Monica Lewinsky announced this week that she is launching a new anti-bullying campaign by changing her Twitter name to the long list of names she has been called over the decades.
Lewinsky unveiled #DefyTheName with a new PSA as part of National Bullying Prevention Month, People magazine reported Friday.
The campaign calls for people to change their user names on social media for the month of October to the names with which they’ve been bullied.
“I had a long list of things from which to choose,” Lewinsky told People. “Where I landed, given the 50 characters you could have for your display name, is ‘Monica Chunky Slut Stalker That Woman Lewinsky.’ And that just scratches the surface.”
Lewinsky was a 22-year-old White House intern when she became romantically involved with former President Clinton in the 1990s.
The “that woman” remark appears to reference Clinton’s infamous statement denying their affair during a 1998 press conference.
“I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Monica Lewinsky,” Clinton said. Clinton was later impeached for lying under oath about his relationship with the former White House intern.
Lewinsky has spoken publicly about the onslaught of attention, criticism and abuse she faced from the tabloids and the media after the affair came to light.
“Name-calling is one of the most common instances of bullying behavior,” Lewinsky said. “The core message is, don’t let the names that other people choose to call you, define you. And don’t let being bullied define your future either.”
The PSA also features celebrities and activists including Lena Dunham, Sarah Silverman, Olivia Munn, Maysoon Zayid and others sharing the worst names they’ve ever been called.
“We’re hoping the whole campaign will create a counter wave of empathy and community online,” Lewinsky told People. “The idea is to take back the power from the name and reclaim that power for ourselves.”
Social media users have quickly begun participating in the #DefyTheName campaign.
I stand by @MonicaLewinsky and #DefyTheName Luciferina, Femme Fatale, Man-eater, Adulteress, Dirty Whore, Ice Queen, Foxy Knoxyhttps://t.co/sGjGeSsTVI
— Amanda Marie Knox (@amamaknox) October 5, 2018
The names I was called never defined who I became. Please share this film https://t.co/NZthqy6qBd and join me + @MonicaLewinsky (among others) in adding a name you were called to your Twitter profile. #DefyTheName
— Tony phony squawk starvation victim bony cock Hawk (@tonyhawk) October 5, 2018
Took all these decades to embrace & reverse the name calling I endured from childhood (still a battle to not internalize them) standing w others (@tonyhawk @MonicaLewinsky @JohnOliverMP @oliviamunn) to pushback bullying #DefyTheName https://t.co/c6Fs5dGqUO
— Quest superdweeb Love (@questlove) October 5, 2018
The names I was called never defined who I became. Please share this film https://t.co/mnywsuA9f6 and join me + @Monica Lewinsky (and others) in adding a name you were called to your Twitter name. #DefyTheName
— Alan Useless Cumming (@Alancumming) October 5, 2018
The names I was called never defined who I became. Please share this film and join me + @MonicaLewinsky and many others in adding a name you were called to your Twitter name or Tweeting it to me with #DefyTheName ❤️ https://t.co/RtjqGsVldT
— Olivia The New Girl in School No One Likes Munn (@oliviamunn) October 5, 2018
Ironically, it’s anti-bullying month. Know that the names you are called can never define who you are! #DefyTheName! I’m proud to join in partnership with the amazing @MonicaLewinsky & @JohnOliver, @KellyRipa, @LenaDunham, @DanPatrick, @Questlove, @SarahKSilverman, @Alancumming
— Mx Justin Vivian “Siss Bisquit” Bond (@mxjustinVbond) October 5, 2018
