Monica Lewinsky, now 51 years old, has spent decades reshaping her public image, moving from the center of one of the biggest political scandals in U.S. history to becoming a respected activist and anti-bullying advocate. But even after all these years, the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal remains a topic of debate. In a recent episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, Lewinsky shared her belief that former President Bill Clinton should have resigned after their affair became public.
Her perspective, once unheard of in the late 90s, is now gaining traction, particularly among younger generations who view the scandal through a more modern lens of power dynamics and accountability. But does her argument hold weight? And what does Lewinsky’s journey tell us about public shaming, redemption, and resilience? Let’s dive in.
The Affair That Shook the White House
To recap, Monica Lewinsky was 22 years old when she had a sexual relationship with then-49-year-old President Bill Clinton. The affair, which began in 1995 while she was a White House intern, became a political firestorm when it came to light in 1998. Clinton, at first, vehemently denied any wrongdoing, famously stating, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” However, he later admitted to an inappropriate relationship with Lewinsky.
The fallout was swift. Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives for perjury and obstruction of justice, though he was later acquitted by the Senate and remained in office. Meanwhile, Lewinsky became the face of public shaming, vilified by the media and used as a punchline in late-night TV monologues.
“He Should Have Resigned” – Lewinsky’s Perspective
Fast forward to 2025, and Monica Lewinsky is no longer the shamed former intern—she’s a public speaker, writer, and activist advocating for mental health awareness and online bullying prevention. On Call Her Daddy, she told host Alex Cooper that the right thing for Clinton to do would have been to resign.
“The right way to handle a situation like that would have been to probably say, ‘it was nobody’s business’ and to resign,” Lewinsky said. “Or to find a way of staying in office that was not lying, and not throwing a young person under the bus.”
It’s a bold statement, one that suggests Clinton’s refusal to step down not only protected his own career but also exacerbated the trauma for Lewinsky, who bore the brunt of the scandal’s public scrutiny.
The Changing Conversation Around Power and Accountability
In the late 90s, much of the blame fell on Lewinsky. She was called a “stalker,” “bimbo,” and “homewrecker” while Clinton largely emerged unscathed. But times have changed. In recent years, a cultural shift has led people—especially younger generations—to reevaluate the power imbalance between Clinton and Lewinsky.
As Lewinsky pointed out on the podcast, it was young people who started questioning the narrative surrounding the scandal. “It was the younger generations that really insisted on reevaluating this story, because you were all coming to it with just the facts,” she said. Many now recognize that a 49-year-old sitting U.S. president engaging in an affair with a 22-year-old intern is a clear abuse of power.
The Impact on Lewinsky’s Life
For Lewinsky, the scandal wasn’t just a political controversy—it was a personal catastrophe. In the years that followed, she struggled to find employment, was ridiculed on a global scale, and lost her anonymity.
“I lost my anonymity, I lost my future, I lost my sense of self, I think I lost trusting myself in many ways,” she shared on her own podcast, Reclaiming.
It wasn’t until a decade later that she truly understood the weight of what had happened. After completing graduate school at the London School of Economics, she found that employers didn’t want to hire her—not because she lacked qualifications, but because her name was forever linked to a presidential scandal.
No Apology from Clinton, But She Doesn’t Need One
Despite the immense damage the scandal caused her, Lewinsky has never received an apology from Clinton or the key players involved.
“I’m at a place where I don’t need it anymore,” she said on the podcast. That statement alone speaks volumes about her growth and resilience.
While Clinton has expressed regret over the affair, he has never personally apologized to Lewinsky. In 2018, when asked whether he owed her an apology, Clinton responded, “No. I do not. I have never talked to her. But I did say publicly on more than one occasion that I was sorry.”
Monica Lewinsky’s New Chapter
Monica Lewinsky has done what many thought was impossible: she reclaimed her narrative. Since 2014, she has been a vocal advocate against cyberbullying and public shaming, using her own experiences to educate and inspire others.
- TED Talk (2015) – She gave a powerful speech about the dangers of online shaming, which has been viewed over 10 million times.
- HBO Documentary (2021) – 15 Minutes of Shame examined the culture of public shaming in the digital age.
- Podcast (Reclaiming) (2024–Present) – A deep dive into redemption stories and the struggles of people who have been publicly shamed.
She has also built a successful media presence, proving that a scandal does not have to define a person’s entire life.
Bill Clinton’s Net Worth and Legacy
As of 2025, Bill Clinton, now 78, has a net worth of $120 million, thanks to his post-presidency speaking engagements, book deals, and investments. He remains a prominent figure in politics and philanthropy, though his reputation remains stained by the Lewinsky scandal.
Even though he survived impeachment, the affair will forever be part of his legacy. Had he resigned in 1998, as Lewinsky suggested, history might have looked very different.
Final Thoughts: Did Clinton Make the Right Choice?
Looking back, should Bill Clinton have resigned? Monica Lewinsky certainly thinks so. And with today’s awareness of power dynamics, many people agree.
Had he stepped down, it might have changed the public perception of the scandal, potentially sparing Lewinsky from years of humiliation and struggle. But whether he resigned or not, what’s undeniable is that Lewinsky has emerged stronger, wiser, and more impactful than ever.
She’s no longer just the woman caught in a presidential scandal—she’s a survivor, a leader, and an inspiration for anyone who’s ever faced public shaming.
And in 2025, her voice matters more than ever.
