Monica Lewinsky Breaks Her Silence On Ken Starr's Death, It's 'Complicated'

TV Personality Monica Lewinsky has given her two cents about the death of former U.S. solicitor general Ken Starr.

The former U.S White House employee first got entangled with Starr after he spearheaded an investigation that unveiled the details of her affair with former U.S President Bill Clinton. Lewinsky subsequently suffered public shame for years as an aftermath of the ordeal.

In light of his death, Lewinsky took to Twitter to post a compassionate response and shared that she only has "complicated feelings" about him. Lewinsky's comment garnered her the praise of some Twitter users who felt she took the high road by not rejoicing in Starr's demise.

Read on to learn more.

Taking to Twitter on September 13, Lewinsky shared that the death of the former U.S. solicitor general has triggered within her some "complicated feelings."

https://twitter.com/MonicaLewinsky/status/1569804404928258049?s=20&t=wiFG8azIRP7VEh7vfrfNIA

"As i'm sure many can understand, my thoughts about ken starr bring up complicated feelings… but of more importance, is that i imagine it's a painful loss for those who love him."

Lewinsky's remark appeared to be a measured, sympathetic response to the death of Starr, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 76 from surgery complications. Starr oversaw the inquiry into former American president Bill that revealed his relationship with Lewinsky, who was in her early twenties working as a White House intern.

Although Starr's initial focus was to look into a real estate deal in which Bill and his wife Hillary Clinton were involved in Arkansas, his attention shifted when he learned that Lewinsky and Bill had a romantic relationship. It thus began a complicated series of events that resulted in Lewinsky being publicly humiliated and altered her life's course.

Following Lewinsky's post, several individuals on Twitter lauded the former U.S White House employee for having the grace to comment mildly about the death of a man who allegedly played a massive role in orchestrating the events that changed her life forever.

One person mentioned, "I am still angry for her and for other women he abused with his authority. It is definitely not easy to be gracious about him."

Another person said, "You have consistently demonstrated extraordinary maturity and class in the face of extremely tough circumstances. You're amazing, and I look up to you so much."

A follower wrote, "I don't know how you do it, but you continue to be gracious to those who never offered you the least bit of compassion or concern. Mad respect."

Writing in Vanity Fair in 2018, she recounted the moment when she met Starr in person at a restaurant in New York years after the infamous saga. In the essay, she detailed how uncomfortable the entire encounter was for her.

Lewinsky wrote, "Ken Starr asked me several times if I was 'doing O.K.' A stranger might have surmised from his tone that he had actually worried about me over the years. His demeanor, almost pastoral, was somewhere between avuncular and creepy. He kept touching my arm and elbow, which made me uncomfortable."

Lewinsky took the opportunity to air her grievances, and while she might have expected an apology from the demised solicitor, she got none.

"'Though I wish I had made different choices back then,' I stammered, 'I wish that you and your office had made different choices, too,'" Lewinsky recalled telling Starr. In response, he merely said," 'I know. It was unfortunate.' "

Last year, Lewinsky reflected on her side of the saga while working as a consultant for Ryan Murphy's "Impeachment: American Crime Story." In a 2019 email to Vanity Fair, she recounted meeting the Emmy-winning producer at a Hollywood party and how he convinced her to sign on though she was initially reluctant.

She wrote at the time, "I was hesitant, and truthfully more than a little scared to sign on. But after a lengthy dinner meeting with Ryan, I came to understand even more clearly how dedicated he is to giving a voice to the marginalized in all of his brilliant work. I'm privileged to work with him and the other talented people on the team, and I'm privileged to have this opportunity."

The series starred Beanie Feldstein as Lewinsky and Clive Owen as Bill. It debuted on FX on September 7, 2021.