"The View" Hosts Reflect on Monica Lewinsky's Treatment 27 Years After White House Scandal

Reflecting upon the 27th anniversary of a scandal that once shook the United States, "The View" hosts engaged in a discussion about Monica Lewinsky and how public perception and media coverage unfairly targeted her. They observed that there has been a cultural shift toward reevaluating Lewinsky's involvement in her controversial relationship with former President Bill Clinton, a relationship which led to Clinton's impeachment in 1998.

Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin recalled how negatively Lewinsky was portrayed in the media at the time, citing that headlines regularly attacked Lewinsky’s appearance and personality rather than placing the main attention on Clinton, who held significantly greater power. Griffin believes that modern audiences have become more conscious of the power imbalances involved, and she argued that Clinton should have faced greater scrutiny and responsibility.

Sunny Hostin agreed, noting the problematic power dynamics between Lewinsky and Clinton. Hostin highlighted how Lewinsky was deeply affected by the incident and criticized the societal trend toward “cancel culture,” which, in her view, inhibited Lewinsky’s ability to progress and heal from the affair. Hostin emphasized how vastly different Lewinsky’s treatment has been compared to Clinton’s, who has commonly been viewed as able to move past the incident relatively unharmed.

Sara Haines echoed these sentiments, stressing how Lewinsky's image was severely damaged, affecting her personal life and opportunities for romantic relationships. Haines argued it was unfair that Clinton was able to restore his life and personal relationships relatively easily. She remarked how "Lewinsky scandal" unfortunately became ingrained in the public consciousness, underscoring the way the media and society unfairly scrutinized Lewinsky more than Clinton.

Joy Behar offered a slightly different perspective, asserting that some self-awareness was necessary in looking back at Lewinsky’s role. Behar suggested that at 22, Lewinsky, although young, was still an adult and should also acknowledge her agency in the incident. Nonetheless, Behar recognized the positive cultural shift inspired by movements like #MeToo, influencing contemporary views of these events.

Prompting the conversation was Lewinsky herself, who recently offered her perspective on how events should have unfolded. Lewinsky stated publicly that Clinton ideally should have either resigned immediately or been transparent without destroying the reputation of a young professional. Lewinsky acknowledged her own mistakes but maintained that Clinton's wrongdoing was more significant and damaging.