speaking Out on Cyberbullying and Public Shaming

In the years following her return to public life, Lewinsky became a prominent anti-cyberbullying advocate. Her experiences with online harassment and digital shaming granted her a unique perspective on the social dynamics of internet culture. She has frequently spoken about the importance of compassion in digital discourse and the harmful effects of viral humiliation.

In a 2014 interview with The Guardian, Lewinsky reflected on the gendered dynamics of public backlash: "I think it’s fair to say that whatever mistakes I made, I was hung out to dry by a lot of people, by a lot of the feminists who had loud voices. I wish it had been handled differently. It was very scary and very confusing to be a young woman thrust on to the world stage." She emphasized how she felt excluded from any support network.

Regarding online harassment, she has drawn meaningful parallels between cyberbullying and other forms of emotional pain: "People who cut are trying to localize their pain. I think with bullying, people are suffering for myriad reasons and are projecting it. Instead of cutting themselves, they’re cutting someone else."

Lewinsky has advocated for users to reconsider their role in sustaining harmful media cycles: "Because of the way the algorithm of the internet works, we do have some control. Editors aren’t going to assign stories that aren’t going to get clicks." While acknowledging the temptation to engage with scandalous content herself, she has consistently urged the public to be more mindful about the impact of their online behavior.