Beyoncé recently said she would be removing a song lyric used as a common ableist slur in a number of English speaking countries from her latest album Renaissance after backlash from disability rights advocates.
Following Bey's announcement, Monica Lewinsky also requested the Grammy Award-winning artist alter a line from her 2013 hit, "Partition."
Lewinsky posted the request on Twitter in what was likely intended as a joke.
\u201cuhmm, while we\u2019re at it\u2026 #Partition\n\nBeyonc\u00e9 to Remove Renaissance Lyric After Outrage: Ableist, Offensive - Variety https://t.co/DzN80FdzPB\u201d— Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@Monica Lewinsky (she/her)) 1659368341
The song from Beyoncé's self-titled, fifth studio album referenced Lewinsky, who is infamous for her scandalous affair with former President Bill Clinton when she worked at the White House in 1995 and 1996.
Clinton's involvement with Lewinsky, who was 21 at the time, led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives.
The lyric featured in "Partition" Lewinsky took issue with went:
“He Monica Lewinsky’d all on my gown."
After hearing about Beyoncé's intent to drop the ableist slur in "Heated," Lewinsky asked for the removal of her verbed name in "Partition."
"uhmm, while we’re at it… #Partition," tweeted Lewinsky.
In a separate tweet, Lewinksy clarified Beyoncé should have referred to the act of ejaculating on a sexual partner in the song as "Bill Clinton'd all on my gown," instead of "Monica Lewinsky'd after pushback.
\u201c@MonicaLewinsky Is this you thanking Beyonc\u00e9 and joking about it yourself to VANITY FAIR? It seemed fine then \ud83e\udd14\ud83e\udd14\ud83e\udd14\ud83e\udd14 @MonicaLewinsky\u201d— Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@Monica Lewinsky (she/her)) 1659368341
\u201c@s_houyhnhnm @QueenBeyNow that article was not accurate. i wrote a first person essay for the mag, didn\u2019t give an interview\u2026 and here\u2019s the excerpt:\u201d— Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@Monica Lewinsky (she/her)) 1659368341
The Beyhive went in on Lewinsky for her request.
\u201c@MonicaLewinsky Are you not proud of it?\u201d— Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@Monica Lewinsky (she/her)) 1659368341
\u201c@MonicaLewinsky Monica girl be realistic... You're saying that Beyonc\u00e9 should remove a line from her song that came out 9 years ago??? And why are you only talking about Beyonc\u00e9, there were plenty of other artists who were more disrespectful. Beyonc\u00e9's line wasn't even bad. So calm down\u201d— Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@Monica Lewinsky (she/her)) 1659368341
\u201c@MonicaLewinsky Gurl please! You know you get your life to those lyrics\u201d— Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@Monica Lewinsky (she/her)) 1659368341
While many on social media reveled in the mockery of Lewinksy, others showed compassion.
\u201c@MonicaLewinsky You\u2019re handling with a lot more grace than I could muster - the lyrics are so offensive\u2026women need to do better of lifting each other up.\u201d— Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@Monica Lewinsky (she/her)) 1659368341
\u201c@MonicaLewinsky Where is the empathy? Where is the grace, people? She complained nicely in 2014 and now again, when it's clear Beyonc\u00e9 *could* change that offensive (and inaccurate) use of her name. The number of people gleefully hating on her here is just depressing af.\n\nhttps://t.co/yEHMMYRUcp\u201d— Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@Monica Lewinsky (she/her)) 1659368341
\u201c@MonicaLewinsky Yah that line hit me cold. Sorry your name is still disparaged like this. No excuse, we ALL know better by now.\u201d— Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@Monica Lewinsky (she/her)) 1659368341
After gaining celebrity status for the publicized coverage of the political scandal, Lewinsky started a business selling a line of handbags under the company name The Real Monica, Inc.
She also engaged in a $1 million endorsement deal with diet company Jenny Craig among other ventures, to help pay off her legal fees.
After pursuing a master's degree in psychology in London, she returned to the public spotlight in 2014 as a social activist and took a stand against cyberbullying, calling herself "patient zero" of online harassment.
