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Tag: tyler clementi

  • Monica Lewinsky Joins Twitter, Thousands Follow

    It seems that at 41-years-old, Monica Lewinsky is ready for her second act. The most famous former intern ever, announced herself to the Twitter world today with a simple tweet, “#HereWeGo.” She followed that an hour later with another tweet, “excited (and nervous) to speak to #Under30Summit.” In just under five hours, Lewinsky already has over 20,000 followers, and she’s already verified.

    Lewinksy’s Twitter bio says that she’s a “social activist. public speaker. contributor to vanity fair. knitter of things without sleeves.”

    Clearly, Lewinsky did not launch her Twitter account just to discuss knitting. She is using the social media platform as part of her campaign to end cyberbullying and internet shaming.

    She spoke today at Forbes’ inaugural 30 Under 30 summit in Philadelphia to a room full of about 1,000 accomplished millenials. “I was Patient Zero,” she said. “The first person to have their reputation completely destroyed worldwide via the Internet.”

    Who could forget the tabloid scandal of the Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinsky affair? The stained blue dress, the Presidential impeachment, the betrayal by Linda Tripp, the cigar. It was everyday fodder for the masses, and the public ate it up like a bad soap opera turned reality.

    “There was no Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram back then,” she said. “But there were gossip, news and entertainment websites replete with comment sections and emails which could be forwarded. Of course, it was all done on the excruciatingly slow dial up. Yet around the world this story went. A viral phenomenon that, you could argue, was the first moment of truly ‘social media’.”

    Lewinsky also talked today about her life after the scandal. The past 15 years have obviously not been easy. She was embarrassed and ashamed, she even confessed to having suicidal thoughts.

    She tried to move on with her life: handbag designer, reality dating show host, going back to school for a Masters Degree. But her past followed her everywhere.

    She finally realized in 2010, following the suicide of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi, who jumped from the George Washington Bridge after finding out his roommate secretly taped and shared video of him kissing a man, that she could make a difference. “That tragedy is one of the principal reasons I am standing up here today. While it touched us both, my mother was unusually upset by the story, and I wondered why. Eventually it dawned on me: she was back in 1998, back to a time when I was periodically suicidal; when she might very easily have lost me; when I, too, might have been humiliated to death.”

    Lewinsky believes that by sharing her story and Tyler’s tragedy, that she can help combat online harassment and cyberbullying. “Having survived myself, what I want to do now is help other victims of the shame game survive, too,” she said. “I want to put my suffering to good use and give purpose to my past.”

    If you would like to follow Lewinsky on Twitter, her handle is: @MonicaLewinsky.

  • Dharun Ravi Serves 20 Days, Scheduled for Release: Twitter Reacts

    Dharun Ravi, the former Rutgers student who was convicted of bias intimidation and invasion of privacy which lead to the suicide of Tyler Clementi, will be released from jail after serving only 20 days of his 30-day sentence. In accordance with state regulations, Ravi is being released because of his good behavior. Although the Indian-born Ravi, 20, won’t face deportation for his crimes, he must still turn in roughly 300 hours of community service.

    “My behavior and actions, which at no time were motivated by hate, bigotry, prejudice or desire to hurt, humiliate or embarrass anyone, were nonetheless the wrong choices and decisions,” Ravi said in a statement issued on May 30th. “I apologize to everyone affected by those choices.”

    In 2010, Ravi used a webcam to spy on his roommate, Clementi, who was in a sexual relationship with another man at the time. Ravi made light of the situation on Twitter, encouraging others to watch them on video chat. Humiliated by the whole exchange, Clementi jumped off New York’s George Washington Bridge, taking his own life in the process. Beforehand, he had announced his decision to end his life on Facebook.

    Upon leaving Middlesex County Jail, Ravi made no comment to the media.

    Twitter users have taken to the site this morning to discuss Dharun’s early release. You can find a small collection of their thoughts and feelings on the subject below.