Monica Lewinsky, who famously had an affair with former President Bill Clinton, will help produce an HBO Max documentary on the culture of public shaming.
The former Clinton intern is set to team up with MTV’s Catfish star Max Joseph on 15 Minutes of Shame. The documentary will feature both Lewinsky and Joseph on camera as they take a deep dive into the “public shaming epidemic in our culture.”
“Monica Lewinsky is an anti-bullying activist with unparalleled authority, making her the perfect partner for this project,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content at HBO Max. “And Max’s strong advocacy for social justice and distinctive storytelling make him particularly well-suited to explore this complex modern phenomenon.”
15 Minutes of Shame will focus on worldwide subjects who have been publicly shamed, including some well-known names. The film will also explore the bullies, bystanders, and media members involved in prominent instances of public shaming, with psychologists and experts weighing in.
Lewinsky was a key figure during the impeachment process against Clinton in the 1990s after word of their affair got out. The scandal thrust the former White House intern into the spotlight, where she faced intense ridicule. She has recently spoken out on a number of occasions about the public shaming she suffered in the aftermath of the incident.
Clinton, who lied under oath about the nature of his relationship with Lewinsky, was impeached by the House for perjury but was later acquitted by the Senate in 1999.
In 2014, Lewinsky became a contributor for Vanity Fair. She was featured in the TV documentary series The Clinton Affair in 2018 and is currently a producer of Impeachment, the third installment of FX’s American Crime Story.
Impeachment will focus on the impeachment of Clinton through Lewinsky’s eyes. HBO Max, an upcoming video-on-demand service, is set to launch in the spring of 2020.
