Amanda Knox has debuted a one-woman comedy show titled 'Cartwheel' at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. The performance has drawn sharp condemnation from the family of murder victim Meredith Kercher and Knox's former co-accused, Raffaele Sollecito.
Raffaele Sollecito's rejection of 'Cartwheel' as entertainment
Raffaele Sollecito, the 42-year-old computer engineer who was wrongly accused alongside Amanda Knox in 2007, has publicly stated that he does not agree with using the tragedy of Meredith Kercher's death as a basis for entertainment. According to the report, Sollecito expressed puzzlement over the concept of the show, arguing that such a tragedy should not serve as a draw for comedy.
While Sollecito noted that he has not seen the performance and cannot judge the specific content, he found the promotion and presentation of the show difficult to accept. He indicated that while there is no single correct way to process trauma, the comedic approach taken by Amanda Knox is not one he supports as he continues to move past the events of the Perugia case in his own way.
The 20,000-signature petition and Stephanie Kercher's outcry
The production of 'Cartwheel' has triggered a significant public backlash, including a petition to cancel the show initiated by Sally Alington, a friend of Meredith Kercher. As reported , this petition has gathered over 20,000 signatures from individuals opposing the use of the murder as comedic material.
Stephanie Kercher, the sister of the victim, described the show as "hurtful" and accused Amanda Knox of profiting from the tragedy. Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Stephanie Kercher highlighted a stark contrast between her family's discreet silence over nearly two decades and the continuous stream of books, documentaries, and podcasts produced by Amanda Knox. She further argued that while Amanda Knox was wrongly accused, she was not wrongly imprisoned, urging the performer to prioritize the memory of the victim and her grieving family .
The unpaid £35,000 debt to Patrick Lumumba
The controversy surrounding Amanda Knox's financial gain from her story extends beyond the Edinburgh Fringe. The report notes that despite being acquitted of murder, Amanda Knox was convicted of slandering bar owner Patrick Lumumba, whose livelihood was destroyed as a result of the accusations.
Although a court ordered Amanda Knox to pay £35,000 in compensation to Patrick Lumumba, the report states that he has yet to receive any payment. This lack of restitution stands in contrast to the substantial earnings Amanda Knox has accrued from book advances and other media ventures, a point of bewilderment for Stephanie Kercher.
From the 'infamous kiss' to the debate over the splits
Performing at the Gilded Balloon venue for an eleven-night run, Amanda Knox used her opening night to address specific details of her public image. She discussed the widely publicized kiss she shared with Raffaele Sollecito outside the crime scene, asserting that such behavior, or even more provocative actions, would not make her a murderer.
The show's title, 'Cartwheel,' refers to reports that Amanda Knox performed cartwheels after her arrest at the Perugia police station. During the performance, Amanda Knox denied these reports, clarifying that she actually did the splits, which she described as being "a lot harder." While half of the opening night audience gave her a standing ovation, the event required a police presence due to the heightened emotions of those gathered.
Several questions remain regarding the production's ethics and the legal fallout of the original case. it remains unclear why the £35,000 compensation for Patrick Lumumba has not been settled despite the commercial success of Amanda Knox's various media projects. Furthermore, the report primarily focuses on the reactions of the Kercher family and Sollecito, leaving it unclear if the Gilded Balloon venue or the Edinburgh Fringe organizers intend to respond to the 20,000-signature petition.
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