Amanda Knox's Edinburgh Fringe Show Sparks Controversy
Petition to cancel 'Cartwheel' garners over 1,000 signatures amid claims of disrespect to Meredith Kercher's memory.
Sarah Connor
Amanda Knox is set to perform a comedy show titled "Cartwheel" at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Knox, convicted and later acquitted of the 2007 murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher, in Italy, plans to present a show about motherhood and how she will explain her experiences to her daughter.
The show, slated for an 11-night run starting Friday, appears sold out; a spokesperson for Knox claims the production honors Meredith Kercher’s memory.
A petition to cancel the show has garnered over 1,000 signatures, claiming the production disrespects Meredith Kercher's memory and risks normalizing violence against women by making light of such a harrowing event.
Kercher's siblings have labeled the show “absurd and a gross trivialization of their sister’s death,” with Stephanie Kercher claiming Knox exploits the murder as part of the show.
I’m very aware that in high profile cases everyone has their own opinions on guilt and innocence and I also agree with freedom of speech. However, when someone is still using Meredith’s name to support themselves, and furthermore, when a comedy is linked to an individual case and individual person, I cannot fathom how rape and murder can be laughed about and I cannot understand how one person’s behaviour at the police station can be the subject of the comedy show.
She further claimed this situation sets a precedent for anyone else to do a show like this, noting that a generic theme, even when pushing boundaries, would be different.
Stephanie Kercher added, "Because this is associated with an individual case and individual person, that's where the worry lies here for me, because who else is this going to then open up this opportunity for."
Sally Alington claims the show "Cartwheel" mocks the horrific events surrounding Meredith’s murder, while Stephanie Kercher asserted, "Meredith absolutely wouldn't find these topics of any comedy value."
Knox, however, stated, "I don't joke about Meredith's death. I joke a lot about how I was vilified, but I don't joke about her murder."
Knox reportedly believes Meredith Kercher would have found the show funny, despite Stephanie Kercher's counter-claim that, "She absolutely would not find comedy surrounding these issues funny and I believe this goes against everything that inspirational women are still fighting for today."
The show's title, 'Cartwheel,' alludes to an infamous claim, denied by Knox, that she performed cartwheels in the police station while first being questioned over Kercher’s death.
Rudy Guede served a 16-year sentence for Kercher’s murder after his fingerprints were found at the scene; the court ruled he did not act alone.
Gilded Balloon, the venue for "Cartwheel," stated they provide a platform for a wide range of voices and ensure audiences can make informed choices.
A spokesman for the Gilded Balloon affirmed, "The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is an open-access festival. As a Fringe venue, we provide a platform for a wide range of voices, in line with the Fringe’s long-standing commitment to freedom of expression (within the confines of the law) and ensure our audiences can make informed choices. Artists and companies choose to participate at our venue and take on the financial and creative responsibility for their work. Amanda's show is a one-woman piece exploring themes of motherhood, presented independently by her."
Stephanie Kercher made a direct appeal to Knox, stating, "What I would say [to Knox] is to think about the family here, think about her friends and to turn the tables if it was your sister that this had happened to, because I know you have a sister as well."
Our family's pain is immense. I can't explain to you how much pain our family have been through, and also we're talking two decades later now, this pain.
She underscored the enduring impact of the tragedy, adding, "Our family's pain is immense. I can't explain to you how much pain our family have been through, and also we're talking two decades later now, this pain."