Activist slams Israeli channel, which organized conference, for ‘blatant disregard’ of agreement
A much-anticipated interview with American Monica Lewinsky at a Jerusalem conference was cut short after Israeli news anchor Yonit Levi asked her whether she expected a personal apology from former U.S. president Bill Clinton.
Lewinsky, who as an intern in the White House had a relationship with Clinton, earlier in the evening delivered an impassioned speech that focused on the #MeToo movement, online bullying and detailed her personal experience in the aftermath of the scandal that erupted in 1998.
Lewinski thereafter had agreed to a live televised interview with Levi, who asked in reference to the former U.S. president, “Do you still expect that apology, the personal apology?”
To which Lewinsky retorted, “I’m so sorry, I’m not going to be able to do this,” before abruptly putting down her microphone and walking offstage.
Several hours later, Lewinsky took to Twitter to explain that she had been “misled” by the conference organizers, and Levi in particular.
“There were clear parameters about what we would be discussing and what we would not,” she tweeted. “In fact, the exact question the interviewer asked first, she had put to me when we met the day prior. I said that was off limits.”
The Israeli television news company defended their star anchor, saying they had honored all of Lewinsky’s requests, and that Levi’s question was legitimate and respectful.