Monica Lewinsky was uninvited from a magazine event because former president Bill Clinton was going to be there, she said on Wednesday.
Lewinsky, whose secret sexual relationship with the president during her time at the White House led to his impeachment in 1998 by the House of Representatives, tweeted about the incident, without revealing which event or magazine it was about.
dear world:
please don't invite me to an event (esp one about social change) and --then after i've accepted-- uninvite me because bill clinton then decided to attend/was invited.
it's 2018.
emily post would def not approve.
✌🏼Me
p.s. ...and definitely, please don't try to ameliorate the situation by insulting me with an offer of an article in your mag.
dear world: please don't invite me to an event (esp one about social change) and --then after i've accepted-- uninvite me because bill clinton then decided to attend/was invited. it's 2018. emily post would def not approve. ✌🏼Me
According to HuffPost, that event was the Town & Country Philanthropy Summit, where Clinton introduced Parkland mass shooting survivor and activist Emma González .
: Welcome to the 2018 #TandCPhilanthropy Summit! Watch LIVE as @BillClinton of @ClintonFdn introduces @Emma4Change … https://t.co/IoNfCmwIFU
Lewinsky's publicist declined to comment to BuzzFeed News. And a spokesperson for Town & Country did not respond to multiple requests for comment or address Lewinsky's tweets. The magazine did, however, share quotes from Clinton's speech.
"When you see these four young people, I want you to imagine the lives of the kids who can’t be here. What impact they might have had." — @BillClinton @ClintonFdn #TandCPhilanthropy
After the former president finished his address, his spokesperson tweeted that neither Clinton nor his staff knew anything about the Lewinsky invitation.
President Clinton was invited to address the Town & Country Philanthropy Summit. He gladly accepted. Neither he nor his staff knew anything about the invitation or it being rescinded. https://t.co/iZ0xtG4OvQ
When asked for Clinton's comment on the situation, his press secretary, Angel Ureña, referred BuzzFeed News to the tweet.
People condemned the alleged snub on Twitter, pointing out that disinviting Lewinsky was exactly what "everyone is fighting against."
This is what everyone is fighting against. @townandcountry should be ashamed of themselves. Do they let their heads of the magazine prey on their interns? Would they disinvite them after abusing their power to get what they wanted from them? https://t.co/7y5r878JSM
"What a shitty move," another person tweeted.
@yashar @TandCmag @MonicaLewinsky What a shitty move, @townandcountry https://t.co/yyJBF0BXP0
A few others called it "bad form."
Bad form Town and Country. https://t.co/Du1dNxrEFU
And they remarked that it was a "backward" move at a time when the #MeToo movement has continued to oust powerful men and spark change across industries and political systems.
@HuffPostWomen Wow. @townandcountry way to freeze out the #woman. What a seriously backward move. Find a way to accommodate both people, go with the person you invited first, or (for once) support the less famous but more socially courageous person. I’m embarrassed for you. #genderequity
"Sending the message that the sexual harasser is more important than the victim because money and power. Town and Country is disgusting," another person tweeted.
@EmilyRPeck @seanmdav @HuffPostPol Sending the message that the sexual harasser is more important than the victim because money and power. Town and Country is disgusting.
On Thursday morning, 16 hours after Lewinsky's first comment, Town & Country tweeted an apology to her. It noted staff "regret the way the situation was handled."
We apologize to Ms. Lewinsky and regret the way the situation was handled.